Become a Docent

Why?

You might be a singer, musician, community leader, parent, or guardian. You might be a retired educator who wants to stay connected with children in the classroom. You might simply love to sing and would like the opportunity to share this joy with children.

Becoming a Music For Minors Docent is a beneficial and rewarding experience. You will share your love of music with young children, be they your own, your families’, friends’, or children you don’t even know yet. You will be among a diverse community of volunteers from all walks of life who visit K - 3rd grade classrooms once each week throughout the school year. For half an hour a week you will sing, dance, listen to music, and play musical games and rhythm instruments with groups of children.

MFM- trained music docents are the cornerstone of our Music For Minors In-School Docent Program . Without these dedicated volunteers, many classrooms would be without regularly scheduled music programs in the elementary grades.

MFM Training

We train adult volunteers in a 34-hour, comprehensive college-credited course offered from September through November each year. Topics covered in this hands-on training include basic music theory, classroom management, lesson planning, and age-appropriate songs, rhythm and movement activities.

Trained volunteers are then placed as interns in elementary schools throughout Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. Once in a K - 3rd grade classroom, the trained volunteers teach a minimum of one half hour per week.

You don’t need a musical or educational background to become an MFM Docent. All you need is the ability to carry a tune, the will to learn, and a lot of enthusiasm.

MFM Interns

Upon successful completion of the MFM Training, you will have the advantage of interning in a classroom under the guidance of training staff for the remaining school year. MFM Interns will experience what it is like to work with children in a classroom setting and gain invaluable ideas, tips and support from other MFM Docents and staff.

After satisfactorily completing the internship in a classroom, MFM Interns will be invited to become MFM Docents to teach a full academic year. Music Docents will be qualified for a certification program currently under development.

For more information about becoming an MFM Docent, please refer to the Docent FAQs.