2020 Spring Newsletter
Celebrating our seniors, YAMA @ Sphinx, and Possibilites en acción.
¡EN ACCIÓN! – 2020 spring newsletter
What’s happening with Yakima Music en Acción
celebrating our seniors
A.S. Pualani and Stephanie Hsu sat down with YAMA’s first graduating seniors — who have been with us since the start — to hear their reflections about their time with YAMA.
Enerida Mendoza
Length of time with YAMA: 7 years
Instruments played: violin, viola, bass, ‘cello
Favorite YAMA leadership positions: Assistant Teacher and Section Leader Plans for next year: Studying Music at Central Washington University (CWU)
Itzel Pérez
Length of time with YAMA: 8 years
Instrument played: viola
Favorite YAMA leadership positions: Assistant Teacher and Concert Planning
Plans for next year: Studying Business and Music at CWU or the University of Washington
YAMA AT SPHINX CONFERENCE
Five students and seven staff flew to Detroit for a convention hosted by Sphinx, a national organization dedicated to transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts. We participated in sessions on navigating the classical music world as musicians of color and educators in a field lacking diversity, and we witnessed an internationally-acclaimed competition for young Black and Latinx musicians. Some take-aways:
“I’d never traveled out of the state without my family. When you go to the symphony orchestra it’s majority White and it was really cool getting to experience seeing people of color being in an orchestra. It was powerful.” —Liset, 16 years old, violin
“When I saw the Sphinx orchestra, I could see myself more in that orchestra because there’s people like me. It made me believe in myself - I can be like that and make a difference and not be just for diversity, but be there because I’m talented.” —Enerida, 18 years old, violin
“Before going to Sphinx I knew I was a minority and how little people of color are in certain things. But it reminded me that I am that percentage of people who aren’t only going into music but going into college and doing something better for themselves.” —Itzel, 17 years old, viola
“It inspired me to keep playing music. I want to inspire those small ones who think that classical music may just be for White people but for them to see that there’s other people and make them have those thoughts that it’s also for them.” —Nataly, 16 years old, ‘cello
POSSIBILITIES EN ACCIÓN
Our students are at the center of every decision we make. This clarity of focus is a beacon of light in times like this, amidst a pandemic that has caught the primary attention of most humans on earth. At YAMA, we are actively generating possibilities to address the immediate needs of our students and community in this time. Our creative wheels are in motion, and our experimenter minds and hands are active in play. This is the energy that drives the YAMA family: a group concerned about safety and well-being, and at-the-ready with ways to creatively support the growth of our students.
As a member of the YAMA community, we wanted to send you love and a reminder that we are in this together. As a community, we share this vision of music as a connecting social force that builds community. We have made the difficult decision to cancel the rest of our live, public events in April and May, but stay tuned! We’ll share how you can virtually participate in our spring musical offerings:
Facebook: facebook.com/yama.program
YouTube: youtube.com/yamaorchestra
E-mail: hello@yamamusic.org
Instagram: @yamaprogram
Follow or reach out to us to experience how our students and team are still putting possibilities into action.
Students and families with access to the fewest resources are hardest hit at this time, and your gift will support our team as we rally in solidarity with our students. You can make a tax-deductible contribution online at yamamusic.org/donate or by sending a check to P.O. Box 317, Yakima, WA 98907. Your generosity makes it possible for our youth to grow as leaders through music.
2019 Spring Newsletter
How are we doing as both a music program and a social program? Developing students both musically and socially are interconnected processes that must work together.
¡EN ACCIÓN! – 2019 spring newsletter
What’s happening with Yakima Music en Acción
Self-Reflection, Growth, and the Future
How are we doing as both a music program and a social program? Developing students both musically and socially are interconnected processes that must work together. Twice a year, YAMA asks students and parents to weigh in on how things are going, how they’d like to make YAMA better, and what kind of personal growth they are observing. All of this is part of our annual program-wide processes to assess outcomes and impact and to continuously improve the efficacy of YAMA. Some highlights:
37% of students shared that music would play a role for them in the future. Of those respondents:
48% of these students plan to study or have professional careers in music.
52% of these students
YAMA students saw growth in these aspects of their lives:
34% as musicians
16% in social skills
14% in school
13% other
13% in navigating stressors
10% in self love
Why yama?
“A lot of people ask me why I go. It’s because I can express myself through music. You can express your feelings, like if you’re angry or if you’re happy. I can get out my instrument and play. I see Ms. Hsu as a role model. I remember sitting in an assembly and seeing Ms. Hsu play and I knew that I wanted to be like her when I get older. I want to perform and teach.” —Lixy Gonzalez, Chamber Orchestra Concertmaster
“ Not only do children learn to play quickly with YAMA, they feel so free and competent to explore with music that they learned in class. YAMA has opened up the world of music-making for our daughters in a way that we never could have imagined. Music fills our house and our daughters’ hearts and I love that. YAMA has been a gift for our family.” —Alfredo Merino, YAMA father
“Many of our students who have enrolled in YAMA live wherethey are exposed to a much harder lifestyle than any child should be exposed. But with the help and encouragement of our teachers at YAMA, these young people learn to focus their attention on achieving an objective, instead of getting caught up in things that can shorten life-potential such as substance abuse or violent activities... YAMA creates a momentary emotional refuge for some of our students.” —Joseph Zambrano, Program Coordinator & YAMA father
SUPPORT YAMA! Make an impact today.
Consider making a tax-deductible donation to YAMA online at www.yamamusic.org/donate or by sending a check to P.O. Box 317, Yakima, WA, 98907. Your contribution makes a difference for our students.