From October 1- December 15, MIMA will provide music teachers in 10 cities on 3 continents with a curriculum to lead improvisation classes for at-risk youth, who will record and perform original compositions at the end of 10 weeks. Social media will facilitate research and development to improve teaching methods across language barriers. Partner organizations will implement region and genre-specific learning milestones. The 10-week program will create a multiplier effect when trainees replicate local programs in 2013. Partner cities: New York City; Los Angeles; Denver; San Salvador; Sao Paulo; Buenos Aires; Berlin Madrid; Nicosia; New Delhi.

The US Department of State is the principal sponsor of the MIMA Africa Tour in Namibia, Malawi, Zambia, South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, featuring the drumming icon Leon Mobley. Daily programs include music workshops for at-risk youth, evening performances at regional music festivals, public master classes and recording sessions with adults, professional musicians and university students. The goal of “Living Rhythms” is to leave behind self-sustaining “Rhythm Clubs”. Christoph A. Geiseler’s daily videos capture the beauty of local musical cultures in Africa and will inspire an interactive conversation online.

MIMA Envoys Caleb Dance, Christoph A. Geiseler and Kevin Wenzel will travel to England and Spain as Arts Envoys for the US Department of State. They will host daily songwriting, leadership training, video production and performance workshops for at-risk youth, local leaders and professional musicians.

MIMA teachers Caleb Dance and Kevin Wenzel offer students at the Cristo Rey High School in Harlem, NY a weekly after-school program. Their 2012 songwriting program ends with the production of a 1-take music video called "Breathe."

MIMA founder and executive director Christoph A. Geiseler debuts the first vertical video from India, projected on a 15-foot screen at the MIMA Academy in Brooklyn, NY. RSVP for the event to: staff "at" mimabrooklyn "dot" com

MIMA trustees, advisors, sponsors, envoys, musicians and students unite at Princeton University for a MIMA songwriting workshop (practice), followed by an interactive discussion about the MIMA Method (theory). Kevin Wenzel and Christoph A. Geiseler present the MIMA Music Curriculum and MIMA Brooklyn Academy case study.

Combining the most up-to-date video technology, social media and the power of music, MIMA engages students and teachers while also enriching the community-at-large. From Buenos Aires to Madrid to Peking with support from renowned musicians like Gilberto Gil and Prince, MIMA’s international music programs have created new opportunities for musicians and artists to build skills and contribute their own musical traditions, while fostering success and self esteem. We look forward to adding Brooklyn to our international music community during MIMA Week from March 18-25, 2012. Daily workshops will take place at the MIMA Academy in Brooklyn from 6-9pm and will focus on MIMA Method training, video-making and improvisation. Auditions on March 18 are mandatory for non-members, and the cost of the weeklong program will be $100 for non-members. For a 30-second video about MIMA Week and a sign-up form, visit: http://www.mimabrooklyn.com/

MIMA launches its second New York City Charter School program at the Cristo Rey School in Bed-Stuy / Bushwick. MIMA Educational director Kevin Wenzel will host weekly after-school songwriting and MIMA Method courses for beginning High School musicians.

MIMA brings its after-school songwriting program to the Cristo Rey High-School in New York City for the fourth consecutive year. Trainees from MIMA Academy will team teach High School students and facilitate MIMA Method workshops every week.

MIMA opened the first official training academy for MIMA Envoys in Brooklyn, NY. Courses include Musician Level 1 & 2 certification (interactive training in music improvisation, composition, and group performance), Teacher Level 1 & 2 certification (training in the MIMA Methodology & Curriculum to prepare to launch an independent MIMA workshop) and Envoy certification (advanced training in leadership, group management, media production, and social entrepreneurship). Visit http://www.MIMABrooklyn.com for more info.

MIMA Music and the Lange Ley School in Buenos Aires worked together to develop new recording and broadcasting techniques for High School students. MIMA teacher and envoy Matias Zloto initiated this new program in music and media communication, and after 4 years it has become a model for MIMA’s self-sustaining projects around the world.

MIMA will host a weeklong video-making workshop and outreach program in Recife, Brazil with drumming maestro Jorge Martins (NGO Corpos Percussivos), from November 7-11, 2011 with support from the US Consulate in Recife. MIMA envoy Kevin Wenzel and his team (Claire Fuller and Annabelle Dunne) will host a songwriting workshop for at-risk youth in the favelas of Recife. MIMA founder Christoph A. Geiseler will a produce an original music video and provide trainees with a video-making workshop. MIMA will distribute teaching handbooks, video-making handbooks and flip-cameras at the end of the program. Participation for international trainees possible upon written request. Please email: staff "at" mimamusic "dot" org

MIMA will host a weeklong leadership training and outreach program in Thessaloniki, Greece at the University of Macedonia from October 11-15, 2011 with support from the US Embassy in Athens and the University of Macedonia. MIMA envoys Christina Charalambidou, Caleb Dance and Kevin Wenzel will train 20 local teachers to replicate the MIMA Method and Curriculum in classrooms. MIMA founder Christoph A. Geiseler will produce daily videos about the program, which will double as a video-making workshop for trainees. MIMA will distribute teaching handbooks, video-making handbooks and flip-cameras at the end of the program.

Kutumba is a folk instrumental ensemble from Nepal, committed to the research, preservation and celebration of the diversity that exists in indigenous Nepali music. Join MIMA for an evening of music, stories, sharing and cultural exchange. Musicians of all skill levels are encouraged to bring their instruments and participate. Please support the work of MIMA & Kutumba with a suggested donation of $10 at the door.

MIMA teachers Caleb Dance and Kevin Wenzel launch their fourth consecutive songwriting program at the Cristo Rey High School in Harlem, New York. Songwriting activities include vocal harmonization, rhythm creation, multi-cultural musical synthesis and movement. During this program, MIMA teachers will test the new MIMA curriculum.

Matias Zloto will partner with Instituo Lange Ley (High School) in Buenos Aires, Argentina to host MIMA songwriting and media production classes for High School students. The goal of this program is to teach communication skills to students and to familiarize them with new media technologies. Matias Zloto, Ivan Rusansky and Maxi Garcia will also launch their third consecutive outreach program with Fundacion Temas in Barracas, Buenos Aires. For more information about Lange Ley, follow this link: http://www.langeley.esc.edu.ar/

MIMA presents an afternoon songwriting session at a new space called "the Candy Factory" to celebrate 4 consecutive years of songwriting at the Cristo Rey High School in Harlem, NY. The students of Cristo Rey will create and film an original music video over the course of 4 hours.

MIMA teachers Jonathan Barnes, Christina Charalambidou and Matias Zloto will host a series of bi-communal events in Nicosia, Cyprus, aimed at building community and providing music education on both sides of the Greek-Turkish Cypriot divide. For more information about their visit to the Highgate School in Nicosia: http://www.highgateschool.eu/easyconsole.cfm/id/92

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame musician Leon Russell lights up the stage at Napa Valley's Lincoln Theater for a benefit concert sponsored by the 15 Foundation and presented in collaboration with MIMA.

MIMA brings its trademark songwriting program to San Francisco for the kids of Connolly Ranch and Edible Schoolyard. The new partnership with the NY-based 15 Foundation, founded by radio host Robin Quivers, will provide the students with the chance to produce a music video with MIMA staff Jonathan Barnes, Caleb Dance, Alan Gaskill and Christoph Geiseler. A final performance and benefit concert will be held on May 6, 2011.