Robert Rodriguez donates 'Spy Kids' film score to Austin Classical Guitar teachers

Austin film director Robert Rodriguez has donated the rights to a medley of the music that he composed for his "Spy Kids" movies to Austin Classical Guitar for use on the trailblazing group's digital teaching platform, which is employed by students and teachers around the country.

In addition, Rodriguez, a composer and guitarist, has directed an elaborate video of Austin Classical Guitar students performing a medley of his music to promote the nonprofit's services and inspire kids and other musicians.

The guitar orchestra performance, filmed at the Long Center for Performing Arts, goes live at 8 a.m. Oct. 19 at youtu.be/8NKHihWDXQY.

Why did Robert Rodriguez give away the rights to his music?

“I love what Austin Classical Guitar does for thousands of kids in schools across the country, building new music education programs, providing instruments and free lessons, as well as bringing the joy of music to Title 1 schools and juvenile justice centers," Rodriguez said. "I’ve also noticed over the years while playing guitar on the movie sets of my own family films that my child actors would also be inspired to learn to play guitar."

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ACG has pioneered group guitar education in high schools, middle schools, detention centers and elsewhere. It developed a method for teaching guitar to the blind. The group partners regularly with the Austin school district along with other districts.

"The partnership with ACG has yielded tremendous results in recruitment and retention," said Phillip Taylor, director of visual and performing arts for the Austin school district, in a testimonial letter. "Guitar is now the second largest program in Austin high school and middle school campuses — first is band, followed in third with orchestra, and fourth with choir. Not only does this partnership expand interest in the arts, but it provides an affordable instrument option for students interested in become a musician."

Rodriguez is a fan of ACG and attends performances at its still-new Rosette theater, located in the historic Baker School Building in Hyde Park, which is owned and operated by Tim and Karrie League.

How 'Spy Kids' music will benefit music teachers and their students

Securing consistent licenses to included commercial music for ACG's teaching platform, GuitarCurriculum, had been elusive.

"A gift like this from Robert Rodriguez is huge for us," said Matthew Hinsley, executive director of Ausitn Classical Guitar. "Adding the 'Spy Kids' score to our teacher resource means that students will be able to play fun and engaging music they recognize from the movies.

"And having a Robert Rodriguez-directed music video is simply thrilling, it’s thrilling for the kids who participated, and hopefully it will inspire more kids to play music, and more people in the community to follow Robert’s example, and get involved in supporting music education in schools.

"*Until now, we have relied primarily on original music created by our team, or arrangements of public domain material to build our — now pretty vast — teaching library."

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Robert Rodriguez gifts 'Spy Kids' score to Austin Classical Guitar