Devin Ulibarri, known by his many students as “Mr. Devin”, has over a decade and a half of experience teaching children the basics of music. He started his career at the Preparatory School at the University of New Mexico, and continued to teach at the Preparatory School at the New England Conservatory until very recently.
He has written his own method book for beginners, and has co-authored an article called “Thinking Beyond the Myths and Misconceptions of Talent” which argues the point that musical skills are, like language and math skills, important skills that everyone is, with normal effort, capable of learning and of which learning will benefit a person’s overall well-being and understanding of the world around them.
Mr. Devin works with every child to help them achieve their short-term and long-term goals in music, balancing “hard work” with “fun” with his own compassionate and creative approach to teaching and learning.
We are happy to announce two new music instructors at MAP Family Learning Center, “Mina” Mingyeong Son and “Rafa” Rafael Moreno. Mina teaches piano and general music, and Rafa teaches voice and composition.
We’re excited to have these two new instructors with us. They’ve been doing great work with the kids so far, and their students are already making great progress. Read on to learn a little bit more about their background as well as how to book private lessons with one of these two instructors.
About Mina
Mingyeong Son
Mina is a versatile musician, educator, and scholar residing in the Boston area. Born and raised in South Korea, she embarked on her musical journey at the age of five, immersing herself in classical piano and music studies.
Throughout her academic pursuits, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in music composition and music theory from Seoul National University, followed by a Master’s degree from Northwestern University in IL, and finally achieved her Ph.D. in Musicology from the College of Music at Seoul National University. She has worked as a piano faculty member at the Musical Offering at Evanston School of Music in Illinois over the past five years, Mina has honed her teaching skills, effectively blending music theory with practical techniques.
Her teaching expertise is further enriched by her post-doctoral work as a Musicology Researcher at Harvard University. Currently, she holds the esteemed positions of piano/organ accompanist at Boston-West Korean Presbyterian Church. This has allowed her to build strong connections with students of diverse ages and proficiency levels, ranging from beginners to advanced learners.
Her primary goal is to foster a genuine love for music among her students. Mina’s passion for music and her dedication to nurturing the talents of her students make her a remarkable presence in the musical community.
About Rafa
Rafa Moreno is a Panamanian Singer-songwriter, arranger, producer, and educator. He started his professional career in 2000 and has recorded 3 studio albums.
In 2009, while in Panamá, Rafa participated in the reality show Vive La Música, ending up in second place and since then he became a public figure in Panama, not only as a musician, but as an actor, and TV host.
Having studied Marketing and Advertising, a master’s in management and a master’s in education, in 2018, Rafa decided to study music formally and entered the University of Panamá to study an Undergrad in Music, and in 2020, he started his career as a student at Berklee College of Music obtaining an Undergrad in Contemporary and Production in May 2023. As a Berklee student, Rafa had the honor of sharing the stage with Grammy winners like Gilberto Santa Rosa and Tony Succar. In November 2023 Rafa released “Album 1”, his first album as a producer, arranger, and Singer-Songwriter, and is currently working as a music teacher. Who also works as a singer and arranger for many bands in Massachusetts.
Interested in booking a lesson?
We will be putting their information on the website soon, but in the meantime, feel free to send us an email at info@mapflc.com with some of your preferences for days and time. We can schedule your thirty-minute trial lesson for a discounted $13.75 on your behalf.
As always, students get both care and mentorship in music, art, and programming throughout the year.
We have both a Monday thru Friday and a Monday thru Wednesday option for the school year; other options may be requested, but are not guaranteed, and require a surcharge (see page for details).
Currently available to students ages 5-11.
Free pickup from the Beebe school.
Pickup time is between 5:00-5:30pm.
Private music lessons in piano, guitar, and/or voice are available for those who request it, for an additional fee, discounted below the normal rate.
Registration is complete with a $100 non-refundable deposit. The deposit goes toward tuition.
Registration
First, select the date on the calendar.
Choose either the five day (M-F) option or the three day (M-W) option.
If you are registering siblings who will be attending together, change the number of participants to “2” (next to “book”).
Complete the requested information about your child.
Click book and pay the deposit.
Select either M-W or M-F
Questions
If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at info@mapflc.com or drop a comment below.
