Top of the Pops: How to Celebrate Father’s Day in NYC

by Mimi O'ConnorMay 28, 2022

Heads up: Father’s Day is on its way. Looking for a gift idea that goes beyond a tie or some whisky stones? Taking a page from our Mother’s Day Gift Guide, we’re recommending experiences over things for Father’s Day in NYC. (Which is also Juneteenth this year.) From activities to do as a family to fun or adventurous outings for dad and partner or friend, here are ways to let the dad in your life know he’s the main man. For more fun this month see our favorite June events for families (many are free and consider heading out to pick some cherries, because now is the time to do it!

family a wave hill on Father's day — Joshua Bright

Picnic & Make a Tree Sculpture at Wave Hill
Enjoy the very rare opportunity to picnic on the Wave Hill House Lawn (bring your own blanket and/or folding chairs), or, if you purchase a picnic from Great Performances, in Armor Hall. (Limited space is available in Armor Hall, on a first-come, first-served basis.) You can also bring your own feast or buy a salmon lunch from Great Performances. (There’s a special meal for kids seven and under.) Reservations are required by end-of-day Tuesday, June 14. The weekend’s family art project is a tree sculpture to celebrate a father figure in your life, which you can personalize as a special gift to hold photographs or drawings. (Art project is free with admission.)

Sun. June 19, 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Tickets: $12/adults; $6/kids six and older. free/kids under 6
4900 Independence Ave.
Bronx
718-549-3200
Online: wavehill.org

deck at huttopia adirondacks glamping — Huttopia

Gift Dad Some Glamping at the New Huttopia Adirondacks
Located just outside of Lake George on 275 acres of serene woodlands, Huttopia Adirondacks hits that sweet spot between roughing it and over-the-top glamping. Fully-outfitted campsites feature wood-and-canvas tents with a deck for lounging, a firepit and picnic table. Head to the main Lodge to take a dip in the heated swimming pool, see some live music, take part in activities such as yoga and candle-making, or play some ping pong or foosball. The on-site bistro serves fresh bites like crepes (Huttopia’s founders are French), pizza, smoothies and more, and there’s even a kid’s club to keep the kids entertained if you want some downtime. For more fun, options include hitting the hiking trails of Adirondack Park, white-water rafting and visiting nearby Saratoga Springs and Lake George.

Rates start at $120/night
1571 Lake Ave.
Lake Luzerne, NY
518-223-8666
Online: huttopia.com

Celebrate with a Free Celebrate Brooklyn! Concert
BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! presents a free concert on June 19, Juneteenth Unityfest, with performances by some of the world’s leading gospel artists, including Tye Tribbett, Deborah Cox, Israel Houghton, Mali Music and others. The event will celebrate themes of inspiration, faith, and fatherhood in Black culture and beyond.

Sun., June 19, 6:30 p.m.
Lena Horne Bandshell
Prospect Park
Online: bricartsmedia.org

Give Him a City Brew Tour
City Brew Tours offers an Underground Brooklyn Brewery Walking Tour or a Brewing in Queens Walking Tour. Each tour lasts about 3.5 hours and includes VIP access to three breweries, beer sampling, a snack, brewery swag and a knowledgable local guide to boost his beer IQ. Book a date or get him a gift card to choose his own.

Tickets: $79/person and up
Online: citybrewtours.com

Visit the Children’s Museum of Manhattan to See Inside Art & Make Pop-Up Cards for Dad
A brand new edition of Inside Art: Create, Climb, Collaborate opens June 18. The show encourages children to discover powerful tools of self-expression and new ways of seeing everyday spaces. Immersive site-specific installations by Isidro Blasco, Aya Rodriguez-Izumi, and BARarchitekten, and dynamic activations by CMOM’s inaugural roster of New York-based artists-in-residence, help early learners to build critical social, emotional, and motor skills as they explore, touch, and even contribute to museum-quality works of contemporary art.
On Father’s Day, kids can create a rad card that really pops for a Pop, Papa, Dad, Dada or someone special.

