Music Is First

Spring Break is around the corner! Ami (and a guest appearance of someone very special!) shares how she makes mallets with items from around her house. We hope this sparks some creative ideas for you during the break! https://youtu.be/LFBfIrJKzqI

An amazing lesson by Ms. Maria. Found Sounds and Nature's Instruments!!!

Join Ms. Maria in Song!

Meet the Music Is First Family! This is Ms. Maria De La Rosa! This week, we will be sharing the amazing resources she has created. Here is more about her: María de la Rosa, native of Sal Si Puedes (East Side San José, CA), credits homemade tortillas, making/breaking piñatas, waking up to the mañanitas, singing guadalupana and misa songs and dancing on her dad’s toes at family gatherings as origins of her artistic inspiration and her respect and love of heritage arts. At S...tanford, a folklórico class was her first opportunity to formally study the arts and the realization that, in addition to their aesthetic value, cultural arts are vital in the shaping and sustaining of the health and well-being of a community over generations. María has since studied and collaborated with masters of Mexican dance and music; taught; performed in Hawaii and Mexico and throughout California; and received awards and recognition for her work. She guest lectures in universities and colleges throughout the Bay Area and beyond; a most recent endeavor is collaborating on a project to nurture the son jarocho tradition in the Central Valley through Stanislaus State University and visioning and creating space to experience fandango in a time of social distancing. Her 2019 premiere of Las Peteneras received funding from the NEA, NPN, National Association of Latino Arts and Culture, Center for Cultural Innovation and Dancer’s Group. She works in Oakland Unified School District as a music teacher and throughout the Bay Area as a free-lance artist developing works that reflect cultural heritage, acknowledge and uplift community art making, and promote visionary reconsideration of artistic cultural traditions. She completed her Masters in Education at Stanford University and holds a professional clear CA teaching credential. See more

Learn how to make instruments with Kim Agnew !

Our friend Stefanie is a teaching artist in San Diego and here is her "rocking" version of Baby Shark on UKE!

HELP US CONTINUE TO GIVE: Thanks to Intermusic, we received a $4,000 grant we are using as seed-funding to record a multicultural children's album (featuring Bay Area's Finest musicians!) that have many of the songs used in our Music Is First programming! Help us raise an additional $7,500 to pay a fair recording wage to our artists and to provide these albums to each child in the classrooms we work with for free. We will be providing this album on all streaming platforms, bu...t also providing a physical old-fashioned CD for teachers in classrooms who don't always have access to WIFI and try to keep off of their computers so they can engage with their pre-school audience. $25 provides two albums $50 provides four albums $75 provides six albums.... you get the pattern!! (As you know Ami and Alyson dedicate many hours to provide free resources. An angel donor will help pay for: overhead costs, website fees, insurance, and time to provide you with more resources) https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/NjQ3NTI=

Hi Parents! We ran across these fun ideas to teach letter formation to your tactile learner. My son loves these activities. I hope your kids do too!

We wanted to share some of our local gems, talented artists who continue to stick it out in the Bay Area and are challenged at this time with loss of income.. They are part of the cultural wealth of resources the Bay Area has to offer. https://www.musicisfirst.com//top-ten-plus-artists-in-the-

Sound Walls are extremely important to the overall gross motor development of all preschoolers. Learn how to make one here! https://www.musicisfirst.com///1/25/lets-make-a-sound-wall

Distance Learning is ramping up! Here is a great family activity taught by Ms. Kim. Learn Color, Beats, and dots! Please share with your friends! https://www.musicisfirst.com//color-beats-and-dots-with-ms

Distance Learning is ramping up! We are here for you! Check out Mr. Mark singing "Who Came First? The Chicken or the Egg" Please Share with your friends! https://www.musicisfirst.com//sing-along-with-mr-mark-whic