Maggie Matoba — Hawaiian Music & Dance
- Maggie Matoba is an Ukulele instructor specializing in Hawaiian-style techniques. She is the founder and coordinator of Mele Ohana 'O Eugene, a Hawaiian music players group, and Iron Mango Orchestra, a Hawaiian music performing group comprised of stringed instruments and vocalists. Maggie is also a band member of Hana Hou, playing traditional and contemporary Hawaiian music with ukulele, slack key guitar, slack key bass, and as back-up vocalist.
- With Maggie, students listen to and learn the basics of Hawaiian music and Hawaiian (and non-Hawaiian) musical instruments like the ukulele, guitar, hand percussion and hula implements and learn how they are used: They experience Hawaiian culture and traditions, including language and pronunciation, ancient and modern hula, hand instruments, usage of hula implements, and sometimes lei-making. Ukulele is for children grades _four _and up and requires five sessions minimum. Rhythm and movement is open to all ages.
- Maggie shares the incredible richness of the Hawaiian culture through a learning sequence that encompasses music, dance, history, and arts and crafts for a better understanding of the islands, its people and their heritage with an emphasis on perpetuating these art forms before they disappear. She also engages the contemporary culture of the islands and its historical evolution.
- "The kids loved playing the rhythms with the different instruments. The rhythm activities were great in the fourth grade. The kids really got into it and did an outstanding job playing together. The ukulele was a great success in the higher grades. The third graders found playing the ukuleles very difficult. They were not as successful as the fourth and fifth grades. The youngers enjoyed playing the instruments (milk jugs, sticks, and rocks), learning the hula, and making the cards the most. There are several students in the first grade that do not think that it is cool to dance, but they were doing the hula!" Pam Nelson First grade teacher, Territorial Elementary School
- "She was masterful at planning appropriate, fun-filled, learning tasks for the children. Bravo." Rita Weber, Head Teacher Camp Creek Elementary
- Recent Artist Residencies include Walterville, McCornack, Camp Creek, Territorial Elementary
- Maggie Matoba's Iron Mango ukulele ensemble performs traditional and contemporary songs, and demonstrates hula, emphasizing the beauty, complexity, and diversity of Hawaiian music and dance.
- Recent Performance Assemblies include Spencer Butte MS, Oakridge, Coburg Elementary and Elmira Elementary schools.
- Recent Artist Residencies include Junction City Middle School, Willagillespie, Walterville, McCornack, Camp Creek, Territorial Elementary, Oakridge Elementary and McKenzie School District (after-school programs).
