Orange County NC Website
Did you observe a particular"a-ah"moment with a students parent or staff when s/he/they <br /> learned a new concept or particularly benefitted from the project?If so,please describe: <br /> There were so many moments like this. The 5 students in the group developed a true <br /> sense of community and helped each other at every lesson.I also saw that some of the kids <br /> developed a stronger connection to Carrboro than they had had before. One child in <br /> particular,who is very talented musically but also quite learning disabled,thrived in the <br /> guitar group. The one time he forgot to come to guitar after school,he persuaded his mother <br /> to drive him back to school. She then got to witness just how talented he is. He learns chords <br /> really fast and them helps the other kids to learn them.This child struggles in school and I <br /> think the opportunity to see her son shine was invaluable for this mother. <br /> This same child,for whom school has been so difficult,told me "Ms.Regan, if you are <br /> still alive when my son comes here to school someday,I want him to be in your guitar <br /> group."It was very touching. I think he discovered through guitar that school is a good place <br /> to be. <br /> The kids are so proud of being musicians. I can tell that they practice at home.(The grant <br /> guitars stay at school but I have made sure that each child has a guitar at home. People have <br /> been very generous in donating guitars their own kids have outgrown.)One child,another <br /> student with learning disabilities,told me he tacked his chord chart to his bedroom wall so he <br /> can practice. Most of the kids have talked about playing their guitar with a friend at home. <br /> Several of the kids have,on their own, found internet sites for learning guitar. One student <br /> got a guitarist at his church to teach him a new chord and also played guitar for this same <br /> musician. <br /> I am so proud of my guitarlings.They have become musicians and they love playing the <br /> guitar.They learned to work together as a group and to help each other. They have learned <br /> that playing guitar can be a way to deal with upset feelings and even anger_They came <br />