Sunday, May 2, 2010

Actividades especiales para ninos en New York!

Here are some great activities for kids in the month of May:

MAMITAS DAY!
You gotta love the title (it's so much spicier than Mother's Day!). This FREE event put on by Ballet Hispanico offers moms and their monos a variety of dance classes including salsa, Afro-Caribbean and Latin Ballroom, and even the opportunity for your budding artista to make you a gift at their arts and crafts station.
WHEN: Saturday, May 8, 11 am to 3 pm (a day before the official Mamitas Day ;)
WHERE: Ballet Hispanico, 167 W. 89th St., Columbus/Amsterdam Aves, Manhattan
AGES: From 2 years through teens
PRICES: FREE!
MORE INFO: 212-362-6710, ballethispanico.org

VIVA PINOCHO!/A MEXICAN PINOCCHIO
and
RICITOS Y LOS 3 OSITOS/GOLDIELOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS
and
LA MUELA DEL REY DE FARFAN/THE TOOTHACHE OF KING FARFAN
During the month of May Teatro SEA is offering two old chestnuts with a new spin, and a musical (zarzuela) from Spain. In the famous folktale about a wooden boy, Pinocho is a young Mexican immigrant trying to hold on to his cultural heritage after moving to the States; Goldielocks learns to take responsibility and say she's sorry; and a stubborn King learns to love and respect others.
WHEN: Various dates between May 8th and 29th
WHERE: Various locations in Manhattan
AGES: All
PRICES: Children 2-12, $12.50; under 2 free; adults $15
MORE INFO: sea-online.info

EL MUSEO DEL BARRIO-TARGET SUPER SABADO
In addition to getting to explore the museum's collection free, there are special activities planned for families all day around the neighborhood.
WHEN: Saturday, May 15, 11 am to 6 pm
WHERE: Various locations near El Museo, 1230 Fifth Ave, E. 104/105 Sts, Manhattan
AGES: All
PRICES: FREE!
MORE INFO: 212-831-7272, elmuseo.org

TEATRO HUGO E INES
This Peruvian theater company uses nontraditional puppets to enact short stories. There's an evening performance on Friday, but on Saturday there's a workshop where kids will explore mime and create characters making funny shapes with their hands.
WHEN: Friday, May 28, 7 pm; Saturday, May 29, 1 pm
WHERE: Flushing Town Hall
137-35 Northern Blvd at Main St., Flushing, Queens
AGES: Old enough to sit through a theater performance (my guess)
PRICES: Children under 13, $8, adults, $12
MORE INFO: 718-463-7700, flushingtownhall.com

YOGA FOR KIDS EN ESPANOL!
The name says it all! Although their spring session just began, it's worth contacting them to see if you can still sign up; if not, find out about future sessions.
WHEN: May 1 to June 19
WHERE: 78 Reade St. at Church St., Manhattan
AGES: 18m to 6 years
PRICES: $125 for 6 week session
MORE INFO: bodyandmindbuilders.com

Please let me know of any other activities for kids that are in Spanish, Spanish and English, or of interest to Hispanics and hispanophiles.

Que gocen!

Friday, March 12, 2010

¡Música para adultos!

Here are some more musical suggestions for ways to spend your date nights (you are remembering to make some time for your spouse, right?).

One of our Upper West Side moms, jazz singer Sari Kessler, performs with her trio in the neighborhood every Wednesday at Bar Luna. Check out her vocals at http://www.myspace.com/sarikessler.

Argentine Sofia Tosello (a former MPM teacher who still subs for us) is singing tangos on Thursdays this month at Tutuma Social Club in Midtown on the east side. I just heard her there last night and was blown away by her beautiful, impassioned singing. You can hear samples from her recently release cd at http://sofiatosello.com. Tutuma is a small club on E. 56th, with wonderful Peruvian food, which is a bit pricey, but there's no cover charge or minimum, so it works out to be about the same as having dinner at any club with a cover charge.

So get a sitter, ask abuela to do her duty, take an evening off from being mamá and papá, and enjoy some music for adults!

Friday, February 26, 2010

Guerra de bolas de nieve!

Snowball fights might be a little violent for the little ones ;) so I've added a verse about snow to this rain song:

Si los copos de nieve fueran malvaviscos
Me encantaría estar ahí!
Abriría la boca para saborear
ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Si los copos de nieve fueran malvaviscos
Me encantaría estar ahi!

If snowflakes were marshmallows
I'd love to be there!
I'd open my mouth to taste
ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
If snowflakes were marshmallows
I'd love to be there!

I learned the song a decade ago from a little girl on Culebra, the beautiful island off of Puerto Rico (where my daughter and I will be vacationing this spring, woo-hoo!). But it's actually an American English song which was translated into Spanish, so I don't include it in the Musica Para Mi repertoire (we stick to traditional Hispanic children's songs). Those of you who grew up in the States may know the original version:

If all the raindrops were lemondrops and gumdrops
oh what a rain that would be!
Standing outside with my mouth open wide,
ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
If all the raindrops were lemondrops and gumdrops
oh what a rain that would be!

