Frank Leto : Music for Children, World Music : CD & DVD

Meet Frank Leto

Frank Leto received his 3-6 American Montessori Society credential in 1973 in Drayton Plains, Michigan. Frank, who was already a professional musician, and music major at Wayne State University, also took training in the Orff Schulwerk approach to music education. After receiving his AMS credential, Frank became staff at the Virgin Islands Montessori School on the island of St. Thomas. He has taught at Montessori Schools in Michigan, the San Francisco Bay Area, Hawaii and New Mexico.
Frank was selected by the American Montessori Society as keynote speaker for their traveling symposium in 1993. Since then, Frank has traveled the nation extensively presenting keynote speeches, workshops and teacher training programs.
His articles have been published in Montessori Life Magazine, Infant Toddler Magazine and Mothering Magazine. Mr. Leto's highly acclaimed CDs and DVDs of his original music for children are being utilized by teachers nationally and internationally. His "Move Your Dancing Feet" and "Rhythm Band Jam" have both won the Director's Choice Award.
The Montessori School Steel Band, under the direction of Frank Leto, has performed at the CAEYC (California Association for the Education of Young Children) in San Diego, AMS National Conference in Dallas, New Mexico AEYC, Disneyland, Disney World, Epcot Center, Universal Studios and numerous community events.
Frank is endorsed by Latin Percussion Instruments as an Educator. He has worked for Suzuki Corporation as an educational advisor and clinician. Since 1995, the New Mexico Jazz Workshop has been receiving yearly grants to sponsor Mr. Leto's "Roots of Jazz" lecture/demonstrations with his band at Albuquerque Public Schools.
Frank wrote the theme song for Hawaii's television program "The Breaks". He wrote the sound track for "Na Ki'I Na Na Opio: Images from the children" a PBS Spectrum Hawaii special. Frank composed the theme song for the surf film "Full Blast". Frank's original music for his band, PANdemonium has been used on the Fox Network's "North Shore" television show, as well as an HBO special program.
Frank Leto Presentations and Appearances as Educator
Lecture/Demonstrations, Keynote Speeches, Presentations and Appearances 1995-2008

Association for the Education of Young Children (AEYC) Regional Conferences

Nevada AEYC, April 11 & 12, 2008
New Mexico AEYC, March 29, 2008
Colorado AEYC, April 20 & 21, 2007
Montana AEYC, October 20 & 21, 2006
Virginia AEYC, March 24 & 25, 2006
Austin AEYC, October 21, 2005
Washington AEYC, October 15, 2005
Houston AEYC, September 16-18, 2005
Virginia AEYC, March 18 & 19, 2005
California AEYC, March 4 & 5, 2005
Houston AEYC, September 10 & 11, 2004
New Mexico AEYC, Albuquerque, NM, March 6, 2004
California AEYC, February 20-22, 2004
Washington AEYC, October 23, 2003
Houston AEYC, September 5 & 6, 2003
Colorado AEYC, April 11 & 12, 2003
Michigan AEYC, March 27-29, 2003
New Mexico AEYC, March 1, 2003
Columbus, OH AEYC, February 7 & 8, 2003
New York City, NY AEYC, November 21-23, 2002
Houston AEYC, September 20-22, 2002
Colorado AEYC, April 18-20, 2002
Houston AEYC, March 22-23, 2002
New Mexico AEYC, March 9, 2002
Ohio AEYC, May 3-5, 2001
Nevada AEYC, April 27- 28, 2001
Michigan AEYC, March 29-31, 2001
Springfield, IL, February 1- 2, 2002
New Mexico AEYC, March 3, 2001
Chicago AEYC, January 25-27, 2001
Texas AEYC, October 6 & 7, 2000
Ohio AEYC, May 12, 13, 2000
Colorado AEYC, April 13-15, 2000
Michigan AEYC, March 23-25, 2000
California AEYC, March 9-11, 2000
Chicago Metro AEYC, January 27-29, 2000
Washington AEYC, October 22 & 23, 1999
Wanachee, WA AEYC, June 29 & 30, 1999
Colorado AEYC, April 16 & 17, 1999
Michigan AEYC, March 25-27, 1999
New Mexico AEYC, March 20, 1999
Chicago Metro AEYC, January 22 & 23, 1999
Ohio AEYC, April 24-26, 1998
Michigan AEYC, March 26-29, 1998
California AEYC, March 13-15, 1998
New Mexico AEYC, March 7, 1998
Chicago Metro AEYC, January 29-31, 1998
Minnesota AEYC, October 3 & 4, 1997
California AEYC, March 8-10, 1997
New Mexico AEYC, March 1, 1997
Chicago Metro AEYC, January 30 & 31, 1997
Colorado AEYC, September 28, 1996

