Written By Randy Simer, Elite Magazine, July 2007
If you were to discover a teaching tool that opens neural connections in your young child’s brain to increase skills in mathematics, language, and reading, would you use it? And what if it was already paid for but still not being offered at his school? Wouldn’t you do everything in your power to see that it is implemented? That is the situation with Music Education in Santa Clarita. Little of it is offered in our schools, but one person who is passionate about its value and is doing everything she can to help its growth in SCV is Mindy Cabral. Owner of The Little School of Music on Bouquet Canyon Rd., Cabral is lending her musical teaching expertise to the area’s elementary schools for their music enrichment classes. Raised in Thousand Oaks, CA, she studied at both Julliard and USC and has taught at prestigious private schools such as Crossroads in Santa Monica, where she realized that teaching very young children was her calling. She says, “I found that I really connected with the younger children. I saw how important it was for kids and I realized how lucky I was to have this as a kid in the Conejo Valley. Music at home is not as common anymore, either
Last year, Cabral brought her teaching skills to Bouquet Canyon Elementary, North Park Elementary and Bridgeport Elementary. She also worked with Monticello, a private school. Although funding has traditionally been lacking in regard to music programs, all California elementary schools currently receive a block grant specifically for this purpose. “The problem is that many schools have the money but don’t know what to do with it,” states Cabral. “To make these programs successful, it requires parents and faculty working together to see it through.” She credits people such as Bouquet Canyon Elementary P.T.A. members Ming Peterson and Lori Russum for their efforts in delivering music education to their students. “My feeling is there should be a general music class for all students. Then you can also have your specialty classes. That way every child is getting the same basic music education.” Santa Clarita is fortunate to have such a talented and enthusiastic advocate for our children’s musical education.