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Maryann "Mar" Harman is a music teacher & recording artist from Pinellas County Florida.

TAHLEQUAH, OK - The Cherokee Nation will host a free children's concert on Friday, August 2 at 7:00 p.m. Mar Harman, host of "Music w/ Mar", is the featured artist. The concert will be held in the Cherokee Nation Community Ballroom, located behind the Restaurant of the Cherokees.

"We're excited about having Mar with us," said Deanna O'Laughlin of the Cherokee Nation Child Care Resource Center. "Music is so important to the development of our children. Too many school systems have had to reduce or eliminate music programs because there isn't enough money for the basics-math, reading, writing, science." "This is an opportunity for parents to expose their children to all the good things music teaches."

Mar Harmon is a renowned music teacher, children's recording artist and host of "Music w/ Mar," a cable television show. She has fourteen recordings on the market and focuses her activities on encouraging toddlers and caregivers to participate in music and movement activities with hope of stimulating greater brain development in children.

"Research has shown that music trains the brain for higher forms of thinking," said Tracy Littledave, information coordinator for the Cherokee Nation human services department. "A simple activity, such as marching, has the brain working at full capacity. While children march and count along, both sides of the brain are working and children are hearing, feeling and speaking to the beat of the music. These types of activities lay the groundwork for language development and aid in math skills."

The free children's concert is open to the public. For more information, call Deanna O'Laughlin, phone: 928-456-0671 (extension 2982).