Education via the BOC program

From February through March 2007 Banda Gozona members taught Oaxacan banda music at the Seattle School District's Secondary Bilingual Orientation Center (BOC) to immigrant youth between the ages of 12 and 19 years old. None of these students had played a musical instrument or could read music at the start of the program.

By June, the BOC Oaxacan Youth Band was able to give two short concerts of Oaxacan music and La Banda Gozona discovered lots of new talent. The Oaxacan Youth Band Project was supported by generous donations of materiel and time by the BOC, Successful Schools in Action, Seattle Pacific University's Music Department, the instrumental music program of the Seattle School District and friends and members of La Banda Gozona. We also enjoyed the volunteer efforts of many Seattle Pacific and University of Washington students and the enthusiastic support of BOC students, their parents and BOC staff.

We are currently planning to present a full-year program at the BOC in 2007-2008.

Bill "memo" Clifford
for La Banda Gozona

Section 301 E: Project Reporting, Public Information:

"This project is funded in part by a Neighborhood Matching Fund award 
from the City of Seattle, Department of Neighborhoods."

Section 406: Disclaimer Required:

This document has been funded in part by the Neighborhood Matching Fund 
Program of the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. The information 
contained herein does not necessarily reflect the policies, plans, 
beliefs, conclusions, ideas, etc., of the City of Seattle. The City does 
not warrant the accuracy of any of the information, ideas, conclusions, 
information, etc., contained in this document.