FREE ​Music & Movement Time For Kids

Come and sing your heart out, play an instrument, and move to the beat!  Children of all ages are welcome (especially pre-school to grade 5). This program was started during Covid-19 in 2020 and due to its success, we decided to keep offering it. 

These sessions are FREE to the community and held monthly via Zoom and sometimes in person at a library. Register using the link on the flyer to receive the Zoom code or email recruitment@musicforminors2.org .

Become a musical sponsor to help support this event by donating $100+. In return you will receive recognition at the event, on MFMII social media and our newsletter. All donations are most welcome:
https://www.musicforminors2.org/support-us.html 

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FREE presentations are available to MFMII schools/classes on a first come, first served basis, due to budget limitations. 
​If you are interested in any of these amazing presentations, please contact us: 
email: [email protected], tel: 510-733-1189. 

1.  Family Music Nights

Music For Minors II (MFMII) continues to offer free MFMII Family Music Nights. This consists of one hour of musical fun for parents, grandparents and children, in 3 rotating musical stations of singing / signing songs, rhythmic movement / dance, and instrumentation. Our staff and MFMII school docents present this and we usually recruit docents for your school, at these fun-filled events. 
Click here for more information.

2.  Taiko Drumming

MFMII is pleased to continue to sponsor interactive TAIKO drumming sessions for MFMII classes. Terry Eustice from Wadaiko Taiko will bring his 30 small taiko drums which could be set up in a multi-purpose room (MUR). MFMII classes could take it in turns to come into the MUR and experience the joy of Taiko. Terry can teach up to 4 MFMII classes back to back (20-30 minutes each) in one day, at one school. Please allow Terry a break in between classes. Terry is an inspiring instructor who will teach your students about rhythm, cooperation, teamwork and following directions to create dynamic music. Your classes will come away from this inspired and wanting to learn more.

3.  Blues in The Schools (BITS)

Following a Blues in the Schools workshop in 2018, MFMII is pleased to present BITS in-class presentations (30 minutes each) to MFMII classes - grades 2-5. The presentation will include blues music and its history, blues instruments and how it influenced other styles of music.

Did you know that blues music grew out of church / spiritual music and work songs and that popular folk songs such as “I've Been Working on the Railroad” and “Pick A Bale of Cotton” are really true stories about the arduous lives of laborers, railroad workers and field workers? Adults sang these songs as they worked hard under the hot sun and they found that music made their work go faster and easier. You can do that too, when you have work to do. Such tales of pain, frustration, fear and hope of the hard-working, often oppressed people, lie at the heart of the blues. The blues had a baby and they named it “Rock ‘n’ Roll”.

4.  Christina's Travel Stories (video only)

The video presentations are by Christina Mok, a professional violinist. For grades K-1.

Be prepared to be dazzled by the charming violinist Christina Mok as she presents a wonderful 30 minute musical program about a violinist’s musical travels through 5 countries (France, Russia, Austria, Argentina and USA). The children will be mesmerized at Christina’s skills on the violin while playing the classics such as "Stars and Stripes Forever" and "The Blue Danube" and “Trepak". Each country visited through music is also portrayed pictorially. What a musical treat for these wee ones!

​5.  Red, White & Blue Classroom Presentations (Patriotic Singalong)

Since 2019 Barry Walter has generously offered to come to MFMII classrooms to play his guitar and sing patriotic songs with your MFMII classes, along with telling the history behind the songs. Each classroom presentation will last 30 minutes and is suitable for grades 2-5. Barry will send the lyrics to teachers electronically for them to print or project. For grades TK-1st, Barry can do a short version of the presentation (2-4 songs).

Songs will include:
Home on the Range, My Country Tis of Thee, When Johnny Comes Marching Home, Take Me Home Country Roads, The Star Spangled Banner, This Land Is Your Land, She's A Grand Old Flag, Yankee Doodle, America the Beautiful, Clementine.

6.  Parachute Fun & Dance - NEW for 2024

​MFMII is pleased to announce a new free 30 minute presentation to MFMII classes (TK, K and 1st grades only). MFMII staff will bring a parachute and students will experience dancing and moving with the parachute to music eg La Raspa, Star Wars. Some dances will also be taught eg Mexican Hat dance, Patty Cake Polka, Liza Jane, Seed dance, Birdie dance.

​Teachers would need to reserve the MUR for this or it could be held outside depending on the weather.
  
Parachutes and dancing help kids develop a sense of rhythm, tempo, follow directions, promote cooperation and team-building, learn turn-taking skills and it’s a great way to get kids moving. Pure fun!