^^Guitars Not Guns^^

**Jodizzle** · 03-22-2008, 01:16 PM

Originally Posted by DrKev

Can we please not turn this into a thread that would be more at home over in Moe's Tavern on the Fender Forum (even if only to humour me) and just focus on kids and guitars?

Thank you!!! I totally do not want this thread to go south. The point of the cause is to help kids that are less fortunate. Lets just talk about them, or about music, or about volunteering ..
I appreciate all of you who have taken the time to read about this organization.

**DavidOfOz** · 03-22-2008, 05:56 PM

This looks like a great organisation, JD!! Anything that turns kids onto music has to be a good thing.

**RitchieDarling** · 03-23-2008, 12:17 PM

Looks like a great charity, Jodi!

I think this is a wonderful thing and deserving of support!

Too many kids these days fall through the cracks and end up in trouble.

This can only help!

Good job!

Ritchie

P.S. I would like to state for the record that, although I do own a gun, I am nothing even remotely resembling a hillbilly!

**RitchieDarling** · 03-23-2008, 12:26 PM

HEY! I just noticed the charity President's last name is "Darling"!

How cool is that?!!

R

**koogie2k** · 03-23-2008, 04:56 PM

I got with the Virginia president....trying to get something going on in my area. Also talking to some bands out here to volunteer their time for this. Hopefully...we can get this going.

**6strings** · 03-23-2008, 08:24 PM

sounds like a really good program..i dont think guns are really the blame..if a human has the intention to kill he will do it with or without a gun..but the fact is..if there is a ban on guns..you think its gonna stop the black market or people from getting guns?..its just gonna leave people defenseless really..i honsetly think crime will increase and they will be a spike in weapons smuggling

**Jodizzle** · 03-23-2008, 09:23 PM

Koogs .. you rock man! Thanks for the support

**GuitarsNotGuns** · 03-23-2008, 11:57 PM

Originally Posted by tiffles

wow babe this is awesome... can you tell us a bit more about how it works on a community level? the tutors obviously donate their time? do they do one on one or group teaching? how do the kids find out about it? through school? etc etc...tell me all about it!

Thanks for your positive post. We do group instruction, and the more teachers we have the better one on one the kids get. We usually have up to 12 kids in a class and sometimes 5 to 6 instructors. We get kids signed up through the Girls and Boys club of America, and through county social services, children services programs. Check out: guitarsnotguns.org and to reiterate, this is an awesome program, not about gun control or political statements, simply putting guitars in the hands of at rist youth at a young age, and giving them an outlet to expres themselves artistically. Music is healing, we all know that!

**zenmba** · 03-24-2008, 06:15 AM

Jodizzle, this is a great cause! Thanks for supporting guitars for kids!

btw, I kniznow what yoe think'n. Did he play six strings, or only fizzy? Ta tizzy you tha truth, I lost count me in all tha excitement, But this is a JP6, tha miznost powerful gitar in tha world, n could blow yo heezee clean off thats off tha hook yo. So you have ta ask yoself one question: do I feel lucky? Well, d-ya, pizzle?

Peace-owwwwt

**koogie2k** · 03-24-2008, 07:57 AM

Originally Posted by Jodizzle

Koogs .. you rock man! Thanks for the support

I think this would be a great thing. Mostly for the kids and for the local original bands out here. I am trying to get as much info from the Virginia President as I can and to see what we all need to do.

Hopefully....we can get a successful program going on my end of the planet.

**2Cats1Dog** · 03-25-2008, 03:51 PM

My son, Sean, starting volunteering for this organization (Contra Costa Chapter) as part of a community service project at school during his Junior Year but when his "required" time to volunteer was done he chose to continue with this organization and has enjoyed every minute of it.
The first time he volunteered he didn't know what to expect but the night of the graduation ceremony for the kids that had stuck it out the full 8 weeks (not an easy task for some of these kids) was amazing for him. He said the looks on these kids faces when they were told they were going to be able to keep the guitars that had been "loaned" to them was one of pure joy. Anyone out there that can donate to this fine cause, help start a chapter in your area or just pass the word about it will be doing so much good.
What my family likes about this organization was that no one preaches to the kids about guns or gangs. They are just there to give the kids something to do and fall in love with - Music. Music changed my son Sean's life and helped him to realize his potential. I can only hope that this organization touches the lives of at risk kids the way it touched my son's.

**GuitarsNotGuns** · 04-02-2008, 02:29 PM

I have had the pleasure of volunteering with Sean. He is an awesome musician and a great person! He is great with the kids, and we all enjoy his patience and enthusiasm. Thank you for your post and helping us get the word out about this awesome program and our upcoming auction!

**gngcanada** · 04-13-2008, 06:52 PM

Hi Tiffles - Guitars Not Guns operates in community centres, schools or where ever we can get kids and volunteers together. Everyone involved is a volunteer and we receive no government funding sources. The one hour lessons are held once per week for 2 eight-weeks modules. Our model is to have 10 kids in each group with 3 volunteer instructors. We provide the guitars to the kids, which they are allowed to keep once they complete the first 8 weeks.
Kids are referred to us through schools, social workers or through advertising in community centres.

And just to clarify - we are NOT an anti-gun organization. We are against gun violence and we present music as a catalyst to guide kids in a positive direction.

Thanks to everyone for participating in this discussion!