Born in Chiapas, México, Miguelito Martinez studied Music Education and Transversal Flute from the University of Science and Art in Chiapas and La Universidad Veracruzana. Miguelito has been trained in Kodaly and Dalcroze, and he has his Orff Schulwerk music certification by the San Francisco Orff International Levels and a master class with immersive, hands-on experience in Orff-Schulwerk, African Indigenous Music Education in Ghana. He has an intensive experience teaching multicultural music from preschool to the post-graduate level in Mexico, Cuba, and the US. Miguelito has been a guest clinician for the AOSA (American Orff-Schulwerk Association), CMEA (California Music Education Association), and Oakland Unified District. Miguelito was a music teacher specialist for Young Imagination, East Bay Center for Performing Arts and Youth in Arts teaching all over the Bay Area from kindergarten until high school. Miguelito has been a guest lecturer for San Francisco State, UC Berkeley, San Jose State, UC Santa Cruz, Fresno State, San Francisco City College. For many years, Miguelito was working at Escuela Bilingue Internacional, developing an IB (International Baccalaureate) music curriculum. In 2009 he was selected by the Milagro Foundation to be on the Voces del Cambio show on the Discovery Channel in which he shared his insight on how to utilize music as an instrument for newcomer children from Latin America to integrate into their new community. Martinez has been a music teacher and multicultural arts educator since 2004 in the Bay Area. Currently, he is the middle school music teacher specialist at Park Day School in Oakland, CA.
Original bilingual songs composed by Youth in Arts Mentor Artist Miguel Martinez had the children clapping and singing along in both Spanish and English
The EBI music program is full of fun and diversity. Enjoy this short video of our students in the 7th Grade Music Program.
Music Education Resources for Teachers and Parents
Inspired by Living Sunlight: How Plants Bring the Earth to Life by Molly Bang & Penny Chisholm, Youth in Arts worked with musician/composer Miguel Martinez to create an original musical theater production, staged in Spring 2012 in San Rafael, California. The show featured three students who were dubious about the value of photosynthesis in their lives and learned a valuable lesson about how this amazing scientific process actually powers all life on earth. This recording of songs from the musical was made in the summer of 2013 by Miguel Martinez, members of the original cast and additional vocalists. To find out more about this project and receive study guides or other materials, contact yia@youthinarts.org.
Thanks to the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation for making this recording possible and accessible to all!
Music by Miguel Martinez
Lyrics by Miko Lee, Jen Daly and Nydia Algazzali Gonzalez
Keyboard, Drums & Bass: Julio De La Cruz
Guitar: Miguel Martinez
Vocalists: Nydia Algazzali Gonzalez, Ayame Keane-Lee, Ian Daly, Mercedes Bertero, Michelle Jaqcues, Rhea Lee
Insight into the making of the book Viva Frida. With spare, polished text and luscious illustrations, award-winning author/illustrator Yuyi Morales explores the passionate, imaginative of the incomparable Frida Kahllo.Video with Music by Miguel Martinez.
Theme of the book ¨Viva Frida¨. A celebration of life as an art creation!!
New Generation of a traditional Mexican music with poetry, literature and the experiences of Latino life in the United States.
This song is the collaboration of two amazing Mexican artist (Yuyi Morales & Miguelito Martinez)
C’mon Everybody! features original music composed by Youth in Arts Mentor Artist Miguel Martinez and featuring performances by additional YIA Mentor Artists. These songs encourage response to directions, social behavior and language acquisition. It is fun and accessible for developmentally typical Pre-K children, as well as children with cognitive or developmental delays.
Check out this CD C’mon Everybody! which was produced with support from FirstFive Marin as part of a special workshop for families with children on the autistic spectrum.
Thank you to the Buck Family Fund of the MCF for supporting our programs reaching children of all abilities.
This song is part of my album "Colors of the World". It is called Ollin in honor of my beloved daughter Nayeli Ollin. FREE Download. You can use the piece for meditation with your kids or yourself.