Express Your Story Through Music

Self expression is a large thread throughout the latest Girl Scout leadership journey It's Your Story-Tell It! Music has always been one of the most popular forms of self expression. On Saturday, March 19, Roland Corporation U.S. and Girl Scouts of the USA launched the national Girl Scouts Rock! Powered by Roland initiative at the Los Angeles Theatre Centre. Many Girl Scouts and their parents attended and participated in the fun, interactive music workshop co-developed by Roland and Girl Scouts, designed to get girls pumped up about making music. Check out this video of Girl Scouts beginning their journey into the world of music!

Charlotte Caffey, of the Go-Go's, the original groundbreaking all-female rock band, was at the event to offer her support and said, "This year will mark the 30th anniversary of Beauty and the Beat. 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." Former Girl Scout and Disney star Shelby Spalione, previous lead singer of the all-girl teen rock band KSM, inspired by the Go-Go's, sang "We Got the Beat" with the Rockin' Roland Girls Band, and participated alongside girls, inspiring them to learn to make their own music and follow their dreams.

The latest Girl Scout leadership journey It's Your Story-Tell It! has its' very own comprehensive website that allows you to get involved in a number of awesome activities! Girl Scouts of the USA and Dove®, the leading personal care brand, partner to deliver Girl Scout leadership and self-esteem programming to millions of girls nationwide and abroad with the latest Girl Scout leadership journey It's Your Story-Tell It!.

What's In The Box of the Girl Scout Cookies Rap!!

Yo! Shout out to my friend Nancy Wood, Director of Public Relations at the Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital for hitting us up with this.


The video was made as a school project. I give it an A+!

Girl Scouts Really do Rock!

On Saturday, I had the honor of attending the launch of Roland Corporation U.S. and Girl Scouts of the USA's national Girl Scouts Rock! Powered by Roland initiative at the Los Angeles Theatre Centre. Many Girl Scouts and their parents attended and participated in the fun, interactive music workshop co-developed by Roland and Girl Scouts, designed to get girls pumped up about making music. It was an amazing experience and I have to say that watching the girls light up when playing on all of the instruments provided by Roland was incredibly moving! The photos here are from my phone, but definitely convey how cool the event was.

Girl Scouts Rock! Powered by Roland is committed to providing girls ages 8-14 a hands-on experience playing popular music; an opportunity fewer girls are receiving due to school music budget cuts.

Charlotte Caffey, of the Go-Go's, the original groundbreaking all-female rock band, was at the event to offer her support. Charlotte's mega-hit "We Got the Beat" is the Girls Scouts Rock! Powered by Roland's theme song. "This year will mark the 30th anniversary of Beauty and the Beat. 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." Former Girl Scout and Disney star Shelby Spalione, previous lead singer of the all-girl teen rock band KSM, inspired by the Go-Go's, sang "We Got the Beat" with the Rockin' Roland Girls Band, and participated alongside girls, inspiring them to learn to make their own music and follow their dreams. Spalione, 17, who opened for the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato last year as lead singer of KSM, is currently working on a solo project.

Girl Scouts Rock! Powered by Roland hits the road next month with subsequent workshops in Miami (Girl Scouts Council of Tropical Florida on April 30); Minneapolis (Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys-Date TBD); Chicago (Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana on May 14) and New York City (Girl Scouts of Greater New York City on May 21).

It's Your Song, Rock It!

