How to Self Publish Your First Book

La SoPA NYC and Loisaida Inc. presents

How To Self Publish Your First Book


A free workshop talking about the process of publishing, editing and promoting your first book using low cost digital tools.

Speakers: Elisabet Velasquez & George Torres

The School of Poetic Arts aka La S.O.P.A. is a producer of diverse poetry and performing arts events in New York City, formed using the philosophies of the most progressive intellectual and artistic movements of the last century (i.e. The Harlem Renaissance, the Beat Poets, Black Arts Movement & most notably the Nuyorican Movement). We were founded in Brooklyn in March 2007 as an Open Mic & made our presence felt immediately by featuring both veterans as well as up-and-coming performers of spoken word, prominent visual artists, comedians, and select musical guests covering the genres of salsa, bomba y plena, progressive hip hop, and more. We have taken our brand to major academic institutions like New York University, Hunter College and Long Island University, and we have also taken our brand to major international corporations like National Grid Energy and Pepsi.

3/30 – 6pm -8pm


Meet and Greet – Johnny Colón

Loisaida Inc. presents:

The Johnny Colón School of Music @ Loisaida Inc. Center


Eventbrite - Johnny Colon School of Music at Loisaida


Music theory lessons for the younger set by the boogaloo music legend Johnny Colon. Divided into three groups ages; 8-10, 11-14 & 15-18. Bilingual friendly (Spanish, English)


Latin music legend and renown music teacher Johnny Colón revives the tradition of his famous uptown music school, now downtown at the Loisaida Center. An dynamic hands-on weekly series of ongoing music classes focused on Latin rhythms and sounds directly under the instruction of vocalist, multi-instrumenatlist, arranger and musical director Johnny Colón.

About Johnny Colón

Johnny Colón, was born in New York City to parents of Puerto Rican heritage. He is the director of the Johnny Colon Orchestra, founder of the legendary East Harlem Music School and widely recognized as a major and legendary contributor to the popular boogaloo sound of the 1960s. 

Colón, a versatile vocalist, multi-instrumenatlist, arranger and musical director, became one of Latin music’s leading impresarios at the forefront of the new “Latin Boogaloo” sound when he formed the first Johnny Colon Orchestra in the mid 1960’s. He first found success in the world of salsa with his 1966 debut album”Boogaloo Blues” in 1966, which became a classic, selling over 3,000,000 copies worldwide, and which continues to be an anthem for this period on Latin music history. Colón’s hit “Boogaloo Blues” came out during a time of transition in the Latin music scene of New York years before there was such a thing as “salsa,” when the mambo craze was over and Puerto Ricans were coming of age in the city and the “Nuyorican” culture was emerging. As many of their peers went off to fight in Vietnam, some of New York’s younger Puerto Ricans were losing interest in Latin music and beginning to identify more with R&B hits in English than with the music of their roots. Johnny recorded several other notable tunes over the years, releasing five albums over the period 1967-72.

In 1968, with public funding and much of his own money, Colón founded the East Harlem Music School and offered free lessons to the community. His impact as a music instructor for more than three decades may be even greater than the effect of his recordings. Students like the singer Tito Nieves, percussionists Jimmy Delgado and Robin Loeb, bass player Rubén Rodríguez, and singer Marc Anthony would all go on to become stars in salsa and contemporary Latin music. By the mid-1990s, Colón was struggling to secure funding to maintain the school open. In 2004, unable to keep a permanent space for his school, Colón was given the opportunity to bring his brand of music education to New York City public schools. Today, as well as teaching in schools around the city, Colón has begun giving music classes to patients at drug treatment centers. He’s found a new location for his school at The Loisaida Inc. Center.

– Meet and Greet on Saturday, March 19 at Loisaida Inc. 710 East Ninth Street, New York, NY 10009

Stay tuned!


 

Feminism 101 – Introduction to Feminist Thinking

Loisaida Inc. presents:

Introduction to Feminism Workshop (GROUP DISCUSSION)

2 Sessions – 1pm-3pm, Two Saturdays, February 27 and March 5, 2016
FREE, mixed gender, transgenerational (ages 15+), bilingual friendly (Spanish, English)

Moderated by: Las Marias Project


RSVP: Eventbrite - Feminism 101: Group Discussion & Workshop


Did anyone ever tell you to “act like a lady” or “be a man”? Has anyone ever expected you can’t do something simply because of your gender? Or do you think women are often judged by their looks?

Feminism is about defending equality for men and women. It helps us reflect on conflicts we might see in society and within ourselves, as well as articulate motives and solutions. It’s about thinking things through, considering community and being proactive. Learning about feminism will help you be more fair towards both women and men, and respect others.