I just wanted to give a quick update for some concerts I recommend MAP students to attend.
Upcoming concerts
Attending music concerts is a critical part of education. Just as we learn language by listening to those around us speaking the language, we learn music by listening to it, and a concert is a presentation of music by people speaking their musical language. Plus, one of these concerts features a MAP music instructor as performer, and one features MAP students.
For the paid events, MAP instructor Devin Ulibarri may be able to get students in for a discount. If you are currently taking lessons and interested in attending, please ask.
Upcoming art event
MAP art instructor Chie Yasuda will be showcasing her work as part of Somerville Open Studios on the weekend of May 4-5. If you are able, we encourage you to check out her work. Her art will be showcased at the Armory in Somerville, MA. More information is available at https://www.somervilleopenstudios.org/web/artists/artist_profile/1406
Keep the learning going!
We hope that families can take advantage of this list of events, which we expect to be entertaining, educational, and inspiring. We’ll also do our best to keep you in the loop of other events.
Two students of MAP Family Learning Center recently won the Altamira special prize at this year’s University of Rhode Island (URI) Guitar Festival Rising Stars Virtual Competition. Harshini and Ananya, siblings who have been studying guitar with Devin Ulibarri since 2016, received the news in mid-November that they were chosen for the special prize. As winners, they will receive a new N600 Classical Guitar, valued at $1800. We are very proud and happy for them both.
The criteria for winning the Altamira special prize is based on a mix of need and merit. According to the URI Guitar Festival website, the jury was asked to choose a “High School Division guitarist in greatest need of a new instrument.” Harshini and Ananya have worked very hard over the years and made steady progress. In fact, in 2020 circumstances required that they move out of Malden, MA, but they have persisted in their study of music by continuing their lessons with Mr. Devin online. We are very proud to have them as students at MAP!
Of hearing about their being awarded the prize, Mr. Devin said, “I’m so very proud of both of them. Their hard work and dedication over the years has really paid off. I’m excited that they were able to participate in this competition and receive this encouraging award for their effort.” He added, “I’m also very thankful to the leadership of URI Guitar Festival for their thoughtful approach to competitions, finding ways to award students for their hard work while also helping those in need of better instruments to help them achieve their maximum potential. We need more competition prizes like the Altamira special prize that Harshini and Ananya received.”
We are excited to announce a limited-time offer to help families save time and money for their year-end** and 2024 classes!
Booking credits: Back by popular request
This is the forth year that we are making this special offer for students to purchase lessons in bulk to save time and money. All participating students have reported their satisfaction, and we received many requests to offer them again this year!
How does this offer save us money?
We have three tiers of pricing, which can save you between 20% and 30% on the standard half-hour private lesson and hour group class rate.
Comparison of this year’s Black Friday special offerings
How does this offer save us time?
Most families are making class payments once every two months. These packages offer approximately a year (depending on how often you take classes) of classes. Pay once, and enjoy classes for the long-term.
Is there a Sibling Discount?
No. However, all of the offerings this year are better than any year-round sibling discounts we provide.
When does this Deal End?
This offer ends November 30, 2023. Also, please note that we are only offering a limited stock of these items at their sale price (details below).
**When can I start using my credits?
You can start using your credits anytime. You may not, however, use credits to pay for classes in which you are already enrolled.
Can I use this with all classes?
You may use your credits for all classes with Ms. Chie, Mr. Devin, Ms. Anabel, and Music+Code classes — both private and group classes. All sharing sessions for the duration of enrollment are included.
As we did in years’ past, private lessons cost 10 credits, and group classes cost 6.
The discount and pricing is the same as last year
As promised, we have stuck to the same pricing as last year (as detailed in Pricing and Policy Updates). Plus, we are able to offer the same discounts as last year.
News headlines are regularly reminding us that kids who learn music do better in their academic classes as well. But why is this? Some argue that music lessons are the reason that those kids are doing better in their academics, while others argue that it’s the kids who would do better anyway, either because of their inherent drive or circumstances, that happen to also opt into music.
Common-sense reasons why music students do better in academics
While there is already much evidence to suggest the former, please consider these more common-sense observation from a music teacher (yours truly):
Kids who take music lessons, just plain get more time with an adult mentor.