Association for the Education of Young Children (AEYC) National Conferences
National Conference, New York City, November 21-23, 2002
National Conference, Anaheim, November 1-3, 2001
National Conference, Georgia, November 9, 2000
National Conference, Washington DC, December 1 & 2, 1995

Music Educators Association (MEA) Regional Conferences

San Antonio, TX, February 13-16, 2008
Tampa, FL, January 9-12, 2008
San Antonio, TX, February 15-17, 2007
Tampa, FL, January 10-13, 2007
Tampa, FL, January 10-13, 2007
San Antonio, TX, February 14-17, 2007
San Antonio, TX, February 16-18, 2006
Tampa, FL, January 5-8, 2006
San Antonio, TX, February 10-12, 2005
Tampa, FL, January 6-8, 2005
San Antonio, TX, February 12-14, 2004
Tampa, FL, January 7-10, 2004
Tampa, FL, January 9-11, 2003
San Antonio, TX, February 20-23, 2002
Tampa, FL, January 9-12, 2002
San Antonio, TX, February 8-10, 2001
Tampa, FL, January 11-13, 2001
San Antonio, TX, February 9-12, 2000

Music Educators Association National Conferences

Minneapolis, MN, April 15-17, 2004
Nashville, TN, April 11-13, 2002

American Montessori Society (AMS)

National Conference, Washington, DC, March 6-9, 2008
West Coast Conference, Irvine, CA, October 11-14, 2007
National Conference, New York, NY, March 1-4, 2007
National Conference, Houston, TX, March 30 - April 2, 2006
National Conference, Chicago, IL, April 1 & 2, 2005
National Conference, Boston, MA, April 22-24, 2004
Fall Regional Seminar, Anaheim, CA, October 17-19, 2003
National Conference, Cincinnati, OH, May 1-3, 2003
National Conference, Maryland, April 25-28, 2002
Summer Conference, Breckenridge, CO, August 11-13, 2001
National Conference, New York, NY, March 16-18, 2000
Fall Regional Seminar, Oakland, CA, October 29-31, 1999
National Conference, Cincinnati, OH, April 22-24, 1999
Winter Regional Seminar, New Orleans, LA, January 23-25, 1998
National Conference, Chicago, IL, April 25-27, 1997
Fall Regional Seminar, Santa Monica, CA, October 27-29, 1995
National Conference, Miami, FL, May 5, 1995

American Montessori Society 10th Annual Teachers Section Touring Symposium
Cincinnati, OH, April 22-24 1999
Buffalo, NY, March 16, 1996
Charlotte, NC, February 17, 1996
Pensacola, FL, November 4, 1995
Boston, MA, October 21, 1995
St. Louis, MO, September 30, 1995

National Center for Montessori Education

2006 National Conference, San Diego, CA, March 3-5, 2006
2005 National Conference, San Diego, CA, April 8-10, 2005
2004 National Conference, San Diego, CA, March 18-20, 2004
2002 National Conference, San Diego, CA, March 15-17, 2002
1998 National Conference, San Diego, CA, April 3-5, 1998
1997 National Conference, San Diego, CA, April 4-6, 1997