The workshops are a non-academic introduction to the ideas of feminism. Over the course of these two sessions we will talk about some basic feminist ideas (like “objectification” or “patriarchy”) and figure out what these mean to us by using our collective intelligence: talking about our own experiences and those of the group. Other topics discussed will include: feminism (what is it exactly?), gender roles, masculinity in crisis, and feminism around the world.

In our workshops we will all learn about feminist thinking, talk about our own experiences and think of ways in which we can advocate for gender justice.

Snacks will be served.
Questions? Email us at hellolasmarias@gmail.com or check out our website at www.lasmariasproject.com

Sonidos Primarios

Saturday, October 10th

Loisaida Inc and Plenatorium Project present a double feature:

12:30pm

Sonidos Primarios: a hands-on discussion and presentation by artists who produce kid-friendly cultural content featuring an album of traditional Puerto Rican music for children by Viento de Agua, a Grammy Nominated bomba and plena contemporary band dedicated to de production of new music and projects as well as teaching the traditional rhtyms… Bring the kids! $5 suggested donation

Come share with Grammy-nominee and percussion master Tito Matos about the experience and details of recording a kid’s musical record. Tito and his group Viento de Agua have just released a children’s songs record, Sonidos Primarios, and he comes to share the experience and to perform a few of the songs from the record. He will be joined in the discussion by the members of the band Aclopaditos, who have vast experience in teaching and recording for children. Acopladitos will also perform a few songs for the enjoyment of all. Bring your little ones!

Following the presentation:
2:30pm

‘The New Latinos’ – screening and guided discussion featuring Tito Matos and Tato Torres.

Join us in the viewing of ‘The New Latinos’, episode 4 of The Latino Americans documentary series. This 60 minutes episode, that dwells on the experience of the Caribbean migration (Cuban, Dominican and Puerto Rican) to the United States, will be followed by a hands-on-drums one hour discussion reflecting on the musical aspects of these diasporic groups; the discussion will specifically revolve around the preservation, innovations, and hybridization of the musical traditions of these three groups after their arrival to the continental United States. The hands-on-drums discussion will be led by Grammy Award nominee, the maestro Tito Matos, and Tato Torres, founder, singer and leader of the group YERBABUENA. This viewing and talk are part of the Loisaida, Inc. Center’s Plenatorium Project initiative and part of the American Library Association/NEH Grant The Latino Americans, LA500.

Sponsored by The National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association with Acopladitos and Viento de Agua

My Body My World

My Body, My World

with actress and dancer, Veraalba Santa

Saturday, November 22nd
1:30 – 3:00pm

In “My body, My world” we will explore how our bodies move and react to our immediate and imaginary surroundings using fun and energetic movement exercises and music.

Ages 8-12

Veraalba Santa is currently an artist in residence at the Loisaida Center and part of Caborca Theatre Company.


Making Music with Everyday Objects

Making Music with Everyday Objects

Saturday, November 22nd at 3:00pm

Join the amazing and dynamic musical duo Acopladitos for an interactive musical experience as you create your own musical instruments using recycled materials during an exiting music/art making session. This 90-minute workshop will be structured in the format of Loisaida Center’s one-time specialized workshop or talk program the X-Change Express.

Acopladitos will demonstrate how to make a variety of musical instruments using everyday objects, especially those found at home. They will share with the audience their playful approach to the idea of “sound explorations.” More than making your own instruments, Acopladitos will share some musical ideas to guide the audience through a creative composition process that the entire family can practice at home. The last portion of the talk consists of a “hands on” approach to music making where the audience will have the opportunity of playing the instruments.

Acopladitos is dedicated to teaching Spanish language through music and movement to young learners.

This events is open to a general audience, but will specifically benefit early childhood teachers and parents.

We hope you can join us and help us spread the word!

Click on flyer below to RSVP for this event:


acopladitos-makie-music

 


 

About Acopladitos:

Acopladitos is a Spanish immersion music program for young children. The word “acopladitos” in
Spanish can be translated to mean “being together in complete harmony” and refers to much more than
just music. The program is designed to cultivate the child’s first musical encounters through singing,
creative movement, music-making, games and dramatic play. A presentation by
Acopladitos incorporates charming original songs with a repertoire of popular Latin American children’s
songs. Designed and led by composer Angelica Negrón and ethno-musicologist Noraliz Ruiz, the
program was created to fill a void in early childhood Spanish-language music education in NYC. This
team of Brooklyn-based experienced educators and creative artists will engage the children in a
collaborative and exciting musical experience that will nurture their artistic, intellectual, physical and
social-emotional development. We are interested in collaborating with Loisaida Center in order to bring
fun and interactive programming to the children of Loisaida and reach out to the community at large.