YOUTH MUSIC MONTEREY www.youthmusicmonterey.org/

Youth Music Monterey provides three youth orchestras and school string instrument classes for students in Monterey County.

The Youth and Honors Orchestras are led by professional conductor Larry Granger and feature approximately 120 student musicians. The South County Strings program provides free string instruments to more than 120 students in grades 3-12.

CARMEL CLASSIC GUITAR SOCIETY www.starrsites.com/CarmelClassicGuitar/

The Carmel Classic Guitar Society promotes the classical guitar through education, recitals and gatherings.

Monterey was the first capital of Spanish California. The Spaniards brought the guitar with them, and it was probably the first European instrument played in California. From those humble beginnings the guitar has remained a dynamic force in the musical scene on the Monterey Peninsula.

MONTEREY JAZZ FESTIVAL www.montereyjazzfestival.org/

Traveling Clinicians Program
Throughout the school year, the Monterey Jazz Festival brings professional musicians to Monterey County schools, teaching students how to play jazz. MJF Clinicians work with these young musicians and vocalists in their music classes, teaching fundamentals, sight reading, improvisation, and performance.

Summer Jazz Camp
Every year, MJF makes summer swing for hundreds of Monterey County music students in an intensive two-week non-resident Summer Jazz Camp experience. Students learn from performances and clinics by renowned musicians, including our Artist-In-Residence and guest artists. Camp culminates with students performing in their own public concerts

MONTEREY BLUES FESTIVAL www.montereyblues.com/

At a time when schools are rapidly losing funding for arts programs, the Monterey Blues Festival has stepped in to help fill the vacuum. In 2005, over one hundred students received scholarships. Scholarship recipients who demonstrated the highest aptitude and the strongest desire to share their gifts, earned 'medalist honors' entitling them to MBBF's largest scholarships. Additional grants to a variety of high school and after school arts programs throughout the region, has also helped to build diverse and accessible study programs.

The Monterey Bay 'Blues in the Schools' Program.
The Monterey Bay "Blues in the Schools" program seeks to broaden student perspectives and nurture their understanding and performance of the blues. The concept for the "Blues in the Schools" project includes an innovative learning environment, utilizing our blues-based community, with a diversity of programs to learn how to play, apply and perform the blues.

CARMEL BACH FESTIVAL www.bachfestival.org/

In 2006 the Carmel Bach Festival established partnerships with local youth groups and community organizations to introduce Baroque music to a wider audience.  The program allows groups such as YMCA, Boys & Girls Club, Boys & Girls Scouts, church youth groups, senior facilities, summer school programs, schools in Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties and others to have free access to the inspiring music of the Carmel Bach Festival.

The Carmel Bach Festival provides groups with preparation materials.  The materials address topics such as: What to wear?  What happens at a concert?  What to listen for?  What kind of music is this?  Who is performing?  There are also interesting facts about Baroque music, Bach, and this time period in history. 

All the materials are prepared with the knowledge that this might be the first concert or performance for many members of the community. The materials give teachers, counselors or group leaders something to present to the group before the concert and ideas for follow-up after the concert. The Carmel Bach Festival is currently developing an Education section for the website so that it will be a valuable resource for interested groups.

FIRST NIGHT MONTEREY www.firstnightmonterey.org/

The Mission of First Night Monterey is to bring families together and unite the community, in all it's diversity, through the arts.

The First Night Outreach Program is a wonderful example of our success.

During the year we team up professional artists with various organizations and schools throughout Monterey County to create art in many forms, which is presented at the First Night Celebration. Each year we encourage hundreds of people who may have previously felt isolated from their communities to take center stage and explore their creativity.

The projects the students develop with the professional First NIght artists give them a unique vehicle for self-expression, a special pride in their abilities and a new perspective regarding their own possibilities. They become connected to the broader community by seeing their work appreciated by thousands of families at First Night.

Thanks to our sponsors and donors, this program served 1,000 families last year.

CARMEL CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY www.chambermusicmontereybay.org/

Monterey County Summer Music Program (MCSMP)
Besides presenting world-class concert events, Chamber Music Monterey Bay is also deeply concerned about music participation and performance from childhood on. We know that many local schools lack music instruction; some children are never exposed to classical music, and many parents lack the funds for kids' private lessons or lessons at all. Yet, as youngsters who became life-long chamber music lovers, many of us have experienced the formative value of summer music camps first hand. So, we know that such programs improve our children's education and quality of life, develop self-esteem, social and leadership skills, and provide an experience now all too rare in public education.

These facts led us to establish the Monterey County Summer Music Program (MCSMP), a week-long summer day camp (9am - 3pm) for music students from local Monterey County schools, grades 4 - 12. It offers experienced coaching for strings, including: beginning instruction, intermediate string orchestra, chamber music for advanced students, and, beginning in Summer 2005, music theory classes. It began in 1998 with 37 string players and blossomed to accommodate 90 enthusiastic kids in 2004. We expect future growth in the years ahead and plan to remain a self-sustained community offering indefinitely.

For many children chamber music via MCSMP is a unique experience. The MCSMP provides individual coaching, the thrill of daily ensemble, and performances for each group at week's end. It also allows children, unable to afford lessons, the experience of quality musical instruction. The MCSMP is the only local program that targets local music students. It also feeds students into the Youth Music Monterey (YMM) Youth and Honors Orchestras, and advanced chamber music classes at Monterey Peninsula College. Our staff includes:

and we use other qualified teachers for coaching and instructing chamber music. Applications are sent to Youth Music Monterey participants and beginners in the All Saints School program and to all local public school and private music teachers.

MARYLEE www.maryleemusic.com/

MaryLee performs musical shows of traditional and original songs and tales! She has the perfect repertoire for little children and their grownups! Shows are fast-paced, fun and funny with lots of singing along and audience participation!