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Guitar Auction Led To Tampa Chapter

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 27, 2009

Updated: 02/27/2009 12:33 am

It began with an auction in May 2007 - 65 customized guitars by some of the most recognized names in rock 'n' roll, tattooing and visual arts.

The auction, sponsored by Dean Guitars of Tampa and spearheaded by Tampa musician Christopher "Curse" Mackey, raised $215,000 in honor of the late guitarist Darrell "Dimebag" Abbott of Pantera and Damageplan.

A portion of the money was used to create two new chapters of Little Kids Rock, a national music curriculum, in Tampa and Arlington, Texas, which was Abbott's hometown.

The curriculum, created in 2001 by music teacher David Wish, encourages music education from kindergarten through high school by teaching students contemporary rock, pop, punk and other genres.

The program has chapters in 19 cities. The largest is Dallas, with 7,125 students participating.

In February 2008, Wish led a two-day training seminar for 34 Hillsborough music teachers. Little Kids Rock also donated about 800 new instruments plus training materials and continuing tutorials.

Hillsborough's curriculum officially started late last year.

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