MOC 9: Singer Ixya Herrera on Being Mexican and Proud (Part 1)

Welcome back to part three of MOC #10 Shaniee Kennedy’s interview in our COVID Self-Isolation Series!

Are you struggling and looking for that light at the end of the tunnel? Listen to hear episode discuss her testimony and faith in God. It’s no secret that her and I are both Christ believers and Christ followers, so we have an honest conversation unpacking what it’s like to live a life by faith and not by sight, especially with the extremely tough  times we are currently living in. Join us as Shaniee also shares how she uses her talents to serve others which ultimately serve God.  

Psalm 23 is one of my favorite verses. Read it HERE

Follow Shaniee on Instagram @shanieedepp and her Four Play Clarinet group @fourplayclarinet

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Stay musical, STAY SAFE, and stay empowered. 

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Welcome back to part two of MOC #10 Shaniee Kennedy’s interview in our COVID Self Isolation Series!

Listen to this episode to hear Shaniee share the best and hardest things that come with being a music educator. From performing in the classrooms to the jail facilities, Shaniee shares the power of music!

Shaniee gives great advice for how musicians can cope with their craft during COVID-19 quarantine. She discusses the importance of embracing her culture and identity as a Black woman in music education and how to translate that to her diverse students, especially with the disparity of Black educators in music education. Shaniee addresses the disparities of music education in affluent communities to more low-income communities and emphasizes the importance of music/arts accessibility to people of all ethnicities, backgrounds, and socioeconomic statuses especially BIPOC communities. 

Here is a comprehensive list of articles and studies on the positive affects music education has on social, mental, and physical health as well as all-around success of students. 

Using Music to Close the Academic Gap 

Community Music Programs Enhance Brain Function In At-Risk Children

Music Deserts: How Social Inequality Affects Accessibility To Music Resources Important To Actively Participating In Music

STEAM: Using the Arts to Train Well-Rounded and Creative Scientists

Here is the article on music education disparities/inequality:

From The Margins: The Underrepresentation of Black and Latino Students/Teachers in Music Education

Music sampled in this podcast episode is Four Play Clarinet’s cover of the Habanera Aria from the opera Carmen by Georges Bizet. LISTEN BY CLICKING HERE

Follow Shaniee on Instagram @shanieedepp and her Four Play Clarinet group @fourplayclarinet

Notes From Her now has a YouTube channel and website!
Subscribe to Notes From Her on YouTube for fun teaser videos to each episode by CLICKING HERE.

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Stay musical, STAY SAFE, and stay empowered. 

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Welcome back to our COVID Self-Isolation Series. Happy World Teacher Day! Meet MOC (musician of color) #10: Shaniee Kennedy!

Shaniee Kennedy is a music educator, clarinetist, arts advocate, community servant, and former Miss California Icon!

From conducting orchestras and marching bands, to successfully lobbying for music education California Senate Bills, to performing in the all-female clarinet quartet Four Play Clarinet, Shaniee is committed to serving others though the power of music.

Listen to this episode to hear Shaniee discuss her music education journey, her pageantry journey, how she used her platform as Miss California Icon to lobby for quality music education in CA schools,  finding your purpose in community service, and the power of faith!

Shaniee also gives great advice on how to find a good mentor, leveraging social media to market your business/brand, and how she is utilizing technology to teach music during distanced-learning and COVID!

Music sampled in this podcast episode is Four Play Clarinet’s cover of "Havana" by Camila Cabello and "Lean On" by Major Lazer and DJ Snake.

CLICK HERE to listen to Lean On

CLICK HERE to listen to Havana 

Follow Shaniee on Instagram @shanieedepp and her Four Play Clarinet group @fourplayclarinet

Notes From Her now has a YouTube channel and website!
Subscribe to Notes From Her on YouTube for fun teaser videos to each episode by CLICKING HERE.

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Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @xoxochimilca

Stay musical, STAY SAFE, and stay empowered. 

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Ixya Herrera is a Mexican music singer and daughter of Chicano activist/professor, renowned harpist, and Nahuatl Scholar Fermin Herrera. She has sung in both Spanish and Nahuatl all around the U.S. and Mexico. She is one of Mexican music’s star vocalists and gems!

In Part 4 of her episode, Ixya and I discuss how she uses her artistry, style choices, and identity to embrace her Mexican femininity. She discusses breaking free from stereotypes, colorism, and over-sexualization of Latina women. 

She also gives great tips on how she’s surviving COVID as an artist and how it’s more than okay to work multiple passions besides music as a career! Shoutout to day jobs and multiples passions!

Listen to Part 1 by CLICKING HERE 

Listen to Part 2 by CLICKING HERE 

Listen to Part 3 by CLICKING HERE 

Notes From Her now has a YouTube channel and website!
Subscribe to Notes From Her on YouTube for fun teaser videos to each episode by CLICKING HERE.

Visit notesfromher.com to access episodes, blogs, resources, pictures, and more all about Notes From Her!

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Listen to her latest album Voz y Guitarra by CLICKING HERE

For more information on Ixya go to her website by CLICKING HERE 

Stay musical, STAY SAFE, and stay empowered. 

