Keeping music in children’s classrooms and lives since 1988, Music for Minors II (MFMII), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, knows that music is essential to the healthy physical, emotional and social development of children and their academic success. Brain research verifies that music feeds the brain while it touches the heart and can unite and heal a classroom, school and community.
MFMII has impacted thousands of children, families and the community at large annually by recruiting, training and supporting parents, seniors, businessmen and women, retired teachers and professional musicians every fall and placing these volunteer music docents in classrooms for the school year sharing weekly music enrichment lessons in singing/signing songs, rhythmic movement/dance, instrumentation and listening appreciation.
High schoolers also join the program as volunteer helpers who earn their community service hours at MFMII booths, concerts or as creators of puppets and other visual aides for classroom use.
Children’s lives are transformed as well as those of the adult volunteers who serve them. Schools become spirited and joyful learning centers as classrooms, hallways and play yards resound with the power and beauty of musical melodies and catchy rhythms. Lessons also reinforce core curriculum areas of language arts, math and science for long-lasting learning.
In addition, MFMII provides performance opportunities for children on professional stages in the community, sponsoring an after school Kinder, 60+ member Kids Choir, monthly “Music and Movement” library sessions for families and musical talent contests.
Community members of all cultures and backgrounds are welcome to come to this year’s MFMII Docent Training. Classes are held on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from Sept. 15 to Nov. 3 from 9:15 to 11:45am at United Church of Christ in Fremont. Every class is free and fun-filled.
Thanks to the Alameda County Arts Commission Artsfund grant as well as other donors for their support of our training class this year. Hats off to the Fremont Education Foundation for partnering with MFMII for the past three years in support of classroom teachers who want MFMII in their classrooms.
Visit MFMII at musicforminors2.org for more training information, pictures and docent testimonials. Call 510.733.1189 or email in**@*************s2.org.