Sun., June 19
Tickets: $15/kids and adults; $12/seniors, free/infants and members
Children’s Museum of Manhattan
212 W. 83rd St.
Upper West Side
212-721-1223
Online: cmom.org

Do Father’s Day the CAMP Way
Head to CAMP in Hudson Yards or Columbus Circle for some cool crafting, a Father’s Day photo, a sweet treat (and some really cool gift items, too). Reserve tickets in advance.

Tickets: $40/kid; $2/adult
CAMP Columbus Circle
10 Columbus Circle
Online: camp.com

CAMP Hudson Yards
20 Hudson Yards
Online: camp.com

Jam at Brooklyn Bowl’s Rock And Roll Playhouse
This popular series bringing cool tunes to kids plays Bob Marley to celebrate Father’s Day and Juneteenth. Then stick around for Family Bowl!

Tickets: $15/person for Rock & Roll Playhouse
Sun., June 19
61 Whythe Ave.
Williamsburg
Brooklyn Bowl
Online: brooklynbowl.com

Crowd at forest hills Stadium — Forest Hills Stadium

Help Dad Relive His Indie Cool Days
We loved this for moms, too. Take dad to one of the nicest concert venues in the city, Forest Hills Stadium. Tucked into this leafy neighborhood of Queens (shows end early because of a noise ordinance), there’s not a bad seat in the house, and they consistently book great acts. An indie-splosion is coming to Forest Hills, including artists such as Phoebe Bridgers, Fleet Foxes, The Lumineers and the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs. Also: the amusingly irascible Bill Burr. Take his experience up a notch and add the “Golden Apple Premium Experience” to his ticket for $99. Benefits include exclusive access to the backstage lounge at Forest Hills Stadium, two complimentary beverages, access to a private cash bar in the backstage lounge, private restrooms and early entry into the backstage lounge one hour before doors open to the general public. If that’s not fancy enough for you, consider booking a “Speakeasy Suite.”

Online: foresthillsstadium.com

See Onward at the Queens Botanical Garden (On Saturday)
Celebrate the night before at QBG with a dad film from Disney, and crafting a paper mushroom house and Father’s Day card.

Sat., June 19, 7 p.m.
Tickets: $17/adults; $15/kids; free/kids under 3, $55/family of four
43-50 Main St.
Flushing
718-886-3800
Online: queensbotanical.org

family ziplining — Adventure Park at Long Island

Climb at The Adventure Park at Long Island
Take dad to The Adventure Park at Long Island, where through a “Buy One Get One Free” promotion, he can climb for free on Father’s Day. You’ll have three hours to tackle your choice of 14 trails and 49 ziplines. To book, head to the park’s website and enter code “Father’s Day BOGO” or call 631-983-3844.

Tickets: $64/14 and up, $54/seven to 13
Fri.-Sun, April 1-June 16; Daily, June 20-Sept. 5
Adventure Park at Long Island
75 Colonial Springs Rd.
Wheatley Heights, NY
613-983-3844
Online: myadventurepark.com

How to Support Local Asian American-Owned Businesses & Non Profits

by Hannah JudgeMay 2, 2022

Portland, Oregon: a place where families and communities blend together and show support for one another. Asian American and Pacific Islander [AAPI] communities have been a huge component of the diversity that makes Portland so unique! And when we band together to support local AAPI businesses that serve local families, we are not only broadening our kids’ knowledge and understanding of culture, we are strengthening community bonds and developing relationships that make Portland the city it is. From awesome small businesses and restaurants to arts and culture opportunities for your crew, we’ve rounded up AAPI-owned businesses and non-profits you can patronize and donate to and make a difference. Read on to find out more.

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Hanoi Kitchen

This Vietnamese-owned spot has been a staple in the northeast neighborhood of Portland. Built on family-traded recipes, Hanoi Kitchen has been supplying Portland with delicious cuisine for years! Switch up a weekday meal or have a fun family dinner with their steamed rice crepes, their southern-style noodle soup, or treat you and the kiddos to a tasty vermicelli bowl!

