Welcome to Malinky Music
About Malinky Music
Why "Malinky?"
The word Malinky, which means “tiny” in Czech, has been passed down through generations of founder Emilia Lopez-Yañez’s family. It was a term of endearment often used by her grandmother, who immigrated from the Czech Republic, and later adopted by Emilia's aunts when they opened a children's clothing store in Aguascalientes, Mexico. With so many cherished memories attached to the name, Emilia felt it was the perfect choice when starting her own children’s business.
Our Mission
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Our mission is to foster a joyful community of tiny humans and their families, creating moments of laughter, connection, and musical memories that will be treasured for generations. Through our different musical offerings, we aim to support the developmental milestones of children ages 0-5. Engaging with music and movement at this early stage can enhance language skills, improve motor development, boost emotional expression, and encourage social bonding. By nurturing these essential skills, we hope to inspire a lifelong love for learning and creativity while celebrating the magic of childhood together.
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Why We Are Different
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Aside from partnering with incredible programs and musicians, at Malinky, we put an emphasis on bilingual Spanish-English classes designed to immerse young children in both languages through music, play, and engaging activities. These classes support language development, cultural awareness, and social skills, creating a fun and interactive environment for children and families to learn together.
About Our Partners
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While pursuing her master's degree in oboe performance at USC, Lopez-Yañez discovered a vibrant music school near her apartment. Curious about the classes offered, she reached out to co-owner Anne Kelly-Saxenmeyer. What began as a simple inquiry evolved into a deep mentorship, as Anne not only trained Emilia to become a music and movement teacher, but also offered invaluable guidance and support. Over time, the two women collaborated on numerous projects, co-producing songs, videos, and even albums.
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When Malinky Music was born, Emilia knew she didn’t want to embark on this journey without Anne and the expertise of PLAY music. That's why we’re thrilled to be utilizing the PLAY curriculum into our Malinky classes. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to enriching children’s lives through music, movement, and meaningful connection.
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Emilia and her mother Ruth began working together on their first children’s album, Me and the Kids when Emilia was only 3 years old. Together they have performed and recorded several award-winning, BILLBOARD-charting albums in a variety of genres, including classical, new age and world music.
Their most recent kids projects focus on spreading positive messages about friendship, working together and making the world a better place. Their latest albums amassed a large amount of awards including: Parents' Choice Award, John Lennon Songwriting Contest Grand Prize, NAPPA, and Hollywood Music in Media Award nomination, and more.
Emilia feels so fortunate to be able to collaborate with her mom in so many ways musical and non-musical. You are sure to hear the influence her mother has left on her infused throughout all Malinky offerings!
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Emilia Lopez-Yañez
Founder & Lead Instructor
Emilia is the passionate founder and lead instructor at Malinky Music. With a masters in music performance and 10 years as a music educator, she is dedicated to creating a nurturing and engaging environment for children and their caregivers.
Rishi Shah
Founder
Rishi brings his vast business and marketing expertise to Malinky Music. He is excited to help foster a love for music in children through engaging and enriching experiences.
Ruth Weber
Co-Writer and Developer