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Guitar.com Live: She Shreds on how music can be a tool for healing and revolution
“I never thought I’d have to come to a class where my students would be affected by a presidential election.”
Guitar.com Live: She Shreds Media, the foremost platform dedicated to empowering women and non-binary guitarists, hosted a panel discussion on music as a tool for healing and revolution. The conversation was led by She Shreds founder Fabi Reyna, and broadcasted on the opening day of the virtual guitar show.
Jess Garland, a Dallas-based professional guitarist, harpist and educator, shared her experiences of applying music education as a tool for healing. Citing the uncertain political climate felt by many after President Donald Trump’s election into office. “I never thought I’d have to come to a class [where] my students would be affected by a presidential election,” Garland said.
“Most of my students are from Spanish-speaking family households and […] a lot of them were scared about their parents and grandparents,” she recalled.
Garland continued: “I had to say something, because it was a class of 30 kids and they were all upset and down – as I was too. And all I could tell them was ‘I know how you feel, it’s completely understandable’, but you all are here, and let’s just try to pick up the guitar and start strumming.”
Moving forward from the incident, Garland shifted her focus towards non-profit education programs. Her Swan Strings now provides free music education for children in the North Texas region.
Watch the entire panel discussion above.
Check out more content from our virtual guitar show at Guitar.com/live