Montessori Educational Programs International (MEPI)

Myrtle Beach, SC, February 23-25, 2007

Montessori Peace Conference

Clearwater Beach, FL, November 1-4, 2007
Clearwater Beach, FL, November 2-5, 2006
Clearwater Beach, FL, November 3-6, 2005

Keynote Speaker

Las Vegas, NV, Nevada AEYC, April 12, 2008
Cincinnati, OH, Cincinnati Montessori Society, March 15, 2008
Jersey City, NJ, NJ City University, October 6, 2007
Brownsville, TX, University of Texas Brownsville for Scholastic, July 21, 2007
Edison, NJ New Jersey Association of Kindergarten Educators (NJAKE), April 28, 2007
Galveston, TX AEYC, October 7, 2006
Washington AEYC, April 22, 2006
Minneapolis, MN, Montessori Organization, February 20, 2006
El Paso, TX Early Childhood Conference, October 15 & 16, 2004
New Mexico AEYC, Albuquerque, NM, March 6, 2004
Abilene, TX Region 14 Education Services Conference, October 25, 2003
Hot Springs, Arkansas Early Childhood Conference, October 4, 2003
Capital Area AEYC, Springfield, IL, February 1 & 2, 2002
Chaminade University Peace Conference, Honolulu, HI, August 3 & 4, 2001
Florida Association of Independent Schools, Boca Raton, FL, March 15-17, 2001
Champions for Children, Tyler, TX, February 23, 2001

ORFF SCHULWERK Association National Conferences

San Jose, CA, November 14, 2007
Long Beach, CA, November 11-13, 2004
Louisville, KY, November 13-15, 2003
Las Vegas, NM, November 6-9, 2002
Cincinnati, OH, November 15-17, 2001
Rochester, NY, November 10 & 11, 2000

Teacher Workshops

Sacramento, CA, April 19, 2008
Santa Ana Pueblo, NM, March 22, 2008
Vancouver, British Colombia, Saturday, October 20, 2007
Durango, CO, September 15, 2007
Brooklyn, NY, June 7, 2007
Laguna Pueblo, NM, May 25, 2007
Newark, NJ, April 28, 2007
Bethesda, MD, January 6, 2007
Houston, TX, July 18 & 19, 2006
Albuquerque, NM, January 16, 2006
Albuquerque, NM, January 10, 2006
Victoria Island, Canada, November 18 & 19, 2005
Orlando, FL, September 30 - October 1, 2005
Los Angeles, CA, May 7, 2005
Glen County, CA, March 12, 2005
Palm Beach, FL, October 23, 2004
El Paso, TX, July 13 & 14, 2004
Columbus, OH, April 1 & 2, 2004
Quincy, CA, March 26 & 27, 2004
Bethesda, MD, January 24, 2004
Hot Springs, Arkansas, October 4, 2003
Abilene, TX, October 25, 2003
Honolulu, HI, April 26, 2003
Salida, CO, April 4, 2003
St. Thomas, USVI, January 19, 2002
El Paso, TX, April 20 & 21, 2001
Lihue, Kauai, November 17, 2000
Kahalui, Maui, November 14, 2000
Chegu, South Korea, August 3 & 4, 2000
Seoul, South Korea, July 28, 29, 2000
Taegu, South Korea, July 28-30, 1999
El Paso, TX, June 12, 1999
Melbourne, FL, February 27, 1999
Honolulu, HI, February 7, 1998
Phoenix, AZ, March 23, 1996
Honolulu, HI, July, 1996
Boca Raton, FL, March 23, 1996

