By Victoria Martinez

Contributing Writer

If you come across a flyer for Kindermusik in the Santa Ynez Valley, you’ll see the slogan “Music Now. Skills For Life,” which not only describes the values of the program but also reflects owner Malia Maurer’s philosophy about one’s relationship with music.

“Music to me has been one of the most valuable assets to my life,” she said. “It’s gotten me through some difficult times … it’s a lifelong relationship.”

Maurer has combined her two passions of teaching and music to bring Kindermusik to the valley, and families are benefitting from both the program’s unique music-and-movement curriculum and her welcoming and energetic approach.

To an outsider Kindermusik may look like play, but the program is designed for children to internalize the fundamentals of music.

Maurer’s been involved with music since starting piano at 7 years old. She graduated from UCSB in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in music after having put herself through school mostly with music-based jobs such as being a mobile DJ, instructing at Kindermusik in Santa Barbara, and teaching private piano lessons.

After college, she focused her attention on her piano lesson business, and eventually built her program up to 40 students. She opened a studio where she employed other instructors and offered both private and group lessons in piano, guitar and voice. She even created summer camp programs for a variety of age ranges.

After the birth of her first child in 2013, she scaled back her business and kept only a handful of private piano students. She continued to teach those lessons and a Kindermusik class at times, but she was not building her music business as she focused on being a mom.

It wasn’t until after relocating to the valley and giving birth of her second child in 2015 that Maurer began to entertain the idea of starting Kindermusik here as an extension of Kindermusik in Santa Barbara. Families who knew about Kindermusik wanted it in the valley, and in September, Maurer was able to fulfill those desires.

“Kindermusik is a basic introduction to the fundamentals of music, fundamentals being beat, tempo, and pitch,” Maurer said. “If you take the instrument out of the equation, and just let them understand the fundamentals, you set a child up for a lifetime of being musical and understanding music.”

Maurer holds five classes a week at her studio on Fir Street in Solvang for groups ranging from 6 months to 5 years old. Each class is about an hour long and runs through a structured curriculum that encourages exploration and understanding of sound and music.

“We live in a society where we believe that anything of value takes struggle,” Maurer said, “but that’s not what Kindermusik is. One of its biggest strengths is its ease.”

Children are encouraged to participate in ways that fit them, whether it is sitting and listening for the entire class or running around in circles. Parents, however, are required to participate.

Kindermusik “flips us on our head. The more free you are with your voice and movement, that’s how you will help your child open up,” she said.

For more information, contact Malia Mauer at 637-3150 or musicwithmalia@gmail.com.

The post Kindermusik builds relationships between families and music appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

Crowds were very animated cheering for all the parade floats and participants during the annual Fourth of July parade in Solvang, sponsored by the Solvang Rotary Club. A few thousand people from all around as far away as China came to watch the small town parade celebrating America’s Independence Day. There were 675 participants in 73 entries. The judges were Jason Stiff, Meteorologist, for KCOY TV 12; Ken Harwood, Chamber of Commerce Economist and retired college professor; Elizabeth Jensen, retired Solvang store owner and board member of the Elverhoj Museum; and Allan Jones,

Below the photo gallery is the list of winners from yesterday’s parade.

The festivities continued into the evening with the Santa Ynez Valley Rotary Club sponsoring the booths and concerts at Old Mission Santa Ines as well as the firework show! All the proceeds benefit local charities and organizations that help people in the Santa Ynez Valley.

Sweepstakes  –  Reel Cowboys

Best Use of Parade Theme – Flat Fender Friends

Most Patriotic – Daughters of the American Revolution Santa Ynez and Lompoc chapters

Most Original – Operation Christmas Child

Most Amusing – Lompoc Shrine Club

Most Unique –  Donut Time

Most Creative – All Sports Fitness

Best Band –  Charros de Santa Ynez

Best Singing Group – Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co with Davy Brown and the Pale Ales!

Best Singing – Single – Libby Padfield – National Anthem

Best Family Group – Rancho Ruvalcaba y Familia

Best Church Group – SYV Presbyterian Church

Best Senior Group – Solvang Senior Center

Best Animal Group – Old Yeller Ranch Rescue

Best Wagon Group – Willow Creek Ranch Friends & Family

Best Wagon – Single – Santa Maria Elks Lodge #1538

Best Automobile Group – Vaper Trail Vettes

Best Automobile – Single – Bobby Bruhn’s 1954 Corvette, Rick Torres State Farm Ins.

Best Automobile – Restored – Dan Hoagland’s 1958 Ford Skyliner Retractable Hardtop

Best Automobile – Antique  –  Floyd Keinath’s Model A Coupe

Best Automobile Antique Group – Model A Clubs of SYV & Santa Maria

Best Fire Engine –  Engine 30 Solvang Fire Dept.

Best Tractor –  Howard Marion’s 1950 John Deere

Best Equestrian Group – Hernandez Friesians

Best Equestrian – Single – Charros Los Caporales

Best Viking Ship – Vikings of Solvang

Best Cub Scout Troop Pack – Boy Scout Troop Pack 41

Best Color Guard – American Legion Post #160

Road Apple Crew – Lucky Clover 4-Hers Grace Morell, Tessa Haws, Valentina del Solar

Best Clown – Lompoc Shrine Club

Best Sport Group –  SYVUHS Boys Water Polo Team

Best Military Group –  American Legion Riders Dist 16

Best Walking Group –  Friends of the Library of the SYV

Best Dancing Group –  Garcia Dance Studio

Most Energetic – Figueroa Mtn Brewing Co.

Best Group for a Cause – Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church

Best School Group –  SYVUHS Robotics Club Mecha Pirates

Best Youth Group –  Lucky Clover 4-H

Best Audience Participation – Veggie Rescue

The post Fourth of July Parade celebrates “Life and Liberty in the Valley” appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.