And that mentorship matters! Just think about it. Even if your kids are just enrolled one day per week in a music class or lesson, if they start when they are five years old, then by the time they are fifteen they will have received five-hundred more hours of direct instruction under an adult mentor than they would otherwise. This means that those kids who are taking music are talking to a skilled, professional, caring adult for five-hundred more hours that their peers who are not taking music.
Some academic concepts are learned first in the music class.
This may seem counter-intuitive, so let me explain. For example, it’s often in music where kids first learn how to read a graph. Think about it: what is musical notation other than “pitch over time?” In order to read musical notation, students must become proficient at reading graphs. And they don’t just read these graphs once, they read them again and again until they master the skill. It’s no wonder that when students who study music get to their algebra class they’re ready—it’s because they’ve already mastered a certain level of literacy that will transfer to reading graphs in other subjects.
Of course, that’s just one example. Students who study music are exposed to other mathematical concepts, such as fractions (e.g. quarter notes, half notes, and the like). Students are also exposed to higher-level linguistics, such as poetry in the form of lyrics. For my youngest students, I am often teaching them what a syllable is in order to teach basic rhythms via words like “Zoo,” “Mon-key,” and “Al-li-ga-tor.” The list goes on and on.
Music students are required to work in teams, which helps them build professional skills
Kids who take group music classes, such as band, choir, or ensemble, need to work together to accomplish their goals. They need to communicate with one another, they need to listen to each other to get the pitch and timing just right, and they need to be on time. In fact, to emphasize the last point, I’ll share that my high school jazz band teacher would always share with us this strict guidance: “Fifteen minutes early, on time. On time, late. Fifteen minutes late, fired.”
I will never forget this life lesson.
And the amazing thing is this: in music, kids want to build these professional skills. They want to communicate with one another because they want to solve the various challenges that good music presents them with. They want to listen to each other for rhythm and timing because that’s what makes the music sound better. And they want to be on time to rehearsals and to performances because they know that others are depending on them. All of these habits, of course, benefit them in their academics as well.
Kai plays bellsets. Kids can start music early.
Conclusion
So these are some of my thoughts on some of the more common-sense, non-scientific reasons that I believe that every child benefits from musical instructions. Of course, if you need more scientific proof, I do invite you follow some of the links below and do some research on your own. However, if you’re persuaded, I encourage you to enroll your kids in music today—whether that be here at MAP Family Learning Center or elsewhere. Music education is a worthwhile investment, and one whose positive impact lasts a lifetime.
Student at piano with bellsets and simplified musical notation. Music can be taught in an integrative way, together with other subjects.
More Music Education in the News
Here are some more resources on the efficacy of a quality, sustained music education:
We are excited to announce a limited-time offer to help families save time and money for their year-end** and 2023 classes!
Booking credits: Back by popular request
This is the third year that we are making this special offer for students to purchase lessons in bulk to save time and money. All participating students have reported their satisfaction, and we received many requests to offer them again this year!
How does this offer save us money?
We have three tiers of pricing, which can save you between 20% and 30% on the standard half-hour private lesson and hour group class rate.
Special Offer
Total Value of Private Lessons or Group Lessons
Black Friday Pricing (until Nov. 30th)
Total Dollar Savings
Percentage Savings
1000 Booking Credits Option
$5500
$3850
$1650
30%
800 Booking Credits Option
$4400
$3300
$1100
25%
600 Booking Credits Option
$3300
$2640
$660
20%
Comparison of This Year’s Black Friday Special Offerings
How does this offer save us time?
Most families are making class payments once every two months. These packages offer approximately a year (depending on how often you take classes) of classes. Pay once, and enjoy classes for the long-term.
Is there a Sibling Discount?
No. However, all of the offerings this year are better than any year-round sibling discounts we provide.
When does this Deal End?
This offer ends November 30th. Also, please note that we are only offering a limited stock of these items at their sale price (details below).
**When can I start using my credits?
You can start using your credits anytime. You may not, however, use credits to pay for classes in which you are already enrolled.
Can I use this with all classes?