Self expression is a large thread throughout the latest Girl Scout leadership journey It's Your Story-Tell It! Music has always been one of the most popular forms of self expression. Roland Corporation U.S. and Girl Scouts of the USA have announced the launch of a national Girl Scouts Rock! initiative which includes workshops designed to inspire and empower girls through music. Girl Scouts Rock! Powered by Roland will reach thousands of Girl Scouts and their parents, delivering the message that you can have a “Better Life with Music.” The fun, interactive curriculum co-developed by Roland and Girl Scouts of the USA aims to get girls pumped up about making music and music education. Girl Scouts Rock! is designed to provide girls ages 8-14 a hands-on experience playing popular music; an opportunity fewer girls are receiving due to school music budget cuts.
x
The Go-Go’s, the original groundbreaking all-female rock band, are showing support by lending their mega-hit “We Got the Beat” to the curriculum. Charlotte Caffey, Go-Go’s guitarist who wrote “We Got the Beat” will be on hand at the Los Angeles launch on March 19. Caffey says, “This year will mark the 30th anniversary of Beauty and the Beat. 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. The Go-Go’s are thrilled to be a part of the next generation of girls ‘getting their beat!’” Former Girl Scout and Disney star Shelby Spalione, previous lead singer of the all-girl teen rock band KSM, inspired by the Go-Gos, will be on hand at each of the workshop locations to sing “We Got the Beat” with the Rockin’ Roland Girls Band, to talk to the girls, and inspire them to learn to make their own music and follow their dreams. Spalione, 17, who opened for the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato last year as lead singer of KSM, is currently working on a solo project.

x
At each workshop, after Spalione and the Rockin’ Roland Girls Band performance, girls will then be lead into break-out sessions featuring activities utilizing Roland’s Lucina AX-09 Shoulder Synthesizer, HD-1 V-Drums® Lite, Rock Band 3, an interactive instrument display, and karaoke station. The curriculum is based on the latest Girl Scout leadership journey: It’s Your Story---Tell It!, which uses a storytelling theme in fun and relevant ways to help girls understand themselves and their potential. Building a strong sense of self is an underlying goal of the series, which was made possible by a generous grant from Dove. Roland will also conduct “Better Life with Music” sessions for interested parents and troop leaders, presenting the latest research and information regarding the benefits of music education in the lives of their children.
x
The Girl Scouts Rock! workshop launch will take place in Los Angeles (Girl Scouts of Greater LA) on March 19th, with subsequent workshops in Miami (Girl Scouts Council of Tropical Florida on April 30); Minneapolis (Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys date TBD); Chicago (Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana on May 14) and New York City (Girl Scouts of Greater New York City on May 21). Girl Scouts chapters will offer the workshop in their respective areas on a first-come, first-served basis.
x
“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.”
x
“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.”
x
Post-workshop tools will be available at RolandUS.com so that chapters across the country can access and re-create Girl Scouts Rock! in their own communities. Roland will serve as a liaison between local Girl Scout chapters connecting music retailers and teachers to help provide access to instruments and instruction.
x
Pictured is my favorite female rocker, Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth and Roland's Lucina AX-09 Shoulder Synthesizer. Do you have a favorite female rock star?

Girl Scouts and Roland Launch National Girl Scouts Rock Initiative

Roland Corporation U.S. and Girl Scouts of the USA have announced the launch of a national Girl Scouts Rock initiative which includes workshops designed to inspire and empower girls through music. Girl Scouts Rock Powered by Roland will reach thousands of Girl Scouts and their parents, delivering the message that you can have a "Better Life with Music." The fun, interactive curriculum co-developed by Roland and Girl Scouts of the USA aims to get girls pumped up about making music and music education.

The Girl Scouts Rock initiative begins in March 2011, with workshops in five major markets across the U.S. The workshop launch will take place in Los Angeles (Girl Scouts of Greater LA) on March 19th, with subsequent workshops in Miami (Girl Scouts Council of Tropical Florida on April 30); Minneapolis (Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys on May 7); Chicago (Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana on May 14) and New York City (Girl Scouts of Greater New York City on May 21). Girl Scouts chapters will offer the workshop in their respective areas on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Girl Scouts Rock is designed to provide girls ages 8-14 a hands-on experience playing popular music; an opportunity fewer girls are receiving due to school music budget cuts. Girl Scouts Rock will kick-off with an electric performance by the Rockin’ Roland Girls Band, leading into break-out sessions featuring activities utilizing Roland’s Lucina AX-09 Shoulder Synthesizer, HD-1 V-Drums® Lite, Rock Band 3, an interactive instrument display, and karaoke station. The curriculum is based on the latest Girl Scout leadership journey: It’s Your Story – Tell It!, which uses a storytelling theme in fun and relevant ways to help girls understand themselves and their potential. Building a strong sense of self is an underlying goal of the series, which was made possible by a generous grant from Dove. Roland will also conduct "Better Life with Music" sessions for interested parents and troop leaders, presenting the latest research and information regarding the benefits of music education in the lives of their children.

