Rhythm Service
Learn how Orange County Music & Dance has served both children and veterans with the healing powers of music throughout the pandemic…
Unleash Star Power
Foster your child's creativity and passion for performing arts with these entertaining after-school activities.
Editor's Picks
Ballet Academy & Movement (BAM)
A new dance studio has opened in South Orange County. Owner and mother of two Amanda Cobb teaches ballet, hip-hop, jazz dancing, modern, gymnastics and more at Ballet Academy and Movement (BAM)…
Arts and Autism
A Spectrum of Possibilities The world of the arts might not at first glance seem like a natural fit for those on the spectrum. Teaching...
Recent Articles
Rhythm Service
Learn how Orange County Music & Dance has served both children and veterans with the healing powers of music throughout the pandemic…
Ballet Academy & Movement (BAM)
A new dance studio has opened in South Orange County. Owner and mother of two Amanda Cobb teaches ballet, hip-hop, jazz dancing, modern, gymnastics and more at Ballet Academy and Movement (BAM)…
Aaron Cassaro, CEO of The All-American Boys Chorus
All-American Boys Chorus’ CEO continues giving the gift of song through the organization that gave so much to him. The All-American Boys Chorus is a lot like a song. One of those songs that has a light, catchy melody, but the lyrics carry a sly message. Below all the catchy harmonies, the objective of the chorus is as much about making leaders as it is about making singers. You figure that out pretty quickly talking to those who’ve been a part of it for a few years. And it’s a quality carried from chorus members right up to the boss....
Elias Toscano Supporting Kids of All Needs with Music
Teaching growth, freedom and dignity with music, local musician Elias Toscano helps support kids of all needs. Music is in Elias Toscano’s blood. It’s like the rhythmic beat of a heart. From a young age, he understood the value of it in his own life and it’s a gift he likes to pass on. The long-time professional jazz drummer, producer and music teacher says music is of elemental importance to kids’ lives. “It’s a limbic, reptilian-brain thing. There was music in heaven before God created mankind.” Musically his goal is to “imprint” on kids rather than teach them, because “the...
Performing Arts Camps for All Ages
OC performing arts camps teach more than just drama and dance numbers. Whether your child dreams of lighting up Broadway, dancing in “The Nutcracker,” or is just looking to make lasting memories with their peers, performing arts camps may be the way to go this summer. Back in the day, parents with stars-in-the-making used to have to commute to Los Angeles for prestigious summer theater and dance programs. However, the performance bug took a big bite out of OC for the past couple of decades with nationally recognized theaters, universities, and institutions popping up all over the county offering onstage...
Arts and Autism
A Spectrum of Possibilities The world of the arts might not at first glance seem like a natural fit for those on the spectrum. Teaching art to children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) can be a challenge, given that ASD’s typically impair social and communication skills, behavior regulation, and coordination and motor function. But many parents have found programs mired in expression and creativity can guide their kids’ broader outlook and help with social interaction in a fun and engaging way. OC Arts in Action Brianna Shaffer offers Let’s Play Music group classes, private music therapy, and piano and guitar...
Benefits of Music in Schools
Q: [School-Aged] I’ve heard this is ‘Music in Our Schools’ month, which seems like a good thing. But with all the academic obligations and common core standards that have to be met in school, is there really any value to adding music into the mix? A: I can point to countless volumes of research that substantiate the value of musical training in a child’s education —improved test scores, mastery of memorization and perseverance, encouragement of creative thinking, teamwork and spatial intelligence, and advanced development of language and reasoning. These skills help our students become successful in virtually all of their...