Where: 7925 NE Glisan St., Portland OR
Phone: (503) 252 – 1300
Online: hanoikitchenpdx.com

Highlight Auto Body and Repair

Take the pressure off finding a decent place to get your car fixed with Highlight Auto Body and Repair! They are incredibly efficient and budget-friendly because they know how important having a working car is to getting around. Their effective customer communication, family-oriented candor, and passion for automobiles make Highlight the best way to get your car up to snuff and support a local AAPI business in the process!

Where: 11109 SE Division St., Portland OR
Online: highlight-auto-body-and-repair-portland

Portland Taiko

Ever wanted to learn the drums? How about Japanese taiko drumming? If you’re not sure what that is, now is a perfect time to find out! Built by Ann Ishimaru and Zachary Semke, this taiko performance group offers a range of learning options from company workshops to individual lessons. Plus, you know you’re getting grade-A instruction, as they routinely perform all over the Pacific Northwest! Head online today to check out their upcoming classes or schedule a community event with them.
Where: 3728 SE 34th Ave., Portland OR
Phone: (503) 288-2456
Online: portlandtaiko.org

Coco’s Donuts

Ever had one? They’re addicting. Treat you and the kiddos to a sweet snack after school or on a weekend afternoon with Coco’s Mochi Oreo or Mochi Matcha flavored donuts, or keep it simple with their glazed raised or chocolate frosted with sprinkles! No matter your preference, Coco’s has a treat for you. They’ve been serving up these warm, tasty treats to the Portland community for years, so don’t wait! Head to one of their multiple locations today to see what all the fuss is about!

Where: 5 Locations: Downtown Portland, Broadway, Williams, Brooklyn, Sunnywise, Portland State University
Online: cocodonuts.com

Lan Su Chinese Garden

Spend a weekend afternoon appreciating the beauty of the Lan Su Chinese Garden. Placed aptly in Portland’s China town, this green space is rich with native Chinese plants, flowers, and trees, as well as a Koi pond! Amble along the paths through their lush gardens for a meditative, calming experience and then cap the day with a cup of tea from their teahouse!
Where: 239 NW Everett St., Portland OR
Cost: Adults (Ages 14-61) $14, Seniors & Students $13, Youth (6-18) $11, Children 5 & under Free
Phone: (503) 228-8131
Online: lansugarden.org

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Portland China Town Museum

This museum is nearly brand new to the city of Portland – opening its doors in December of 2018, the Portland Chinatown Museum [PCM] seeks to honor Portland’s rich Asian history. The museum constantly rotates exhibitions and has a permanent gallery feature titled Beyond the Gate: A Tale of Portland’s HIstoric Chinatowns. Pack the family up and head to PCM today to really understand the importance of Portland’s AAPI community today!

Where: 127 NW Third Ave., Portland OR
Cost: Adults: $8, Seniors: $6, Students: $5, Children 12& Under: Free
Phone: (503) 224-0008
Online: portlandchinatownmuseum.org

Japanese American Museum of Oregon

Located in the northwest Portland neighorhood, the Japanese American Museum of Oregon [JAMO] strives to educate the public about Japanese emigrants and their descendants, also known as the Nikkei. The idea for JAMO was built from the Issei Appreciation project, to preserve the stories of the Oregon Japanese immigrants, and the first iteration of the museum was established in 1990 at Tom McCall Waterfront Park. Now, they’ve just opened their northwest location [May of 2021] for all to explore, learn, and appreciate!

Where: 411 NW Flanders St., Portland OR
Phone: (503) 224-1458
Online: jamo.org

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Donation Opportunities

While going out to eat and exploring gardens and museums is a great way to engage with Portland’s AAPI community, it isn’t the only way to have a supportive impact. There are several organizations that take donations that would go directly to the preservation of community history and the advancement of community business and activism. Below are some of the organizations you can donate to today as you do your part to support Portland’s great Asian American and Pacific Islander community!

Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon [APANO]
Founded in 1996, APANO dedicates itself to community development through cultural work, leadership development and support, political advocacy, and community organization!

Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce of Oregon & Southwest Washing [APACC]
APACC gathers representatives of all lines of Asian-owned businesses to ensure economic development, growth, and success among the Portland AAPI community.

The Japanese American Citizen League [JACL]
Founded in 1929, JACL has worked for nearly a hundred years to support Portland’s Japanese American community through civil rights activism to build infrastructure that supports our AAPI neighbors.

The Korean American Coalition [KAC]
KAC has several areas of impact for Portland’s AAPI community: they are engaged in civic and legislative advocacy, community service, cultural education through Korean artforms, and youth leadership!

Northwest Chinese Alliance [NCA]
Built on the practice of preserving cultural art forms, the NCA strives to showcase Chinese American history through the performing arts. They seek to build community and engage individuals through dance performances and events like the Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade!

Oregon Chinese Coalition [OCC]
The OCC is a tight-knit organization that seeks to strengthen the Portland Chinese community through civil, political, religious, and cultural preservation.

Oregon Korea Fund [OKF]
Founded in 1995, the OKF seeks to provide support for Korean heritage, communities, businesses, and families through the support of donations and grant work!

—Hannah Judge

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Barbie Takes on the Music Industry with New Doll

by Karly WoodSeptember 20, 2021

Barbie has always been a gal who takes on challenges and doesn’t shy away from trying new jobs. Now, she’s digging into an underrepresented career where women make up less than 3%: music producers.

Barbie Music Producer ($15) is the newest a doll in a long line of over 200 careers and she’s packing a punch. Dressed in jeans, graphic tee, platforms, crop jacket, and colorful hair, Barbie comes with headphones, computer and sound mixing board.

In addition to the inspiring new doll, Barbie is coming together with Grammy-Award nominated music producer, songwriter, singer and actress Ester Dean and Girls Make Beats to fund Girls Make Beats scholarships so young girls can reach their dreams in music. Girls Makes Beat is an organization whose mission is to give females a larger presence in the industry as audio engineers, DJ’s and music producers.

Young musicians ages 5-17 can tune in live when Barbie, Girls Make Beats and Ester Dean host a live webinar on Sept. 22 at 4 p.m. PST, open to girls ages 5-17 to get more inspiration. Additionally, Barbie and MTV will host a takeover over Saturday Music Video Block on Sept. 18 at 8 a.m. EST with exclusive women-produced music hits. Want even more inspo?

Catch Ester Dean on Barbie’s newest blog, “I Interview Ester Dean, Song Machine” on Fri., Sept. 24th on the Barbie YouTube channel.

––Karly Wood

All photos: Courtesy of Mattel

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10 Music-Making Apps Your Kids Will Love

by Kipp Jarecke-ChengMay 22, 2021

If music is the food of love, then tune-loving kids and parents alike will swoon over the veritable smörgåsbord of fantastic music-making apps available on the market today. From classical creators to hip-hop jams, we sampled an entire marching-band-worth of apps (so you don’t have to) and discovered the grooviest ones. Check out our ensemble of apps below—your kids will be joining in on the rhythm nation in no time.

Melody Jams

Preschool rock-and-rollers will really dig Melody Jams, a fun, interactive music-making game that lets players animate and orchestrate their own garage band comprised of adorably-drawn monster characters. Band members can be mixed and matched, with each character possessing unique personality traits and different instrument skills, which are described in detail on the Melody Jams website. Additional music and scene bundles are available for purchase via iTunes for $4.99.

For preschoolers & up. Available for iOS, $3.99.

