Singing & Storytelling for The Center

Our Fourth Sunday cross-cultural concert series so far has taken us on a musical journey across the seas, to different continents and diverse cultures. 

We traveled with the fiddle music of Bill Bell to the lands and ballads of his ancestors. We enjoyed the Silver Sounds flute chorus and the inspiring Celtic-themed odes to our natural world on Earth Day. 

Our most recent concert with GG & the Jazz Masters took us to our American history with some old jazz favorites and some foot-tapping swing and Big Band numbers much appreciated by our audience. 

Now we're coming Home. 

Photo by Carlos Puma for The Center

Our next Fourth Sunday concert, scheduled for 3-5 p.m. ... yes, the fourth Sunday in June — June 24 — will feature our own Ernest Siva, President and Founder of Dorothy Ramon Learning Center.

Mr. Siva is Cahuilla/Serrano, and he brings a lifetime of learning and sharing Southern California Native American cultures and traditional music. It will be a thrill to hear his voice, and the voices of his Native American flutes, in the beautiful acoustics of our Center's San Manuel Band of Serrano Mission Indians Gathering Hall at 127 N. San Gorgonio Ave., Banning. 

Look forward to singing and storytelling. 

Photo by Carlos Puma for The Center

Mr. Siva says:

"I plan to sing a variety of Serrano and Cahuilla songs with their stories and educational information. I will use the flute to illustrate how these songs can be used for personal enjoyment. 

"Some of the songs will include: lullabies that teach lessons, hunting songs that aren't used anymore for hunting, but are beautiful songs to sing and remind us of our relationship to animals, such as the bighorn sheep and the deer; bird songs that tell of our coming to this world and the wonder of creation, and examples of special songs of some of our neighbors, the Chumash and Luiseño."

Photo by Carlos Puma for The Center

Your $10 at the door will help the Center do its important nonprofit work of saving and sharing Southern California's Native American cultures, languages, history and traditional arts such as music. 
See you soon!

Making Music for Native American Cultures

Courtesy of GG & The Jazz Masters

Our Fourth Sunday Concert series continues from 3-5 p.m. on May 27 with smooth sounds from GG & The Jazz Masters. This Hemet-based band spotlights everything you like about jazz.

Our cross-cultural concert series also showcases the acoustics in our Gathering Hall, 127 N. San Gorgonio Ave., Banning. 

Come enjoy!

Your $10 at the door helps Dorothy Ramon Learning Center save and share Southern California's Native American cultures, languages, history and traditional arts. 

A Concert for the Earth

An Earth Day concert on Sunday, April 22, will fill Dorothy Ramon Learning Center’s Gathering Hall with a Celtic-inspired blend of voices and musical instruments.

Lionheart, a quartet weaving a tapestry of music including Celtic, world traditions, classical, pop, rock and originals, will perform “A Concert for the Earth,” from 3-5 p.m. at the Center’s San Manuel Band of Serrano Mission Indians Gathering Hall, 127 N. San Gorgonio, Banning.

The quartet led by Giselle L. Marciszewski presents a sometimes driving, yet sometimes haunting soundscape, including acoustic 6- & 12-string guitars, classical guitar, baritone and soprano vocals, oboe, English horn, Irish pennywhistles, recorder, keyboard, double bass, electric bass and percussion. Marciszewski describes the planned concert as, “A musical journey through songs of traditions, of spirit, and of the mysteries all around us – with an eye toward the beauty of this planet, our home, and with intriguing inspiration (musical & otherwise) from the lands of the Celts.” 

Admission is $10. Fourth Sundays, a cross-cultural concert series every fourth Sunday, benefits Dorothy Ramon Learning Center’s nonprofit work to save and share Southern California’s Native American cultures, languages, history, and traditional arts, according to organizers. Next on May 27 will be the smooth sounds of GG & The Jazzmasters.

Information: 951.849.7736

Bugs, Bugs, & More Bugs

Desert Scorpion from Palm Springs (Pat Murkland Photo)

Madagascar hissing cockroach (Pat Murkland Photo)

Collection of jewel scarab beetles from South America (Pat Murkland Photo)

Texas Vinagaroon (Pat Murkland Photo)

Bugs that crawl, hop, run, fly, and creep will dazzle ... or repulse you. Learn all about them and Native American stories and songs, too. Bug-fun activities! Join the biologists from Loma Linda University and their bug friends at the Learning Center's Second Saturday Sidewalk Storytelling program on Saturday, April 14, for family-friendly fun from 1-3 p.m., corner of Hays & San Gorgonio Avenue, Banning, CA. FREE.

Fourth Sundays: Silver Sounds

It's time again for another wonderful concert to help our nonprofit save and share Southern California's Native American cultures, languages, history, and traditional arts.


Come hear Silver Sounds from 3-5 p.m. this coming Sunday at the Gathering Hall, 127 N. San Gorgonio Avenue, Banning. Just $10.


Silver Sounds is a flute choir. With the voices of flutes of all sizes — piccolos, alto flutes, bass flutes, contra-bass, E-flat, and G-treble — Silver Sounds shares joyful music, from classical to jazz, and everything between. 

Silver Sounds has performed at Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm, The Redlands Bowl, Redlands Market Night, local churches, malls and other public locations. And now these wonderful musicians will be at Dorothy Ramon Learning Center's Gathering Hall, already well-known for its wonderful acoustics. Come enjoy the music!


About Silver Sounds
Silver Sounds Flute Ensembles was founded in February 1993 by Jackie Aronowitz as a performing outlet for flute players.  This ensemble gives its members the unique opportunity to play in ensembles other than bands or orchestras.  Since its founding, the group has grown so that there are now two separate groups with different skill levels.  There are no age limitations.  Members of the “A” group have only been playing a few years, and are working on notes and tone, while the “B” group is for the more advanced student whose focus is more on style, musicality, and the performance of flute choir literature.

Make Music!

Deer hooves, seashells, turtle shells, gourds, and wooden sticks all have something in common: They were used to make Native American musical instruments.

Come learn all about Native American music in Dorothy Ramon Learning Center’s Second Saturday Sidewalk Storytelling program this Saturday (March 10) at the Center, corner of San Gorgonio Avenue and Hays Street in Banning.

Flutemakers Marvin Yazzie (Navajo) and his wife, Jonette, will host the family-friendly free event, which features Native American stories, songs, crafts for kids and fun. 

Try playing a flute; learn a song. Information: 951.849.7736. or www.dorothyramon.blogspot.com

Fiddle Music For A Cause

More than 100 people came to enjoy our first Fourth Sunday benefit concert, featuring Bill Bell & Friends. Thank you! The proceeds will benefit Dorothy Ramon Learning Center's work to save and share Southern California's Native American cultures, languages, history, and traditional arts. (All photos by June Siva)