Music

Now that summer is almost over, it’s once again time to sign up the kids for fall classes. One thing my kids really enjoy are music programs. They love to sing and dance to the music and play the different instruments offered. We’ve tried a few different classes around Marin and the North Bay, and really like the Kindermusik programs offered here in Novato by Music with Melissa and the Mary Ann Hall's Music for Children. Regardless of which program you choose, there is a music class for every child from newborn to grade school.

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Get ready to dance in the aisles at the Marin Symphony Family Concert on Sunday, September 28 at 3 pm. The theme of this family-friendly concert is “Gotta Dance!”, and features famous walzes, tangos, can-cans, polkas, and ballet music. The Marin Symphony’s Family Concerts are special one-hour programs designed to introduce children to the wonders of symphonic music. Conducted by George Thompson and narrated by KDFC radio’s Hoyt Smith, the concert features classical works by Strauss, Hayden, Offenbach, Tchaikovsky, and others. The concert takes place in the Marin Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium at Marin Center in San Rafael.

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Every two years UC Berkeley presents the Berkeley Festival and Exhibition, a week-long celebration of early music featuring renowned musicians from around the world. Early music, if you're not familiar with the term, refers to music from the middle ages through approximately the end of the 18th century, played on instruments of the period and using period performance practice. While much of this may not be all that interesting to kids, they usually present at least one family friendly concert.
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In our second in a series of interviews with Bay Area children's musicians, we talk to singer and instrumentalist Betsy Stern, who's  jazz- and world-influenced music for children and families can be heard at live venues throughout the area, such as Novato's Playtime Safari, and in her new CD Foyo. In fact, we're giving away a free copy of Foyo, courtesy of Betsy Stern, to one lucky visitor to this site. To enter the drawing, send an email to contests@marinmommies.com with the word "Foyo" in the subject line by midnight on Sunday, June 1, 2008. We'll select one winner at random on Monday, June 2. 

Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your new CD.
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One of the things our family loves is music, and in the Bay Area there's no shortage of skilled and talented musicians who specialize in performing for children. One of the most popular performers in both Marin and San Francisco is multi-instrumentalist and singer Enzo Garcia, who has been delighting children and their parents with his "Breakfast with Enzo" for over five years. In what he hope is the first of a series of interviews with area musicians, we asked Enzo some questions about himself and his music and why he loves doing what he does.

The Marin Music Chest presents its free annual concert featuring student musicians honored with this year’s award scholarships. It will take place at San Domenico School in the Hall of the Arts Music Pavilion on Sunday, May 4 at 2:30 pm. The concert will feature classical solo performances on piano, violin, cello, and harp by each of the 13 Marin Music Chest scholarship winners. A reception will follow the concert. The Marin Music Chest was established in 1933. After more than forty years of presenting concerts, the Marin Music Chest made the annual scholarship program its primary mission, providing financial support to promising Marin County students of classical music. The Music Music Chest celebrates its 75th Anniversary this year.
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Are you looking for a fun music class for your child? One popular music class is Music Together of Marin, a family music education program for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and their families and caregivers. Beth Crespan, a former preschool teacher, started her business 10 years ago, and offers ongoing classes in Ross, Mill Valley, Corte Madera, and San Anselmo. One of Beth’s goals is for students to bring the music home that they learned in class and share it with their families.

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Bring the whole family to this sweet and wondrous opera, The Little Prince. Cal Performances and San Francisco Opera team up to bring you a beloved classic of children's literature May 2- May 11, 2008. Sung in English, this fable by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry is about a pilot who crash-lands in the desert and meets an open hearted boy from another planet. This opera offers a valuable lesson for the family: a gentle reminder to hold on to what is truly important in life.

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