NEWS

The Youth Mariachi Project educates grade and middle school students in the traditional instruments of mariachi music. This legendary musical expression is recognized by UNESCO as an “Intangible Cultural Heritage” and dates back to at least the 18^th century in western Mexico.

Begun in 2011 as a collaboration between the Yamhill Enrichment Society (YES) and the Chehalem Cultural Center, it has grown into a thriving young performance group that allows students to learn the traditional instruments of mariachi music, including guitarrone, vihuela, trumpet, violin, guitar, and voice. YES provides funding for the Youth Mariachi Project as part of its mission to create access to literacy, music and arts programs for the youngest members of Yamhill County.

Once a student is given instruction in every instrument, he or she selects one on which to focus. Students receive individual instruction in their instrument and they participate in ensemble instruction. At least three times per semester, the group is encouraged to perform for the public, typically at festivals or events held by the Chehalem Cultural Center, providing students the opportunity to engage in public performance.

The Youth Mariachi Project needs your support! Please consider a one-time or recurring donation – – –

In September, 2017, YES began an El Sistema music program for the four kindergarten classes at Edwards Elementary School in Newberg. One hundred kindergartners started to learn to play the violin. Internationally recognized, the El Sistema’s mission is to provide underserved youth with intensive orchestral music instruction emphasizing collaboration, promoting self-confidence, and creating a community where children thrive. With the blessing of the Newberg School district, the Edwards School principal, the Edwards music teacher, and a parent/teacher steering committee, YES named this project JOY—Junior Orchestra of Yamhill County.

YES hired a part time violin teacher to work with the school music teacher, starting the 100 kindergartners with box violins and pretend bows, then graduating to real small size violins midway through the year. At the end of the year, the students invited their parents in and gave them a violin lesson. they also performed with the Newberg High School orchestra.

In September, 2018, those students moved into first grade to continue their violin study and a new crop of kindergartners started with their box violins. After first grade the program will become a voluntary after school program, with the introduction of other instruments. Expectation is that a quarter of the students will opt to continue.

Research on the beneficial effect of early active music instruction is compelling, especially for development of both the left and right brain. Learning to play an instrument in school has also shown to increase school attendance, promote discipline, focus, and self confidence. YES’s vision is to expand the JOY program to as many elementary schools in Yamhill County as possible.

We need your support to make this happen!  Please consider a one-time or recurring donation to support JOY – –

Read about one of our most original and thoughtful Imagination Library Fundraisers from Kookoolan Farms, as told by Farmer Chrissie…

In April 2018, Koorosh went to the feed store for nails, and came back with twenty, day-old Narragansett turkey keets. All summer these “pet” turkeys have been roaming the farm eating bugs and berries. We offered these turkeys for $200 each as a fundraiser for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library through the Yamhill Enrichment Society (which Chrissie is on the board of directors for). This terrific program directly mails an age-appropriate book to children age 0-5 EVERY MONTH for absolutely NO CHARGE to the families. Over the course of their preschool years, a child acquires a personal library of 60 books, and learns that Miss Dolly sends an affirmational letter every month (she never forgets! She keeps her promises! You’re important and special!), thereby also teaching how long a month is, and how to count (who doesn’t count her personal books?). YES  is the local affiliate for Imagination Library and is hoping to have 3,000 children enrolled this year – – at approximately $25 per child per year, YES has to raise over $75,000 in book fees alone! Through our turkey project, Kookoolan Farms customers contributed $3850 to this project — nearly 5% of the program’s annual book fees! Chrissie and Koorosh donated all the time and expenses of the turkeys (we did not keep back any cost, all top-line proceeds were donated) AND Nels and Davina Youngberg, who own Mineral Springs Poultry in Willamina, were so impressed that they also donated the processing costs for the turkeys!

Many thanks to Koorosh + Chrissie Zaerpoor and Nels + Davina Youngberg for your support of Yamhill County Imagination Library!