Play Marimba! offers a joyful music making experience for children, teens and adults. Using enormous African marimbas we engage in a technology-free social experience that builds confidence, mind-body coordination and teamwork. Beautiful songs from around the world serve as a vessel for deep study into the nuances of rhythm and melody. Through effort and focus we can achieve amazing results. Please join us!
The Play Marimba! program was founded at Loma Vista Immersion Academy in Petaluma, California by school principal Jorge Arvizu and musician Tobias Sparks. The program started with 15 students in 2016 and has grown tremendously, now serving over 130 students per year.
Loma Vista is a dual immersion English-Spanish school with a 70% hispanic population. Taking into consideration the heritage of our students, the program integrates traditional hispanic music into our diverse curriculum.
In the fall of 2018 we expanded our classes to the Sebastopol Cultural and Community Center as well as launching our 7/8th grade afterschool program for graduates of Loma Vista.
— Winter & Spring 2018-19 —
December 2nd, Sunday – 6:30
A Celtic World Celebration
with Bija Choir
Sebastopol Community and Cultural Center
More Info and Tickets
December 19th, Wednesday – 6:00ish
Loma Vista Winter Concert
5th and 6th Grade Recital
Loma Vista Immersion Academy
February 12th, Tuesday – 6:15pm
Petaluma Rotary Club Fundraiser
Lagunitas Brewing Company, Petaluma
March 3rd, Sunday – 5:00pm
Benefit Concert: Mexico Mission
Taco Dinner Fundraiser $10
Elim Lutheran Church
March 23rd, Saturday – 5:30pm
Loma Vista PTA Spring Gala
Petaluma Fairgrounds
April 24th, Wednesday – 6:00pm
Loma Vista Spring Concert
5th and 6th Grade Recital
Loma Vista Immersion Academy
May 19th, Sunday 10 – 1:30pm
Ambuya, Sebastopol Student group and the Play Marimba Band!
Sebastopol Farmers’ Market
Known at a young age for his innovative musical style and improvisational ability, Tobias Sparks now dedicates his time to bringing up the next generation of musicians. Performing and teaching for over 20 years, he has collaborated with many singers, dancers and musicians and is featured on more than 25 CDs and DVDs of diverse genres. Tobias’ love of music has taken him to many corners of the earth studying with master musicians in India, Egypt and Turkey. He currently lives in Sebastopol composing music, building marimbas and directing the Play Marimba! program.
Irene grew up within the network of public school music programs in the East SF Bay, studying flute and piano for a decade into early adulthood. Other academic pursuits took priority for many years, leading her to become an elementary school teacher at Loma Vista in 2016. There, she was quickly drawn to its budding marimba program, consequently rediscovering her enthusiasm for making music. She continues honing both her teaching and music skills as a participant in Play Marimba’s performance ensemble, and as an occasional substitute instructor for Play Marimba’s other youth classes.