"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. Unfortunately, in many areas across the country, school budget cuts have diminished the opportunities for a quality music education. 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 for to discover, connect and take action – three keys to leadership and the cornerstone of Girl Scouts of the USA’s core values.”

Post-workshop tools will be available at RolandUS.com/GirlsRock so that chapters across the country can access and re-create Girl Scouts Rock in their own communities. Roland will serve as a liaison between local Girl Scout chapters connecting music retailers and teachers to help provide access to instruments and instruction.

Girl Scouts Reach for the Stars

Pacific Coast News reports that the Guam Girl Scouts are launching an Astronomy Club. The new Girl Scout program is designed to encourage girls’ interest in science, technology, engineering & math. It is open to all girls and adults and there is no fee. The Guam Girl Scout “Space Team” members all trained at the Goddard Space Center in Maryland in July. The new program is supported through funding from Girl Scouts of the USA and NASA.

The Peninsula News Leader reports that The Girl Scouts of North East Ohio are expanding their astronomy program with the opening of a new observatory at Camp Ledgewood in Peninsula. The facility, which was inaugurated, Nov. 5, features a Celestron 11-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain deep field reflecting telescope with a computerized mount that can locate any object visible in the night sky. The telescope was purchased and the observatory was constructed with the help of a $15,000 grant from the Hershey Foundation. The observatory in Ohio has been in use since 2008 and nearly 2,000 girls and adults have viewed the night sky through the telescope there. Permanently mounted to a cement pad inside an observatory, the telescope is used nearly every week.

*

Loosely related, one of my all time favorite songs and videos - Air's "Kelly Watch the Stars". Enjoy! Do you know any girls that enjoy astronomy?

Music for Gold

South Carolina's Post and Courier has an article about a pretty awesome Girl Scout Gold Award project (they all are, I know)! Abby Kent has organized a six-concert series called "Music Matters". The series is not a fundraiser and is meant only to entertain and advocate for classical music in Charleston. She has invited a slew of local musicians - from the School of the Arts, Charleston Academy of Music and private studios - to join her in the series, and to highlight the need for businesses in the area to step up their support of the symphony and other music organizations.

The first concert is called "Piano Passion" and will feature Abby and others playing solo works by Rachmaninoff, Mendelssohn, Chopin, Mozart, Sibelius and Gershwin. The December concert will feature the ShamRocks. In January, the performance will include Beethoven's "Spring Sonata" and Bach's Double Concerto in D minor. Traditional Celtic music will be on offer in March. Kudos to Abby and good luck!

Girl Scouts With Guitars

Earlier this month, Daisy Rock Girl Guitars - the original girl guitar company - presented a girl guitar day to Girl Scouts during the week long Musicpalooza camp held at the Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, CA.

The girl guitar day began in the Daisy Rock Girl Guitar museum exhibit with Daisy Rock Founder and President, Tish Ciravolo, showing the Girl Scouts her signature Daisy electric guitar that was inducted in 2006 as a landmark, culture-changing music product innovation. The campers learned about what makes the guitar a “girl guitar” - the “Slim & Narrow” neck that fits girls hands and is easier to play, the lightweight design that makes the guitar easier for girls to hold and play, and colorful inspiring designs. Campers then gathered around tables to draw their very own girl guitars. Sounds totally awesome to me!