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Ixya Herrera is a Grammy-nominated Mexican music singer and daughter of Chicano activist/professor, renowned harpist, and Nahuatl Scholar Fermin Herrera. She has sung in both Spanish and Nahuatl all around the U.S. and Mexico. She is one of Mexican music’s star vocalists and gems!

In part 3 of her interview, we dive deep into all things Mexican music and behind-the-scenes of her albums! Mexican music is not just mariachi and banda (although I love both sooo much!), but also includes a beautiful array of genres and has a rich history from sones to canciones tradicionales, to son huasteco, son de jarocho, and of course, son de mariachi. Stay tuned to the very end where Ixya even sings in Nahuatl!

CLICK HERE to listen to Part 1

CLICK HERE to listen to Part 2

Notes From Her now has a YouTube channel and website! Subscribe to Notes From Her on YouTube for fun teaser videos to each episode and go to notesfromher.com to access episodes, blogs, resources, pictures, and more all about Notes From Her!

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Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @xoxochimilca

Music sampled in this episode in order of soundbite:

“La Negra” by Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán 

“La Bamba” by Los Pregoneros

“La Morena/El Cascabel” by Ixya Herrera from Simplemente Ixya

“Rogaciano”  by Ixya Herrera featuring Elias Torres from Voz y Guitarra

“Xochicuicatl” by Ixya Herrera from Simplemente Ixya

Listen to her latest album Voz y Guitarra HERE!

For more information on Ixya go to her website HERE. 

Stay musical, STAY SAFE, and stay empowered. 

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Long time no podcast! Welcome back as Notes From Her resumes interviewing women of color musicians! In this episode, we continue where we last left off with Grammy-nominated Mexican singer Ixya Herrera.

Ixya discusses how her career started with the help of Rock & Rock Hall of Famer and Canciones De Mi Padre singer, Linda Ronstadt. She also gives great advice on how to find a good mentor for your craft and career.

Listen to Part 1 here

Notes From Her now has a YouTube channel and website! Subscribe to Notes From Her on YouTube for fun teaser videos to each episode and go to notesfromher.com to access episodes, blogs, resources, pictures, and more to know all about Notes From Her!

Follow Notes From Her on Instagram and Twitter @notesfromherpod and like Notes From Her on Facebook!

Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @xoxochimilca

Music used in this episode are “You’re No Good” by Linda Rondstadt and “La Cigarra” from Linda Ronstadt’s Canciones de Mi Padre and “Tata Dios” from Mas Canciones.

Listen here to Ixya's latest album, Voz y Guitarra 

For more information on Ixya go to her website! 

Stay musical, STAY SAFE, and stay empowered. 

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Notes From Her will be having an interruption in its normal podcast style to report on the Black Lives Matter movement and revolution. The series is entitled Voices From the Streets of the Black Lives Matter Movement. In this episode I, Xochitl Hernandez, interviewed Bo Brooks (rapper name "Bo Da Truth"). Brooks is a Black owner of Grind City Auto in the San Fernando Valley. Here, he shares his story as a past incarcerated person who served time in prison for a crime he did not commit. He also provides commentary on the Black Lives Matter movement and what it means for him to be Black in America. Bo is also a musician/rapper who speaks on today's social issues. 

Access Bo's music here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1yxnKRXfymKnKeWIk3RtBP?si=VwgphlY3RiSAhGzvNd_NWw

Articles including statistics I stated in this episode:
1. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-cost-of-convicting-the-innocent/2015/07/24/260fc3a2-1aae-11e5-93b7-5eddc056ad8a_story.html?_gl=1*13xdc3y*_ga*R2w1RUtSNVh6NndKX1Q4TG5VR3BZamt0NnpIdGo5dl92VVhuTHBIRnNFbml3VW9VOTNuY25jTnZvNGs5d3U5cQ..&itid=lk_inline_manual_21
2. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/news/opinions/wp/2018/09/10/report-wrongful-convictions-have-stolen-at-least-20000-years-from-innocent-defendants/%3foutputType=amp
3. https://www.google.com/amp/s/m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_56ac0374e4b00b033aaf3da9/amp
4. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-innocent-prisoners-innocence-project-death-row-dna-testing-prosecutors-0315-story.html%3foutputType=amp
5. https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/policing/reentry/column/2017/12/29/reentry-incarceration-corruption-prison-barriers-recidivism-policing-usa/979903001/
6. https://www.apa.org/pi/ses/resources/indicator/2018/03/prisons-to-communitiesWhat is “Joint Suspension?” https://www.greghillassociates.com/what-is-a-joint-suspended-and-should-i-accept-this.html
Prison Policy Initiative: https://www.prisonpolicy.org/

Resources and help for past incarcerated people to re-enter society:
1. https://homeboyindustries.org/
2. https://hopeforprisoners.org/our-story/
3. https://nationalreentryresourcecenter.org/media-clips/new-law-helps-offenders-who-help-themselves/