You may use your credits for all classes with Ms. Chie, Mr. Devin, Ms. Carrie, and Music+Code classes — both private and group classes. All sharing sessions for the duration of enrollment are included. Classes with 3rd party instructors (e.g. not mentioned above) may be priced differently. For those instructors, participation in this offer is on a case-by-case basis because those instructors set their own prices.
As we did last year, private lessons cost 10 credits, and group classes cost 6.
The discount is different from last year
We recently published new Pricing and Policy Updates. In short, we did not increase any of our base prices, nor do we plan to for 2023. However, the sibling discount for group classes has decreased slightly, and there are differences between last year’s Special Offers and this year’s.
Where are the 2023 Group Class Offerings Published?
Looking for gift ideas that last a lifetime? MAP Guitar and Music+Code instructor reflects upon how sustained music lessons has improved his own life, as well as the lives of his students. The conclusion to a study referenced by the National Association of Music Merchants is included, which suggests music class/lesson participation contributes to a healthier lifestyle in youth.
A Great Education Lasts a Lifetime
When I look at what some of my students have done, I can really see that “a great education lasts a lifetime”. Some of my (older) students have been admitted to top schools for music, such as San Francisco Conservatory, and other (younger) students have been admitted into top, exclusive high schools of their choice.
When I look at my own life, the same is true. The private lessons I took as a youth gave me so much. I was able to attend the colleges of my choice as well, as a direct result of the lessons I consistently took with Jeremy Mayne. I have been able to perform in the world’s best concert halls, and together with the world’s best musicians.
And for those who may be skeptical because you do not expect your son or daughter to concentrate in music in college, I want to share a little bit more about what music has given me.
One thing that music gave me during my formative years is a healthy way to express myself. During high school, I practiced the guitar very intensely. When my friends got together for a social gathering, I would join them, of course, but I would always bring my guitar. This gave me a healthy way to have fun, as well as entertain others, at the social event. There has been research to show that students who participate in (continuous) music study live healthier, happier drug-free lives.
In the past, secondary students who participated in a music group at school reported the lowest lifetime and current use of all substances (tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs).
This makes a lot of sense as music is social, entertaining, mentally stimulating, and more–all at the same time! Playing and making music is a great way to be social, and a very healthy, smart way to express one’s self!
Gift Ideas in Music, Art, and Programming
I know you have a lot of choices for what to get your loved ones for the Holidays this year. Toys and games and movie passes are all great fun, and I agree kids should have those things! However, I want you to consider also including the gift of music, art, and programming.
At MAP, you have a few options this giving season. Please read on for some gift ideas from us to you.
Larger Limited-Offer Gift Passes
These limited offers (announced here) give the gift of months worth of lessons and classes in music, art, and programming at MAP Family Learning Center–both online and in-person.
These offers are at our absolute best prices, and the deals end November 30th.
Thank you for reading how music helps youth during their formative years, including a little bit about how it has helped me and my own students. I hope to share more about the efficacy of a quality education in the months to come. Happy Holidays!
We are excited to announce a limited-time offer to help families save time and money for their year-end** and 2022 classes!
Important Note: In accordance with this year’s important Pricing and Policy Updates, there are differences between last year’s Special Offers and this year’s. Please read carefully.
What Parents Are Saying about Booking Credits
This is the second year that we are making this special offer for students to purchase lessons in bulk to save time and money. All participating students have reported their satisfaction.
And thanks for the heads up about the credits! […] I think it’s good then as I can see both Heather and Nathan have been learning a lot of guitar skills. The credits worked pretty well. Would you continue to offer the same credits for us? This way will save me time to track their lessons as the way to keep them continuously learning.
Since today is Valentine’s Day, I want to share the story of how my grandparents on my Dad’s side of the family met. Although I am the only person in my family who decided to do music as a career, music has been very important to my family. Music communicates to others thoughts and feelings that words cannot. This is the first in a series I call “Music and Arts Education: What’s the Point?” Today’s topic is “Love” (don’t worry, it will be family friendly). I plan to talk about “professional skills”, “cognitive”, and “social-emotional” in future posts/episodes. For today, I will focus on “Love”. All you need is Love… and Music Education!
