Building Stronger Brains Through Music
Mind Meets Music uses rhythm, movement, and song to strengthen the cognitive pathways young learners need for literacy and math success.
Meet Dr. Monique Salinas
Dr. Monique Salinas is passionate about kids, music, and equity. The daughter of a Mexican farmworker, she earned her degrees from Aquinas College, Central Michigan University, and Michigan State University, where she completed her doctorate in music education and conducting.
A BIPOC educator with over 25 years of nonprofit leadership experience, Dr. Salinas founded Girls Choral Academy, building self-esteem and confidence in young girls—with special outreach to Latina students in Grand Rapids Public Schools. Her choirs toured throughout the United States and Europe. She later founded Mind Meets Music to bring cognitive development through music to PreK-2nd graders in underserved communities. She is the recipient of numerous awards and remains deeply committed to using music as a tool for educational justice.
About the Program
Mind Meets Music was founded in the early 2000s in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with a neuroscience-backed approach: rhythm, movement, and music build the cognitive pathways essential for literacy and math.
In 2013, the program received a four-year, $2 million federal grant, reaching more than 15,000 underserved students across West Michigan with measurable gains in reading and math proficiency.
After the grant period ended, the program paused. In 2024, Dr. Salinas relaunched it as a fully digital platform, transforming 300 lesson plans into engaging videos accessible to any classroom. A 2025 beta test with 104 students showed 99% engagement and 100% teacher approval for academic value.
Now, Mind Meets Music is launching a formal 2026 pilot to prove this scalable model works nationwide.