Children's Concerts


Albuquerque, NM, January 24 & 25, 2008
Albuquerque, NM, January 25 & 26, 2007
Albuquerque, NM, June 27, 2006
Albuquerque, NM, May 4, 2006
Albuquerque, NM, January 26 & 27, 2006
Albuquerque, NM, February 24, 2005
Albuquerque, NM, January 27 & 28, 2005
Albuquerque, NM, January 30, 2004
Honolulu, HI, April 23 & 24, 2003
Albuquerque, NM, January 30, 2003
Abilene, TX, September 29, 2002
St. John, US Virgin Islands, January 18, 2002
Honolulu, Hawaii, November 20 & 21, 2000
Kona, Hawaii, November 16, 2000
Albuquerque, NM, January 27, 2000
Minneapolis, MN, October 9, 1999
Cincinnati, OH, April 21, 1999
Melbourne, FL, February 25 & 26, 1999
Honolulu, Hawaii, February 5 & 6, 1998
New Mexico Children's Fair, April 1996, April 1997
Nassau, Bahamas, February 7 & 8, 1996
Honolulu, Hawaii, July 1996
Pensacola, FL, March 25, 1996

Family Concerts

Cincinnati, OH, March 14, 2008
Durango, CO, September 14, 2007
Albuquerque, NM, January 21, 2007
Albuquerque, NM, May 8, 2003
St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, January 19, 2002
Lihue, Kauai, November 17, 2000
Montessori Community School, Honolulu, HI, February 7, 1998
Children's House of Boca Raton, Boca Raton, FL, March 24, 1996
Buffalo Montessori Teacher Education Program, Buffalo, NY Mar.15, 1996
Montessori Center of Jackson, Inc., Jackson, TN, October 1, 1995

Children's Steel Band Concerts directed by Frank Leto

Cottonwood School, Corrales, NM, April 30, 2008
Cottonwood Mall, Albuquerque, NM, April 30, 2008
Cottonwood School, Corrales, NM, December 1, 2007
Cottonwood Mall, Albuquerque, NM, April 11, 2007
Cottonwood Montessori School Fundraiser, Corrales, NM, March 18, 2006
Winrock Center, Albuquerque, NM, December 7, 2004
New Mexico AEYC Conference, Albuquerque, NM, March 9, 2002
Drum is the Voice of the Trees annual event, Santa Fe, NM, January 12, 2002
New Mexico Music Educators Assoc. conference, Albuquerque, NM Jan. 11, 2002
Disneyland, Anaheim California May 19, 2001
Hyatt Regency Hotel, Dallas, TX, October 6, 2000
KITV, Albuquerque, NM, April 13, 2000
Children's Fair, Albuquerque, NM, April 1, 2000
Universal Studios, Florida, May 6, 1999
Epcot Center, Florida, May 4, 1999
Albuquerque Children's Fair, April 9 & 10, 1999
Albuquerque Beach Water Park, May 1998
With the Albuquerque Philharmonic Orchestra, May 1996

School Visitations

NMJW Roots of Jazz Program, Albuquerque Public Schools, 1996 to present                         (18 APS lecture/demonstrations per school year)
Montessori Day School, Albuquerque, NM, September 2005 to present
Springstone Montessori Children's Centers, NM, September 2005 to present
Rio Linda School District, CA, April 17 & 18, 2008
Montessori Elementary School, Albuquerque, NM, October 2005, Jan & Feb, 2006
Monte Vista Elementary School, Albuquerque, NM, September - November, 2005
Charlotte Montessori School, Charlotte, NC, February 16, 1996
Amay James Magnet Montessori School, Charlotte, NC, February 16, 1996
Creative Learning Center, Pensacola, FL, November 3, 1996
Casa Montessori, Boston, MA, October 30, 1995
Lexington Montessori School, Boston, MA, October 20, 1995
Parkview Elementary, Jackson, TN, October 2, 1995
Chesterfield Day School, St. Louis, MO, September 29, 1995
Hope Montessori Academies, St. Louis, MO, September 29, 1995
Visitation Academy, St Louis, MO, September 29, 1995

Bookings