Girl Scouts of the USA and Roland Corporation U.S. Launch National 'Girls Rock!' Initiative to Empower Girls Through Music

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Mar 10, 2011, 04:47 ET

The Go-Go's and Former Girl Scout and Disney Star Shelby Spalione Give New Generation the Beat

LOS ANGELES, March 10, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Roland Corporation U.S. and Girl Scouts of the USA have announced the launch of a national Girls Rock! initiative which includes workshops designed to inspire and empower girls through music. Girls 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. Girls 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.

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.

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.

The Girls 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 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-served basis.

"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."

Post-workshop tools will be available at RolandUS.com so that chapters across the country can access and re-create Girls 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.

About Girl Scouts of the USA

Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls with 3.4 million girl and adult members worldwide. Girl Scouts is the leading authority on girls' healthy development, and builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place. The organization serves girls from every corner of the United States and its territories. Girl Scouts of the USA also serves American girls and their classmates attending American or international schools overseas in 90 countries. For more information on how to join, volunteer, reconnect or donate to Girl Scouts, call (800) GSUSA 4 U (800-478-7248) or visit girlscouts.org. For more information on "It's Your Story – Tell It!" Visit girlscouts.org/itsyourstory.

About Roland Corporation

Roland Corporation is a leading manufacturer and distributor of electronic musical instruments, including keyboards and synthesizers, guitar products, electronic percussion, digital recording equipment, amplifiers, audio processors, and multimedia products. With nearly 40 years of musical instrument development, Roland sets the standard in music technology for the world to follow. For more information, visit RolandUS.com.