COLTS NECK – The gymnasium at the Cedar Drive Middle School was rocking with sounds from the Traveling Guitar Foundation.
The foundation is a nonprofit organization which provides free musical equipment and instruction to school districts across the United States because its founder, Livingston native Damon Marks, saw the struggle schools were having in keeping music programs and creative curriculum alive, according to a press release.
Marks founded the nonprofit in 2010.
The 60-minute assembly served as a kickoff event for the partnership between the Traveling Guitar Foundation and the Colts Neck K-8 School District. Through the foundation and its donors, seventh grade students at the middle school are now cycling through a new general music related arts course where they are learning how to play the guitar, under the direction of their teacher, B.J. Willis, according to the press release.
During the assembly, the foundation’s donation to the school district of six new acoustic guitars and drums was on display. The foundation will donate six custom electric guitars to the school district later this fall, according to the press release.
The performance on Sept. 30 was designed to be interactive and fun, featuring students Nicholas Villani playing drums and Megan Smith playing bass guitar. Another student, Hailey Pazmino, was selected from the audience to strum a few cords with Marks.
“We are very excited about our new music experience for our students in Colts Neck,” Superintendent of Schools MaryJane Garibay said.
Garibay said the Traveling Guitar Foundation is a welcome partner to the school district in exposing students to the arts and the instruction of music.