Monthly Archives: May 2012

The Double Lives of CSMA Staffers

May 30, 2012
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The Double Lives of CSMA Staffers

For those of you who are familiar with CSMA’s stellar faculty, some of whom are reflected in the “From the Art and Music Faculty” section of our blog, it might surprise you that also most  CSMA staff  members practice at least one instrument and/or art form, and  can be found tickling the ivories, strumming...

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Why Do I Love CSMA? David Sacarelos – CSMA member of Board of Directors

May 25, 2012
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Why Do I Love CSMA? David Sacarelos – CSMA member of Board of Directors

CSMA became an important part of our family’s life when my two children, Mila and Andres, started art classes when they were nearly 4 and 6 years old, respectively. My wife, Yvette, and I soon noticed significant improvements in Mila and Andres’ learning aptitudes and early academic accomplishments. CSMA was really making a difference...

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My Homeland – A Study of Multicultural Identity by Pantea Karimi

May 23, 2012
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My Homeland – A Study of Multicultural Identity by Pantea Karimi

One of the attractions of living in the Silicon Valley is the diversity of cultures which are represented here. Certainly kudos must go to the local teachers who are able to accommodate the wide range of cultures and languages in their classrooms. One such teacher is Pantea Karimi, a transplanted Iranian who comes from...

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With a Little Help from our Friends: Preschool Picassos and Diminutive Debussys

May 16, 2012
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With a Little Help from our Friends: Preschool Picassos and Diminutive Debussys

There is ample evidence that learning music and art in the early years is beneficial in setting the stage for lifelong learning. A recent Canadian study affirmed that arts education plays a critical role in brain development, especially in early childhood. Making art and learning music in a developmentally-based, skill-building sequence on a weekly...

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From Moscow with Love – Ludmila Kurtova – Distinguished Teacher

May 11, 2012
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From Moscow with Love – Ludmila Kurtova – Distinguished Teacher

When you meet CSMA Distinguished teacher, Ludmila Kurtova, you think of the quintessential Russian qualities of passion, elegance, enthusiasm and warmth. She  exudes these qualities in both her music and teaching. A native of Russia, Kurtova has lived and taught in Switzerland, Hungary, Germany and currently the USA, where she was awarded a Green...

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Daniel Wood – Composer and Composition Faculty

May 3, 2012
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Daniel Wood – Composer and Composition Faculty

Inspirational words from Daniel about his digital arts lab classes… I’ve been teaching at CSMA since 2000. Over that time, I’ve been blessed to work with so many creative and interesting students. In particular, teaching the music composition classes in the digital arts lab has given me the chance to see first hand the...

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