Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Music Outreach topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Presenter urges keeping music and arts in El Segundo schools, highlights Afro‑Cuban and Latin influences
Summary
At an El Segundo City meeting, a community presenter described a music outreach emphasizing Afro‑Cuban, Latin and Mexican influences and said the program helps children build confidence, creativity and performance skills; program details and funding were not specified.
A presenter at an El Segundo City meeting said the community is preparing a music outreach that will introduce children to Afro‑Cuban, Latin and Mexican musical traditions and give students opportunities to perform.
Resident 2, a presenter, told the meeting, "What I'm gonna be doing today is introducing the influence of Afro Cuban Latin and Mexican music, that has influenced our music that we listen to today. All the different genres from jazz to rock and roll to salsa music ... are influenced by the African, Mexican, the Latino, Cuban, the Caribbean, styles of music." Resident 1, another commenter, said, "We're excited to bring this experience to the community, the El Segundo community, and, hopefully enjoy it."
The presenter said the program aims to show children "the grandfathers and the grandmothers of music" and to expose them early to a range of musical styles so shy students will feel more comfortable engaging in group activities. "Everyone loves music and it's a great way to engage with them and get them to connect with the creative parts of their brains," Resident 1 said. A participant who described a prior session as "a great day" added that feeling the percussion "resonate throughout the room was a great experience."
Speakers repeatedly connected the outreach to benefits for children, including self‑esteem, creativity and public performance practice. "They have the opportunity to actually perform in front of a group," Resident 2 said, adding that that experience can help students be less reserved in later situations like job interviews or class presentations.
No program name, schedule, budget or funding source was provided in the recorded remarks. Organizers and participants urged continued community participation and asked that music and arts remain in local schools. The presenter closed with an appeal to supporters: "I'm almost begging for everyone to participate in trying to keep this music and arts in the schools. It's so important."
