San Angelo Symphony Music Meets Literature

Children and parents looked on in apt attention Saturday afternoon as Ellen Myer, a guitarist with the San Angelo Symphony,  presented “The Best Mariachi in the World” written by JD Smith, illustrated by Dani Jones, at the San Angelo Stephens Central Library. As families made their way through the doors, Meyer introduced herself to engage the audience and said. “I have been a guitarist for many, many years. I have played in Los Angeles, New York City and Japan for a long time; and now, I am in San Angelo.”

Meyer was the featured musical guest during the “Music in Literature” Program put forth by the San Angelo Symphony and hosted by the Central Library. This program has been a part of the San Angelo Symphony for nine years and begins every August to correspond with the school semester schedules. Saturday’s event was the last one of the 2015 year. Additional events will resume Jan. 9, 2016.

“It is a grant-funded program, so it’s available at no cost to the community, schools or the library,” said Amanda Dawson, marketing and education assistant with the Symphony. “Typically we go into schools, and recently the library here in town and other areas. We are out of town too sometimes. But we go into schools, we send a musician and [she or he] presents a children’s book that is age appropriate. We have a curriculum that goes along with each book that we send the teachers so they can integrate music from this book into their classroom and core subjects, such as their language arts and science.”

Throughout the reading of the book, Myer engaged the children and parents by teaching about the birthplace of the Mariachi and its Hispanic background. She spoke about the art, the clothing, the language and so forth. Homemade instruments were passed out to the families so they could play along with Mrs. Myer.

“I’ve been doing this program for two years,” stated Myer. “When I was a mom, it was easy one on one to engage when you have a whole room full of kids and you exponentially expand the little minds that you engage. I love having a whole group. I love the challenge of doing a whole group. I love music. I love the guitar. And if the kids get interested into either music or in reading, then I’ve done the job. I like engaging with the kids. I like connecting with the kids. [It] brings out my kid side.”

For more information on this program, please visit the sanangelosymphony.org website under the education tab.