Crayola DJ

Aspiring DJs will have a blast mixing and scratching their own custom beats and tunes with Crayola’s nicely-designed music app. Created in partnership with mobile game developer Legacy Games, Crayola DJ features a well-laid-out interface of dual virtual turntables that junior Junior Vasquezes can use to mix and remix almost 100 exclusive tracks—all created by professional DJs. Tracks are available in five musical genres, including hip-hop, dance, pop, fusion and holiday, and a tempo slider lets users adjust BPMs to take their mixes from chillout deep house to frenetic EDM. Regardless of your mini-DJ’s level of musical experience or sound-engineering skills, the app intelligently creates legit professional-sounding dance music that invariably will get people on their feet and moving to the beats.

For ages 6 & up. Available for iOS, $2.99.

Kapu Bloom Tunes

Combining two activities that kids love (painting and music) Kapu Bloom Tunes lets kids paint the world with music. This sweet digital toy may seem simplistic—there are no recording or sharing options—but young musicians will delight in seeing how their finger paintings are brought to life through colors and sounds. Players dig for, find, then decorate the seeds of a melody flower, which are planted in the ground. By painting the soil and watering the seeds, the resulting plants bloom with music. Tickling plants causes them to sing a variety of familiar melodies and nursery rhymes, and spinning petals leads to even more musical interludes.

For ages 0 & up. Available for iOS, $1.99.

Duckie Deck Homemade Orchestra

This delightful music-making app is designed for preschoolers and older, and lets them explore how sounds are made using a variety of different, ordinary household objects, such as an empty soda bottle or a rubber band. Kids can listen to and learn how to play sounds created with virtual homemade instruments, at the same time developing a better understanding of how sounds are made in the real world. The app’s simple, intuitive interface makes it perfect for younger users, and the ad-free play environment makes it easy on parents’ wallets, too.

For preschoolers & up. Available for iOS, $2.99.

Adventures of Poco Eco—Lost Sounds

Although it’s not precisely a music-making app per se, Adventures of Poco Eco—Lost Sounds is a dreamy and visually-stunning music-adventure game that’ll have you and your kids hooked from the start. Featuring straightforward puzzles and a gorgeous electronic soundtrack composed by acclaimed Hungarian musician and artist Iamyank, players are drawn into a mesmerizing neon wonderland where they are tasked with helping an explorer named Poco Eco complete his mission of finding the lost sounds of his tribe. This multi-award-winning app is less like a typical puzzle-adventure game and more like a meditative musical journey across a dozen 3D-animated game levels.

For ages 6 & up. Available for iOS, $3.99, and Android, $2.99.

Loopimal

Take one part plug-and-play music maker and one part covert coding tutorial and the results would be Loopimal, a cool digital building app that lets nascent electronica musicians create neat animations powered by sounds. Users can create music loops by using pre-programmed blocks that provide both melodies and character animations that can be layered over various beats. With its easy-to-use interface, kids can learn how arranging and repeating blocks in certain sequences can add up to different sounds and movements of cutely-illustrated animals, including a bear, a pig, an octopus, a sloth, a bird and a yeti. Although the app is missing save and share options, young users will enjoy experimenting with sounds and animations in this entertaining app.

For preschoolers & up. Available for iOS, $3.99.

Easy Music

Conceived by musician and educator Michael Emenau, Easy Music is premised on the theory that before kids can effectively learn how to play music, they first need to learn how to listen to it. Through this appealing, interactive app, kids learn how to recognize notes, pitch, rhythm and melody by exploring different animated worlds and interacting with a color-coded keyboard that helps budding musicians begin the journey toward playing music by ear. Bonus: there are no ads or in-app purchases, a welcome relief from the growing deluge of overly commercialized mobile apps aimed at kids.

For ages 5 & up. Available for iOS, $3.99 and Android, $10.99.

