Rockin’ in the Garden! Banana Slug String Band Performs Benefit Concert for San Diego Schools

Aug. 17, 2011 - PRLog -- The Banana Slug String Band, Guitars in the Classroom and the San Diego County Childhood Obesity Initiative join forces to put on this family-friendly concert to raise funds for garden and music education in San Diego County schools on Saturday, September 17, 2011 at 7 pm.

Tickets are available and people of all ages are invited to enjoy this family event at Montgomery Middle School, 2470 Ulric Street, San Diego in the neighborhood of Linda Vista. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and music begins at 7 pm.

Tickets are $8 (kids), $10 (teens), and $15 (adults). For a special $100 Family Golden Circle ticket, families of any size may attend a special after show bedtime story and song event (details below). Advance tickets are available at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/191069. Ample free parking will be provided by Montgomery Middle School. Advanced ticket sales are suggested as only 25 Family Golden Circle tickets are available and the Banana Slugs are very popular. This is a rare San Diego performance and the event is expected to sell out.

The Banana Slug String Band has been a favorite of children, teachers and parents all over the country for over two decades with their sing-able nature and science songs, bright costumes, theater, puppetry, humor, and warm attitude. The band is perhaps best known for their hit, “Dirt Made My Lunch,” sung in schools everywhere and featured in Guitars in the Classroom’s new Green Songbook (www.greensongbook.com).

Families wishing to share a special, up-close and memorable concert experience may purchase a “Family Golden Circle Pajama Party” ticket. Family groups holding this ticket may attend a private after-show pajama party with the Banana Slug String Band.  Kids are encouraged to bring along a sleeping bag, change into their jammies, and join the Banana Slugs on stage for a cozy lullaby and story experience complete. Each family may receive an autographed copy of a Banana Slugs CD or The Green Songbook and everyone can enjoy healthy bedtime snacks. Holders of Family Golden Circle tickets may also sit in the first three rows of the auditorium. These tickets help more teachers in San Diego Unified Schools learn to make and lead music for learning in their P-5 classrooms.

This event is co-sponsored by the San Diego County Childhood Obesity Initiative, a program facilitated by Community Health Improvement Partners, and Guitars in the Classroom.  Proceeds from the event will fund free teacher music training with GITC and will help sponsor the implementation of Guitars in the Classroom program at San Diego schools participating in the Healthy WorksSM Sustainable School Garden Program, an initiative to support nonprofit and government agencies working in partnership with schools to develop joint use gardens that serve as both a school instructional garden and community garden. This program is currently being piloted at 4 sites in La Mesa, San Diego, and San Ysidro.

The Banana Slugs are a perfect choice to help support the connection between musical education and green, garden-friendly initiatives, which is exactly what this event will raise funds to accomplish. The Slugs have performed at hundreds of venues across the U.S. from the Geffen Center in Los Angeles to the New Orleans Jazz Festival. Their many awards include AFIM’s (Association for Independent Music) Indie Award for Best Children’s Recording and a National Parenting Publications Gold Award.


Guitars in the Classroom
Co-sponsor Guitars in the Classroom inspires, trains and equips general classroom teachers and specialists to integrate music and music making across the academic curriculum through “song-based instruction” so students of all ages have the opportunity to learn through making music together in class, everyday. Their free programs prepare and support educators to lead the way competently and confidently, employing music as a powerful tool for reaching all learners, teaching all subjects, and building character and community in their classrooms. For more information, see the group’s website: http://www.guitarsintheclassroom.org

San Diego County Childhood Obesity Initiative
Co-sponsor the San Diego County Childhood Obesity Initiative (Initiative) is a public-private partnership whose mission is to reduce and prevent childhood obesity in San Diego County by creating healthy environments for all children and families through advocacy, education, policy development, and environmental change. The Initiative creates, supports, and mobilizes partnerships from multiple domains; provides leadership and vision; and coordinates county-wide efforts in the prevention and reduction of childhood obesity. The Initiative is a program facilitated by Community Health Improvement Partners (CHIP).  The Healthy Works Sustainable School and Community Gardens Program is made possible by funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the County of San Diego, and led by CHIP and the Initiative. For more information, see: http://www.ourcommunityourkids.org.  

To learn more about the Banana Slugs, please visit http://www.bananaslugstringband.com.

MEDIA PHOTOS AVAILABLE at http://www.bananaslugstringband.com Media Page.

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The award-winning Banana Slug String Band is toe-tappin' earth-lovin' music and science education at its best! From rockin' boogies to countrry, acoustic sing-alongs to reggae and rap, the Slugs will have you on your feet in no time.