Creative Solutions For Inspired Learning
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Creative Solutions For Inspired Learning
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Roland U.S. and Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) have joined forces to create Girl Scouts Rock! Powered By Roland, a series of interactive events designed to inspire and empower girls through music.
The Girl Scouts Rock! Powered By Roland partnership gives girls from 8 to 14 years of age a hands-on experience playing popular music with modern musical instruments, an important opportunity that fewer girls are receiving due to music budget cuts in schools all over the nation. The fun, interactive curriculum co-developed by Roland and GSUSA aims to get girls pumped up about making music and music education, and if the overwhelming response by the young scouts at the initial participating cities nationwide is any indication, the program is destined to be a huge success
To start, the girls were treated to a performance by The Rockin’ Roland Girls Band, with Amy Surratt (in LA) and Sheena Loza on vocals, Sarah Villalva on guitar, Ruby Biloskirka-Conley on the Lucina AX-09 synthesizer, and Lux (in NYC) and Didi Negron (a finalist at the 2010 V-Drums Championship) on V-Drums. Former Girl Scout and Disney star Shelby Spalione, also made special guest appearances in LA, Chicago and NYC. Shelby was a member of the popular all-girl teen rock band KSM, which toured with the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato in 2010. In addition to appearing with the band, she participated alongside the scouts all day, inspiring them to learn about music and follow their dreams.
The band got the girls up and on their feet, setting the tone as they headed out to make their own music. Throughout the day, every Girl Scout was taken through a series of breakout sessions led by members of The Rockin’ Roland Girls Band. These sessions included drum and keyboard group learning labs on both the HD-1 V-Drums Lite and Lucina, the same instruments used by the band members. In addition, there was a Rock Band 3 setup with real instruments that allowed the girls to experience playing as a band, as well as an interactive display where they could explore a variety of Roland and BOSS instruments, including V-Drums, pianos, synthesizers, guitars and vocal performers.
The scouts also participated in an exercise based on the latest Girl Scout leadership journey, It’s Your Story—Tell It!, which uses creative expression to help girls gain a better understanding of themselves and their potential, and to develop the self confidence to become leaders in their own lives and in the world. Parents and troop leaders got to participate in Better Life with Music sessions, where they learned about the latest research and information regarding the benefits of music education in the lives of their children. The sessions also showcased how today’s technology has dramatically changed the way young people learn music.
Charlotte Caffey, lead guitarist and keyboardist for the Go-Go’s, made a special appearance at the Los Angeles event to speak and lend her support. She wrote the Go-Go’s mega-hit “We Got the Beat,” which appeared on the group’s landmark 1981 debut album, Beauty and the Beat. “This year will mark the 30th anniversary of Beauty and the Beat,” said Charlotte. “As a female musician and songwriter and mother of a 16-year-old daughter myself, I love that the Girl Scouts and Roland have partnered to bring girls across the country access to making music.”
“We know that music is an important part of social and academic development for girls, and that through music we learn to express ourselves and our views,” said Chris Bristol, President, Roland Corporation U.S. “Not only does learning to play an instrument boost self-esteem, confidence and a sense of accomplishment, it also generates cognitive development in ways not reached by any other discipline. We’re thrilled to partner with Girl Scouts to produce quality workshops that expose girls to the opportunities making music can provide.”
“Girl Scouts of the USA believes that girls develop self-esteem through taking action,” said Kathy Cloninger, CEO, Girl Scouts of the USA. “Most girls have the desire to play music. Research indicates that the action of making music is a key factor in healthy social and academic development, increasing self-esteem and developing skills needed by the 21st century workforce. We look forward to working with Roland to bring important music making opportunities directly to girls, equipping them with tools necessary to discover, connect, and take action – three keys to leadership and the cornerstone of Girl Scouts of the USA’s core values.”
For more information on Girl Scouts Rock! Powered By Roland, visit www.RolandUS.com/GirlScoutsRock.