The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival is relocating its long-‐running MusicKidz to the Salem Y bringing

SALEM, Mass. - Jan. 8, 2015 - PRLog -- Salem, MA – Beginning this month, the Salem YMCA will offer MusicKidz, the popular music enrichment program developed and presented by the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival http://www.salemjazzsoul.org/. MusicKidz offers a range of music concepts and topics to introduce children to the joys of music at an early age. This fun-filled class, geared toward children kindergarten through 5th grade and their parents, will be held in the Music Studio in the Teen Arts Center at the Salem YMCA. Led by music enthusiast Justine Pasquale, an educator and Salem State University graduate, MusicKidz will take place the second Saturday of every month, from 10:00 to 11:00am. Salem YMCA’s Associate Executive Director Charity Lezama said, “We are thrilled to collaborate with the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival to bring MusicKidz to Y families and the Salem community overall. We are so proud of the diversity of our music programs and having a state-of-the art studio available to the community gives us the perfect setting for innovative programs like MusicKidz.” Lezama added, “We are so thankful to the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival and the sponsorship from Howling Wolf Taqueria which enables us to offer this wonderful program to families in Salem.”

The Salem Y is dedicated to providing a nurturing environment where everyone belongs. More than a gym, the Y is a cause, a movement to strengthen the community and the people who live in it. Working closely with community organizations, and local businesses, the Y continues to be part of the broader Salem community through sponsorships and partnerships that bring initiatives like MusicKidz to more people.

Nick Giarratani, Education Director of the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival said, “We are very excited for this new partnership. We’re hoping that teaming up with the Y will allow us to introduce more young kids to the wonders of music!" For more information, please contact Director of Music and Media, Emily Wellman at 978-774-0351 or wellmane@northshoreymca.org.

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About the Y

The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. For over 150 years, the YMCA of the North Shore has been strengthening the foundations of community for the more than 40,000 members it serves in 25 cities and towns. We nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nation’s health and well-being and provide opportunities to give back and support our neighbors; regardless of age, race, ethnicity or socio-economic background. http://www.northshoreymca.org/.