Girl Scouts Rock! Powered by Roland Launched in Los Angeles

Roland Corporation U.S. and Girl Scouts of the USA launched their national Girl Scouts Rock! Powered by Roland initiative at the Los Angeles Theatre Centre on Saturday. Many Girl Scouts and their parents attended and participated in the fun, interactive music workshop co-developed by Roland and Girl Scouts designed to get girls pumped up about making music. Girl Scouts Rock! Powered by Roland is committed to providing girls ages 8-14 a hands-on experience playing popular music; an opportunity fewer girls are receiving due to school music budget cuts.

Charlotte Caffey, of the Go-Go's, the original groundbreaking all-female rock band, was at the event to offer her support. Charlotte's mega-hit "We Got the Beat" is the Girls Scouts Rock! Powered by Roland's theme song. "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." Former Girl Scout and Disney star Shelby Spalione, previous lead singer of the all-girl teen rock band KSM, inspired by the Go-Go's, sang "We Got the Beat" with the Rockin' Roland Girls Band, and participated alongside girls, inspiring 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.

Girl Scouts Rock! Powered by Roland hits the road next month with subsequent workshops in Miami (Girl Scouts Council of Tropical Florida on April 30); Minneapolis (Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys-Date TBD); 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).

"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."

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.

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