Love: One of Music’s Many Roles
Music serves many purposes in society. One role music plays in society is of courtship, romance, friendship, and family; in other words, “Love”. Everyone is aware of the multitude of love songs broadcast on the radio, streaming, and in movies. “Love” is a central theme of many songs, sometimes explicit and sometimes implicit. Some love songs, historically, were later readapted as religious songs (and visa-versa).
Music: It is how my Grandparents Met
My grandfather was born in the early 1920’s and went into the U.S. Navy during World War II. At one point, he was stationed in Washington State and living in an apartment building. He grew up playing the guitar, learning songs from family members and from the radio (i.e. by ear). As he told the story to me, he was playing guitar by himself in his apartment room. My grandmother, who loved music and lived one story below in the same apartment, heard the music, ran upstairs, knocked on the door, and introduced herself.
The rest is history.
Fast Forward: Music’s role in my Family
Whenever I went to my grandparent’s house, inevitably someone would pull out an instrument and start playing music for everyone. In some ways, it was kind of like the music that held the family together. Whenever my grandfather pulled out the guitar and started playing songs like “You are my Sunshine”, my grandmother would stop everything she was doing and listen. More importantly, the look in her eye as she listened to my grandfather was just like she was twenty-years old again, like they were meeting again for the first time. Witnessing this interaction was always insightful for me. I could really see the power of music when I saw how my grandfather could bring the whole family together through music.
At this point you may be thinking, “Yeah, but this is the life of a family of professional musicians, right?” If you thought this, you would be mistaken.
I decided to become a “career musician”, yes, but my grandparents were not professional musicians. My grandfather’s career, other than the Navy, was that of a land owner and property manager. My grandmother took care of the family and the house. Neither had ever performed outside of our family gatherings. Nonetheless, music played an important role in their lives.
From the Heart: The Language of Music
Music communicates that which is difficult (dare I say “impossible”?) for words to say alone. The sort of communication that occurs when music is being performed is not the same as a speech or a book. It communicates similar things to a story, yes, but it also communicates feelings. I would argue that, in some ways, it communicates feelings more effectively and efficiently than even poetry alone.
At our family gatherings, when my grandparents played music for one another, they were communicating feelings. My grandfather’s first language was Spanish. He was born and raised in a farming village in New Mexico, and although this village is in the U.S., he learned Spanish first and English second. As a result, many of the songs that he knew were in Spanish.
My grandmother did not speak Spanish, but she loved these songs, and she loved to hear my grandfather serenade her with these songs. I know because I witnessed the two of them at the family gatherings. It is a wonderful memory for me to know how they loved each other.
My Grandmother’s Message to my Father and Me
My Grandmother purchased much sheet music during her life. She would write all over the music. She wrote notes directed to my Father, how also played the guitar, about which pieces he should learn, which ones she thought would sound nice. These messages survive today as I have some of the music in my possession. In some ways, they are like my grandmother’s little love notes to my Father, as well as to me. (I am mentioned on many of the notes as well.)
“From Mother, with Love…” written on sheet music purchased for my Father from my Grandmother
My Grandmother always said that “If you are to become addicted to anything, become addicted to music”. She really loved and valued music. She really respected orchestra conductors, and wanted one of us in the family to become a conductor. Although I did not become a “orchestra conductor” per se, I have become a leader in music. I also think my grandmother is right about music being “healthy”. There are so many things to become addicted to, and music is one of the healthiest obsessions that a person can have. Exploring music deeply results in a better understanding of self and others. This is a topic that I will explore in further posts and episodes as well.
My grandmother also saw the great value in music education. She could see for herself how it impacted her own life in a positive way, as well as the important role that music plays in families and society as a whole.
All You Need is Love (and Music Education!)
In the video that I created to accompany this post, I sing and play my own arrangement of “All you need is Love” by the Beetles. I created this arrangement specifically for my sister-in-laws wedding. Performing music at such occasions is yet another reason music education is important. When you have someone in the family who has taken the time and effort to learn music, then you have a person who can provide, culturally, to the family and their circles. When you invest in a person’s music education, then you put them on the path to a healthier lifestyle. When you play music for your loved ones, you communicate not only the literal meanings of the lyrics, but the emotions and feelings expressed in the melodies, rhythms, and harmonies.
