Anne L. Francis

Musical Fun for Everyone

LMNO Music is the brainchild of Bay Area musician Enzo Garcia. Classes are designed for children up to age 5 and their parents or caregivers. Enzo combines music and play to engage the participants, singing both original and traditional songs and rhymes. He plays the guitar, accordion, banjo, or harmonica, all a big hit with the kids. Parental singing is highly encouraged -- no singing experience required. Just consider it group karaoke. Besides, seeing you sing will motivate your kids to sing, too.

Class activities flow smoothly from one to the next and keep even the most easily distracted child entertained. There's a hello song followed by much movement and play: rhymes with hand movements; songs with props like egg shakers or bells; dancing with scarves; songs for jumping, skipping, and spinning; and, of course, the popular jam session.

Enzo provides an impressive amount of instruments for the jam session -- drums, bongos, clackers, castanets, maracas, tambourines, etc. -- and much whooping and banging and even singing ensues until finally, it's time to clean-up and relax to some calmer, gentler music. After the last song, Enzo lets the curious and the brave strum his guitar, a popular last activity before heading out the door with Mom or Dad.

LMNO music has two San Francisco locations: Saint Aidan's Church in Diamond Heights (across from Safeway grocery store) for morning classes; and the Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center (across from the Bernal Heights playground) for afternoon classes. Street parking is very easy at the Diamond Heights location, and fairly easy at the Bernal Heights location.

You can register for classes via email, phone, or postal mail. There are four sessions per year, 10 weekly classes per session. Plus, you can check out a class for free before registering for a full session. Have fun.

LMNO Music
415-652-2474
http://www.lmnomusic.com/

Diamond Heights
Saint Aidan's
101 Gold Mine Drive @ Diamond Boulevard
(near Safeway)

Bernal Heights
Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center
515 Cortland Ave.