After doublechecking the lyrics online I saw that there are also lyrics in English for snowflakes and sunbeams.

So just go outside and open wide!

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Canciones Infantiles

I'm often asked for recommendations of children's music cd's, but sometimes it's hard to find them available for purchase in the U.S., even online. Of those available, my personal favorite is aptly named Canciones Infantiles, and is available at IslaOnline.com. It has a lovely old-fashioned sound; although the cd doesn't say when it was initially recorded, it sounds like it's either from the '40's or '50's. Unfortunately the musicians aren't credited either, so I don't know how to thank them for bringing their sweet sounds to children's ears! Isla is an online store with products from Puerto Rico, and also offers a selection of books for children and a few stuffed animals, including a coqui who makes the inimitable sound of the national symbol!

Monday, February 22, 2010

Familias musicales

I am very proud to count among my students many whose parents are musicians. The daughter of musicians myself (you can listen to some of my father's music at HalSteinJazz.com), I am living proof of the benefits of early exposure to music. I feel particularly honored when musicians choose to send their children to Música Para Mí because I know they're entrusting me with sharing in their greatest passion with their children.

I will occasionally let you know when some of our families' talents are being showcased locally. This is the first such occasion.

Pedro Giraudo is the father of Vera, who comes to one of our Boerum Hill classes. He is my favorite living composer! His amazing Argentine-flavored jazz orchestra will be performing at the Jazz Standard in Manhattan next Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, March 2nd and 3rd.

I know it's a big deal to get a night out when you've got a little one, but if you're a jazz fan I guarantee this performance would be worth the trouble!

I'll be there on Tuesday, so be sure to come up and say hi if you can make it.

Graciela

Thursday, February 18, 2010

A mimir

That's baby talk for time to go to sleep, something parents wish we could make them do when we'd like a rest ourselves! I just found a really lovely recording of canciones de cuna (lullabies) that's kind of like acoustic trance music for babies! The musicians chose instruments perfect for a sort of "sleepytime in the jungle" way to send your little one into slumber. Driver alert: if you play this in the car you may fall asleep yourself...I swear my lids started getting heavy listening.

It's called "Canciones de cuna/Lullabies" aptly enough. You can preview it on cdbaby.

Let me know if it helps get your pequenito a mimir!

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

A cumbanchero!

Check out this boy on a TV show in Cali, Colombia, cutting a rug to Ismael Rivera's recording of Rafael Hernandez' hit "El Cumbanchero", one of our songs this winter!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnDOAg2FWD0&feature=related

Monday, February 15, 2010

Another Presidents' Day

Here in the U.S., Presidents Day honors the accomplishments of George Washington, our first president, and Abraham Lincoln, arguably our most important. The most important President in South American history was Venezuelan Simon Bolivar (1783 – 1830), commonly known as El Liberador (the liberator). He was instrumental in creating the Republic of Colombia, which included parts of Colombia, Ecuador, Panama and Venezuela, and also contributed significantly to the independence from Spain of Bolivia and Peru.

His influence was, and continues to be felt and celebrated through the South American continent; his legacy in the history of Latin America can’t be overestimated. Some remaining tokens are that the currencies of Bolivia and Venezuela both bear his name; almost every city in Colombia and Venezuela had a square named after him, featuring a bust or statue of him, and he has his own President’s Day in both Ecuador and Venezuela. Even here in the US his presence hasn’t gone unnoticed: American towns in Missouri, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, and West Virginia, are named in his honor, as well as counties, statues, streets, a high school, a mountain and a peninsula; you can visit his statue right here in New York at the 6th Ave entrance to Central Park .

Let’s see if I remember to mention this again on July 24th, when it’s his own President’s Day.

Graciela


Thursday, February 11, 2010

Hola! Bienvenidos!

First, a little bit about our program. Música Para Mí was created in 1998 by Graciela Carriquí, a music teacher, singer and composer. While working as a music teacher for young children, she was approached by a pair of bilingual families who had been unable to find any programs in Spanish for their children. They asked her if she could create one and Música Para Mí was born!

Since the first class in the fall of 1998, Graciela has been dedicated to providing a fun and educational music environment for Spanish-speaking, bilingual and hispanophile families in New York City. We currently offer our music classes in a dozen neighborhoods throughout Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan for babies and toddlers aged 5 months through 3 years. In a Música Para Mí class, children sing traditional Spanish-language songs, play instruments and groove to latin beats along with their adults! Exposure to music and foreign language at such a young age sets the stage for a lifetime of musical and multicultural appreciation, all while having a great time!

We'd like to use this blog to connect with new families as well as keep in touch with our current and former students. In addition to keeping you informed about what's happening at M
úsica Para Mí, we'll also post about topics we think would be of interest to the entire community of families interested in the arts and Spanish education for their children.

For more information on our program, please visit us at www.musicaparami.com. Click here to be our fan on facebook! Also, if you are interested in signing up for a class, but notice that we are not currently offering them in your neighborhood, please let us know! We are always looking for neighborhood support in opening new locations.

Hasta pronto!

Rebecca Morhaim, Assistant to the Director
Música Para Mí
(718)643-6660
musicaparami@aol.com