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Malden MAP Students Perform for Mayor

Students smile for a photo with the city's mayor at the end of a successful "sharing session".

At the end of the previous session, Malden MAP guitar students gathered online for their weekly “sharing session”. This time, however, the city’s mayor, Gary Christenson joined as well to hear the students.

Sharing sessions are an important part of the education at MAP Family Learning Center. By having students showcase what they have been working on on a regular basis, they are motivated as well as given another opportunity to reflect upon their progress.

We greatly appreciate the Malden mayor’s ongoing support of our students. He has heard some of these students since they first began guitar about five years ago. At the end of the session, Mr. Devin asked the mayor if he could say a few things to the kids. He encouraged the kids that they really inspire hope in the community, giving him a very positive answer to the question “What does the future hold?”

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Online Classes

Amid the recent changes to daily living due to the COVID-19 pandemic, MAP has temporarily suspended in-person classes.

Currently, we are doing all online classes. These classes entail doing a lesson over a video conference, regular communications with families with instructional media, and regular group meetings over video conference. Please see the pictures to see what online instruction looks like from our office.

Connect Online

How to connect?

It is simple. If you want to try out our system and speak with an instructor (during hours), you can connect to a room via Jitsi at https://meet.jit.si/.

Contact us to reserve a trial lesson. This visit is absolutely free and no commitment.

You must schedule a time by contacting us beforehand in order to receive the room name and reserve a time.

(1) Connect with a Desktop Computer

Connect via Laptop/Desktop

…or Connect with your Android or iPhone device, and…

Jitsi for Android

Jitsi for Android with F-Droid

…and (2) join us in your assinged room.

If you have any questions, please reply to this message and/or call us at 781-605-3711. Thanks!

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Students Perform for Lunar New Year

Students perform for Lunar New Year Event

MAP Guitar students performed for a local Lunar New Year performance hosted by the Chinese Cultural Connection. They performed “The Cay”, a fun piece in four parts that has a reggae beat. One of the parents captured the performance from backstage.

video
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The kids did a great job on this challenging arrangement. Moreover, students learn a lot from performances (e.g. professional skills of deadlines and preparation) which is why MAP is committed to finding every opportunity to get the kids out and involved in their local communities. We look forward to the next performance!

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Books and Strings Available at MAP!

Photo of books and guitar strings that are now available at our Malden location.

One thing that I heard from families was that they want to conveniently pick up strings, books, and other materials directly at our location. I know it can be frustrating to be asked to purchase these materials on your own, so I worked out a deal with Johnson String Instrument to provide us with the materials I (as the music teacher) recommend at our Malden, MAP location.

Now, with our first shipment in, you can purchase:

  • Guitar strings (1/2, 3/4, and full-size)
  • Guitar Books for Levels 3, 4, and 5 (Goodwin and Parkening)
  • Footstools

We offer everything at competitive prices that are lower than their suggested retail rate. We do this, because our main aim in providing the books is the added convenience for our families.

Also, just a reminder that we are still selling snacks and Chie’s greeting cards and small jewelry. Enjoy!

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ABC Notation Comes to MAPFLC

In the spirit of “Music+Code” (The “M” and “P” of “MAP”), we now have music engraving functionality on the website! The following transcription of an Irish folk song is generated using https://wordpress.org/plugins/abc-notation/ which is powered by some clever software that interprets ABC code and generates (i.e. engraves) standard notation. Below is the output, and underneath is the input that I type into the page. I hope that this functionality can be used by teachers and students at MAP to share musical ideas.

Cooley’s Reel

Music Notation (ABCJS Engraved) Output

ABC Input

The above is generated from the following ABC code:

X: 1
T: Cooley's
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Emin
|:D2|EB{c}BA B2 EB|~B2 AB dBAG|FDAD BDAD|FDAD dAFD|
EBBA B2 EB|B2 AB defg|afe^c dBAF|DEFD E2:|
|:gf|eB B2 efge|eB B2 gedB|A2 FA DAFA|A2 FA defg|
eB B2 eBgB|eB B2 defg|afe^c dBAF|DEFD E2 :|

Read more about ABC

Read more about ABC code/notation at http://abcnotation.com/

Read more about abcjs software at http://abcjs.net

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About us

“MAP Family Learning Center” in Malden, MA is an after school programming for students to supplement their education with high-quality Music, Art, and Programming (MAP) classes. We offer classical guitar instruction from level 0 (family guitar for ages 5-6) to level 7 (advanced ensemble), drop-in art classes from 2:30-3:45, and a unique “Music+Code” curriculum that explores math, music, and computation in an integrated and fun way.

Guitar instructor, “Mr. Devin” has taught students in the Malden area for more than 5 years and more than a decade of experience teaching young children. Two of his students have placed in the Boston GuitarFest Youth Competition, and he is very proud of all his students who have grown into fine individuals over the years. Mr. Devin holds his Masters in Music (M.M.) from New England Conservatory with a concentration in Music-in-Education.

Leading the Saturday “Music+Code” classes is former MIT Media Lab director (yes, you heard that right!), Walter Bender and Mr. Devin. Walter Bender and Mr. Devin co-created “Music Blocks”, a visual programming language for music, which is the tool they use for teaching the Music+Code curriculum at MAP Family Learning Center.

For Art, we have Ms. Chie, a Boston-based visual artist. She is offering fun classes in “toddler sensory play” on Tuesday and Thursday mornings as well as “Arts and Crafts” and “Origami” classes after school.

MAP Family Learning Center is located directly across from the Beebe school. Click here for location details.

Discounts are offered to families who book multiple classes, so it is possible for students to spend an afternoon taking enriching classes and be picked up at 5 or 6pm (TIP: This can be counted as “Child Care” on your taxes for a tax break). Sibling discounts are also available. Families interested in private lessons can receive discounts (up to 30%) for “scheduling in advance”. Memberships with special access and rates are also available.