Last week, I sat at my desk here at NMS, listening to multiple lessons being taught from the school, and my eyes teared up with the beautiful work I could- finally- hear with my own ears for the first time in over a year. The majority of those lessons were being taught remotely(from the school), which will continue throughout the summer. In the next few weeks, we will be bringing students back with our teaching artists who will be on site***. This process will be thoughtful and intentional, and we are so filled with gratitude that we are able to begin this return and welcome our students back in person and online.

(Please note: ***Teaching Artists are not required to return to NMS to teach in person yet, so please know this is for us to initiate return and does not ensure that your child will return to in-person instruction immediately.)

Limited space is still available for all of our summer camp programs that begin next week!

The summer camps are open to students aged 8-17, and has a capacity of 5 in-person students per week. Hours will be from 10am-2pm, Monday-Friday, with the Friday session culminating in a performance that we will livestream for our parents and participating partners! In person tuition is $100 per week and enrollment is open now!

Week 1 June 21st-June 25th: Music is Colored Time- great for all ages!

Join Teacher Tany and guest artists as we explore and experiment with music through drawing, coloring, physical movement, rhythmic play, vocal sound effects, and found instruments.

Week 2 June 28-July 2: Warm up Techniques: Join Teacher Caster and guest artists to learn how to warm up effectively daily. This will enhance the variety of warm up techniques as well as finding suitable methods to help starting each practice sessions achieve musical goals. Efficient warm up will help one to overcome technical and musical problems in both short and long run musical journey.

Learn essential chords, basic note reading, rhythmic strumming and more in this class for new-to-uke students. No previous musical experience is required!

In this class, you will learn how to keep the beat on a drumset, learn various techniques and more! No previous experience required!

We all need some jazz in our life! Join Balam, Logan and Gerardo to explore playing together as a jazz ensemble!

Led by Teacher Rafael, Natalia, Elisa, Tany and other guest artists, this course aims at developing any musician’s (vocalist or instrumentalist, in any level) ability to look at their own sheet music and, through audiation and solfege, be able to recognize and anticipate basic rhythmic and melodic patterns.

Neighborhood Music School alumni can be found far and wide. They always are doing the coolest things! Check out NMS alumnus, Charles J. Fearing playing guitar for Merry Clayton in her dream-team lineup of a Tiny Desk Concert! Amazing! Watch it here!

FREE VACCINE CLINIC at LAMusArt!

Walk-ins are welcome Saturday, June 19 & June 26 for 2 dose Pfizer vaccines for ages 12+ and 1 dose J&J vaccines for ages 18+ between 8am and 2pm at 3630 E 3rd St. Los Angeles, CA 90063. If you prefer, you may schedule a vaccination appointment at vaccine.fulgentgenetics.com to confirm your appointment. If you need help with scheduling your appointment or have questions, please call them at (323) 262-7734 or email StayInTune@LAMusArt.org

Arts for LA is facilitating free training for student leaders interested in getting more involved in the movement for equitable arts education. The 90-minute training will offer students some concrete organizing & advocacy skills, as well as space to begin building a student-led campaign in support of arts education.

We recognize that, while trends continue to improve, we are still in the midst of a pandemic, and everyone's safety is our number one priority. We will continue to offer online classes (even after the pandemic) both from the NMS house and the homes of our teaching artists.

Returning to the NMS house will include the protocols that we shared last July(when we initially intended to reopen) and are described in the video at the end of this message.

Please keep your Showtime! videos coming! They bring such joy and showcase your awesome development! For the month of December, please share your favorite holiday tradition in your introduction! Please Email videos to office@neighborhoodmusic.org.

Subscribe to our Youtube Channel and follow us on Instagram and Facebook! Each day, we are posting new music and performances on our social media- check it out!

Be well and make beautiful music,

Karen, Jeanine, Liz and Melissa

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When we do return to NMS in person, the following policies and procedures will be in place. You can also watch this video !