More awesome is the evidence illustrating the positive effects children can gain from participating in music oriented programs. In an analysis of U.S. Department of Education data on more than 25,000 secondary school students, researchers found that students who report consistent high levels of involvement in instrumental music over the middle and high school years show "significantly higher levels of mathematics proficiency by grade 12." This observation holds regardless of students' socio-economic status, and differences in those who are involved with instrumental music vs. those who are not is more significant over time. For an in depth compilation of music related data, check out this run-down provided by The Children's Music Wokshop.

In other news, my favorite female rocker is Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth (pictured above) - Who is yours?

Bringing Music for the Gold

California's Thousand Oaks Acorn has a story about Girl Scout Erica Williams, who is bringing her love of music to low income children as part of her quest for a Girl Scout Gold award. The high school senior-to-be knows she would not be the person she is if she hadn’t participated in music programs since elementary school. The article points out the money needed to fund such extracurricular activities is increasingly scarce, denying the next generation of students the same opportunities she enjoyed.

Fulfilling a project that’s been two years in the making, Williams has brought together three local nonprofit agencies to teach music to kids from lower-income families in Thousand Oaks. Definitely read the entire article! Are there any Gold Award projects you would like to share?

Girl Scouts Meet Fiddle and Banjo

I grew up going to a great deal of Bluegrass festivals with my family - My Uncle was and still is in a Bluegrass band. Bluegrass Music is a form of American roots music, and is a sub-genre of Country Music. Bluegrass was inspired by the music of immigrants from the United Kingdom and Ireland (particularly the Scottish-Irish immigrants in Appalachia), and African-Americans, particularly through genres such as jazz and blues. So I am excited to share that The Girls Scouts of Virginia Skyline Council has teamed up with the Roanoke Valley Fiddle and Banjo Club to introduce area girls to Bluegrass.

The workshop will provide instruction for girls starting to learn an instrument. Guitar, banjo, fiddle, dulcimer and mandolin will all be covered, as well as, singing and dancing. Sounds very cool! For more info and video, check out this story at WDBJ TV 7. Are there musically minded Girl Scouts in your area?

Girl Scout Steps in to Save Music Program

Recently, due to lack of funding at Granite Valley Middle School in Monson, MA, the music program is in jeopardy of being dropped from the school's curriculum. Showing fantastic leadership and initiative, Girl Scout Amanda Davey has made "Monson Musical Instrument Drive" her Girl Scout Gold Award project. To date, Amanda's project has brought in over $5,000 dollars worth of monetary gifts and musical instruments to benefit the music program at Granite Valley Middle School. If that alone isn’t cool enough, her efforts also captured the attention of Do Something and VH1 Save the Music Foundation who awarded Amanda a $1,000 grant for her school's music program (and a Rock Band Video Game system, and a Fender guitar!). If only every school had a Girl Scout going for her Gold.

Do Something and VH1 Save the Music Foundation said recently in a letter to Amanda,

"...We wanted to let you know that the judging panel and the Do Something team
were blown away by what you did."

So are we. Congratulations, Amanda.

Amanda is still working on the goals of her Gold Award project. If you have a musical instrument you'd like to donate, please let us know, and we'll forward it to Amanda!

Los Lonely Boys Rock for Girl Scouts!

Nestled in the "Golden Crescent" of the Gulf of Mexico, Victoria, TX, is a town famous for being at the crossroads between Austin, San Antonio, Corpus Christi and Houston. Year round warm weather, an abundance of baseball fields and a very famous deli, among other things, make Victoria a big attraction for road trippers - myself once being one.

This August, Grammy-winning rock band Los Lonely Boys is going to be headlining a day long festival featuring other acts and a BBQ Cook-off to benefit The Girl Scouts of Greater South Texas. Read a quick write up in The Victoria Advocate for more details about the show and how you can get your tickets!