Damon Marks and Traveling Guitar Foundation to Support Music Education at Local NYC Schools This Month

Enter Damon Marks, a lifelong musician and New Jersey resident who is keenly aware of this problem. Damon has been playing guitar since the age of ten and has made a career as a professional guitarist. Damon recalls that music helped him through tough times when he was a child.

"It helped me find my friends and get involved and ease the pain I was going through. If I hadn't found music, fellow band mates and fans, I might have found drugs or alcohol or who knows what else. I want kids today to have that same chance to connect to music in such a meaningful, creative way."

Damon Marks started the Traveling Guitar Foundation in 2010 because he recognized the struggle schools were having to keep their music programs alive. Marks and TGF travel to schools with musical programs in jeopardy and offer free music education clinics to students and staff. Then Marks and the foundation, with help from their sponsors, donate brand new instruments and a music curriculum to the schools to help maintain their musical education programs.

Furthermore, they offer continued support to ensure the musical instruments and program are being properly maintained for the betterment of the children's intellectual, social and creative skills. To date the foundation has donated over 400 new guitars, amplifiers, various percussion instruments, cables and a guitar learning curriculum to over 70 schools in the US and abroad, positively impacting over 30,000 students!

Damon will be supporting three local NYC schools:

March 13th - New Heights Academy Charter School, 1818 Amsterdam Ave., NY, NY 10031

Joining Marks and TGF at this school will be Rachel Lorin. Rachel is a singer, songwriter, dancer, model and actress. She began her career at age 12 when she was selected from thousands to sing the National Anthem at the US Open. From there she went on to be the youngest cast member in Disney's highly acclaimed movie/musical High School Musical 1 and 2. She was also featured on The Next Best Thing NY, a reality show based on the careers of young singers. Rachel performs at various venues in NYC and on the east coast with her pop/rock multi-octave voice. She is excited to spend the day with Marks and the TGF sharing her talents and musical expertise with the students at New Heights Academy Charter School.

March 20th - Bronx Charter School For The Arts, 950 Longfellow Ave., Bronx, NY 10474

March 27th - Tompkins Square Middle School, 600 East 6th St., NY, NY 10009

Joining Marks and TGF at this school will be British metal guitarist Andy James. Andy has toured all over the world as a solo artist and member of Sacred Mother Tongue. Andy has a new band called Wearing Scars with an album set for release in early summer 2015. He has a background in guitar instruction for soloing techniques for hard rock and heavy metal via a range of tuition DVDs and started his own instructional website called the Andy James Guitar Academy. With over 10 million youtube views Andy will bring his guitar shredding capabilities to the students of this East Village school.