Las Colinas Advanced Band flute student, Joyce Seok, who also plays keyboard and flute in YAA/The Off Beats, won first place and $200 in a piano competition of 91 students. The competition, which took place on Saturday, February 4, 2012, was … ( more… )

Congratulations to the following students for being selected for the Ventura County Middle School Honor Band! The concert will be Friday, February 24, 2012, 7 PM at Buena High School. Jordyn White – Flute – Monte Vista Middle School Helen … ( more… )

SOKM is grateful to all those who came out in December to help with the many holiday concerts and activities in which the YAA/PVSD bands participated. These events could not take place without the help of our many volunteers! A … ( more… )

Thanks to our generous donors! In November 2011, $33,856 was donated by Save Our Kids’ Music (SOKM) to the Pleasant Valley School District. The money was donated at the PVSD board meeting in November. SOKM Board members in attendance were … ( more… )

It’s time to audition for YAA/The Off Beats! Students with at least two years of instruction on a band instrument may audition to join The Off Beats. This class focuses on jazz, pop and rock literature. Emphasis is placed on many … ( more… )

A HUGE thank you to all those who volunteered to staff the tables at the YAA Registration dates, and at Back-to-School Nights. Having people staff the tables for YAA Registration is vital, of course, for the success of the SOKM-supported … ( more… )

Advanced music students may want to consider auditioning for the Ventura County Honor Band. It’s a great opportunity to further your musical experience. Auditions are January 12, 2012, at Redwood Middle School. Let Mr. Copsey or Miss Copsey know by December 9th if you plan to audition.

The audition scales and music, plus rehearsal and concert information are posted on their website: www.vchb.org

The Lott family hosted a garage sale to benefit the Monte Vista band on Saturday, October 29. With the help of many Advanced Band students, the sale raised $415.00 for the band program. Many thanks to those who helped make … ( more… )

YAA Chorus/Musical Theater is off to a great start. The class will be meeting on Tuesdays from 4-5 PM. The students are currently preparing for various Christmas performances including the Camarillo Christmas Parade Dec. 10th and Atria Assisted Living facility … ( more… )

The following YAA Music classes are continuing this Fall: Beginning Band, Concert Band, The Off Beats, Beginning Strings, Intermediate Strings, and Orchestra. The Off Beats recently added two keyboards to their inventory of instruments; as there is at present no … ( more… )

The new Youth Arts Academy Performing Arts Group, “Showstoppers“, begins classes Sept. 27, 2011 at the former Los Altos School site, 700 Temple Rd, in room C10. Showstoppers is a Chorus/Musical Theater group for 4th through 8th graders. It provides vocal training for … ( more… )

Karen Gatchel, Chairman of the Save Our Kids’ Music Board, was interviewed for a news episode broadcast on KDB Radio (93.7 FM) on Sept. 21, 2011. In the interview, Karen discusses the history of SOKM and how the Ventura County … ( more… )

Students with at least two years of experience on a band or string instrument can audition for YAA Orchestra, which will be held on Tuesdays from 3:45 to 5:15 PM.  Auditions will be during YAA Registration on 9/17, 9/20 and … ( more… )

Three periods of band, Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced Band, are being offered for both Las Colinas Middle School and Monte Vista Middle School for 6th-8th grade students during the school day this year. Please contact your counselor to enroll.  For questions … ( more… )

The 2011 Camarillo Art and Jazz Festival is scheduled for September 24, 2011.  This event, which is committed to raising funds for PVSD and PTAs, takes place at the old Los Primeros School site in Old Town, and is a festival … ( more… )

Over 100 students participated in the Summer PVSD YAA Session, whether in ceramics, painting, dance, drama, musical theater, strings, orchestra, beginning band or jazz band. On July 15th, the various groups presented their recitals/demonstrations at the former Los Altos gym … ( more… )

Six students were invited to attend drum classes under the T.J. Waite Scholarship, taught by Al Velasquez.  Concepts such as dynamics, fills and Solid Time were covered. The scholarship was established in memory of T.J. Waite, a former PVSD Music … ( more… )

SOKM welcomes the following new board members for 2011-2012:  Member-at-Large Keiko Chun, Member-at-Large Bev Matsumura, Member-at-Large Peggy Smith.  Thanks to these new members for stepping forth to help guide SOKM!

As State budget cuts continue to impact arts education, SOKM is committed to raising the necessary funds to keep the music alive. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we have been able to maintain the music and art offerings … ( more… )

You can now order a DVD of the Camarillo Youth Arts Academy Summer 2011 Concert that was held on July 15, 2011. Follow the instructions on the order form to request your copy.

Reese Copsey, music director at Las Colinas Middle School as well as the PVSD Youth Arts Academy, recently was named one of the Camarillo Acorn’s “Top 20 People of 2011.”  The weekly newspaper, in the April 29 article about the … ( more… )

Save Our Kids’ Music, through the generosity of our individual donors, business partners, community organizations and grants, has donated $42,400 to the Pleasant Valley School District during the 2010-2011 school year to keep the music alive!  SOKM is truly amazed … ( more… )

Click here to read the February 3, 2011 article in the Ventura County Star. The article features a video that includes a interview with Reese Copsey.

Do you have a perfectly good (more or less) musical instrument gathering dust, or do you know someone who does?  Consider donating the instrument to S.O.K.M.  We provide instruments to Pleasant Valley School District for our young musicians.  All instruments … ( more… )

SOKM is now enrolled in the Community Organization program with Ralphs.  Every time you shop at Ralph’s and use your Rewards Card, a small percentage will be donated to SOKM.  Go here to sign up. You will need your Ralphs … ( more… )