Eric Maring  "Mr. M"

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Eric Maring, known to his young students and families as “Mr. M”, is an early childhood music specialist, a music therapist in training, a performing songwriter, and a multi-instrumentalist.  He has traveled far and wide in his musical pursuits in the past 40 years - from his home in College Park, MD to Spain, India, Rwanda, and Peru - studying with virtuosos and singing with children and communities all along the way.  His performance highlights include playing at the Birchmere, Kennedy Center, American Art Museum, Blues Alley, and for the Dalai Lama.  He was honored to receive a Fulbright Grant to teach and perform American traditional music and dance in 2017 in Varanasi, India.  See the recent article on Eric in College Park Here and Now paper.

His latest projects include:

• The June 2021 release of his latest record "The Year of Seeing Clearly" with Sunshine band.

• The much anticipated release of "Two Little Blackbirds, a book/audio/video project with the New England Dance Masters based on his early childhood music method;

• Sunshine livestreams for children and families as well as Saturday evening ones of classic songs and originals with his son; 

• Take Me For a Ride Podcast with author Mark Laxer;

• The release or two albums of note for young and young at heart audiences;

• A highly-acclaimed songwriting collaboration with College Park-based Americana group Paint Branch Creek.

 

Eric holds an M.Ed from the University of Maryland and is trained in the Musikgarten, Music Together, and Music Rhapsody early childhood methods. He teaches at several pre-schools in the Washington D.C. area including the University of Maryland’s Center for Young Children and Levine Music early-childhood outreach program.  He also teaches family music classes at his home studio.  

The Washington Post called him an "unwavering optimist...who believes in the power of positive music with all his heart and soul".