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Notes From Her will be having an interruption in its normal podcast style to report on the Black Lives Matter movement and revolution. The series is entitled Voices From the Streets of the Black Lives Matter Movement. In this episode I, Xochitl Hernandez, gathered interviews and soundbites from the Northridge protest that took place June 5th. The protest started in Northridge Park where protestors then marched down the streets of Nordhoff and Reseda Blvd, kneeled on the busy intersection of Reseda and Nordhoff for 8 minutes in memory of George Floyd, and marched to the Chatsworth Courthouse for a demonstration rally. The march totaled about three miles. I created a 2-minute-long news video covering this protest with video, interviews, and other media footage live from the protest. Video also briefly reports on what "Defund the Police" means. Please watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60Z1dEadQusIn depth interviews include protestor Michael Castro who brought food for the march, protestor and mother of little girls (who were also protesting) Kay Colay, and one of the protest organizers (who declined to give her last name) Lilo. Articles including statistics stated in this episode:1. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/24/los-angeles-police-violence-shootings-african-american2. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-california-police/los-angeles-prosecutors-decline-to-charge-police-officer-in-deadly-2015-shooting-idUSKCN1GK38A3. https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-cal-state-homelessness-20160620-snap-story.html4. https://inmate-locator.org/ca/police-department-jail/california-state-university-police-jail-northrid/Click on this link https://xochitlhernandez.home.blog/2020/05/30/beyond-anti-racism-what-we-can-do-to-help-blacklivesmatter-2/ to access my blog post providing a list of resources and action steps including:-educational resources (books, shows, documentaries, podcasts)-links to donate to orgs & GoFundMe’s (Bail funds, non-profits, grass roots organization, fundraisers for protestor supplies, fundraisers for damaged small business)-links to demonstrations, town hall meetings-links to call representatives, including scriptsStay musical, stay safe, stay empowered and stay educated. BLACK LIVES MATTER.

Notes From Her is the podcast that encourages women and others to embrace their inner multicultural melody and will be having an interruption in its normal podcast style to report on the Black Lives Matter movement and revolution. The series is entitled Voices From the Streets of the Black Lives Matter Movement. This is a special episode of the series because it mixes #BlackLivesMatter and Notes From Her’s women MOC theme into one! Meet MOC number 10, jazz legend, virtuoso pianist, and historical trailblazer the late Hazel Dorothy Scott. This is a special blast from the past episode honoring what would have been Scott’s 100th birthday celebration! The soundbites are taken from an interview she did with a Philadelphia WFIL entitled “Say it Loud: Black, Immigrant and Proud.” Hazel Dorothy Scott, was a Trinidad-born Black woman. Scott, referred to as the “Darling of Café Society” was a multi-talented woman. Her success fusing jazz, classical, and boogie music made her a jazz music legend. The virtuoso pianist was also a singer, actress, and radio personality. She was the first Black woman to host her own television show, The Hazel Scott Show. Her album Relaxed Piano Moods is considered one jazz’s most important and famous twentieth century work. She was married to the high profile congressman Adam Clayton Powell II and was a Civil Rights/Social Justice activist before her time who refused to play for segregated audiences, organized a march in Paris to the US Embassy in solidarity with Dr. King’s march in Washington DC, and also demanded she be paid as much as her white counterparts.For more information on Hazel Scott go to hazelscott.comMusic used in this episode is Hazel Scott’s playing “Black and White” on two pianos! Video can be found here https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=249&v=4s7nqIYy4iE&feature=emb_logoClick on this link https://xochitlhernandez.home.blog/2020/05/30/beyond-anti-racism-what-we-can-do-to-help-blacklivesmatter-2/ to access my blog post providing a list of resources and action steps to support Black Lives Matter including:-educational resources (books, shows, documentaries, podcasts)-links to donate to orgs & GoFundMe’s (Bail funds, non-profits, grass roots organization, fundraisers for protestor supplies, fundraisers for damaged small business)-links to demonstrations, town hall meetings-links to call representatives, including scripts

Notes From Her will be having an interruption in its normal podcast style to report on the Black Lives Matter movement and revolution. The series is entitled Voices From the Streets of the Black Lives Matter Movement. In this episode I, Xochitl Hernandez, gathered interviews and soundbites from the Northridge protest that took place at CSUN June 2nd. Protestors marched down Reseda Blvd and Nordhoff Street and kneeled several times in silence (for 8 minutes) in solidarity with George Floyd. Interviews include organizer Saeed Yusuf, Criminal Defense Attorney Jay Person-Lynn, and speeches from Actor Grant Eastey, Pastor Abe Anaya, and more. Click on this link https://xochitlhernandez.home.blog/2020/05/30/beyond-anti-racism-what-we-can-do-to-help-blacklivesmatter-2/ to access my blog post providing a list of resources and action steps including:-educational resources (books, shows, documentaries, podcasts)-links to donate to orgs & GoFundMe’s (Bail funds, non-profits, grass roots organization, fundraisers for protestor supplies, fundraisers for damaged small business)-links to demonstrations, town hall meetings-links to call representatives, including scriptsStay musical, stay safe, stay empowered and stay educated. BLACK LIVES MATTER.