Magic Piano

From classical to contemporary pop, Magic Piano has gamified tickling the virtual ivories. The app even makes someone who’s all thumbs sound like a piano prodigy. Players follow beams of onscreen lights, which guide fingertips to hit the right notes. Rhythm and tempo can be adjusted to suit a player’s fancy, adding his or her own sense of musical style to some familiar and not-so-familiar songs. There’s also an option to switch instrument modes, which range from baroque harpsichord to new wave synthesizer. The app supports 13 languages and the premium music catalog currently boasts more than 1,000 songs, with new songs added daily. For those who want access to the entire songbook, subscription plans start at $2.99 weekly.

For ages 5 & up. Available for iOS and Android, free with in-app purchases.

Medly Music Maker

Downloaded more than half a million times, award-winning Medly Music Maker already has been named to numerous “Best of” lists, including Apple’s Editor’s Choice and Best App of 2016. The free version of the app comes with 12 instruments, with 100 more—ranging from house synths to classical violins, and hundreds of drum and FX samples—available through in-app purchases. Amateur and professional musicians alike can create songs in a variety of genres through a simple visual interface where notes are drawn onscreen. The app is compatible with Apple Watch, allowing users to open, play and control Medly-created songs directly from their wrists.

For ages 10 & up. Available for iOS, free with in-app purchases.

Keezy

Addictive and delightful are just two words to describe Keezy, a quirky musical instrument-slash-sound sampler app that helps wannabe beatboxers of all ages create and record their own custom beats and loops with just a few taps. Keezy comes pre-loaded with 15 sound boards—created by popular alternative musicians, including Reggie Watts, Tegan and Sara, The Mast, Francis and the Lights, and Reni Lane—which can serve as the basis for users’ musical creations. Additional sounds can be recorded on each of the eight colored tiles, which are tapped to play back or pressed and held to loop. There’s also a free companion Drummer app from Keezy for those who want to take their beats to the next level.

For ages 5 & up. Available for iOS, free.

—Kipp Jarecke-Cheng

All images courtesy of app companies.

Featured image: iStock

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10 Last-Minute Toys You Can Snag at Whole Foods

by Karly WoodDecember 14, 2018

If you’re struggling to finish off that Christmas list, why not pick up some last-minute gifts at Whole Foods? PBS Kids has partnered with Whole Foods Market to offer an exclusive line of toys that foster imaginative and active play by exploring concepts like sorting, shapes and colors––and they can only be found at your local Whole Foods!

The new line features over a dozen toys, ranging from wooden toys, fun matching games and the debut of new plush animals. Even more importantly, 100 percent of the net proceeds from all toys purchased will support PBS KIDS’ mission to empower children to succeed in school and in life. Check out our top ten picks!

100 Piece Wood Blocks Set

Let their imagination run free with this simple 100 piece wooden block set. It includes eight different shapes and is great for kiddos ages one and up. This classic toy never goes out of style.

Train Set with Camp Site

This adorable train set includes 14 track pieces, three magnetic train pieces, and five campsite objects for pretend play. It's great for ages three and older, and is compatible with similar style and sized train sets.

Alphabet Blocks

Great for kids as young as one, or for older littles learning their alphabet, this 26-cube block set with letters and bright graphics for A to Z is a great option for a gift this year.

City Puzzle

Young puzzlers will adore this six-piece puzzle set! Not only does it make for great fine motor skill enhancement, but the pieces also stand up on their own for pretend play.

Watermelon Drum

Making music never looked so sweet! This adorable watermelon drum comes with drumsticks and is perfectly sized for your young musicians.

Avocado Castanets

Kiddos can make some merry music with this adorable set of avocado castanets! For ages two and older, simple hold them in your hands and click together for some fun tunes.

Guitar

Strum some sweet tunes on this mini guitar this holiday. The whimsical coloring makes this instrument fun for any age.

Robot Wrangler Matching Game

Corraling robots is the game! Group by color or type and the first player to empty their hand wins! This game is great for kids three and older and for two to four players.

Wheels and Squeals Matching Game

Oink, oink! Watch out for pigs as you build a road by matching the vehicles on the cards in this game. Great for two to four players and ages four and up.

100 Piece Farm Search & Find Puzzle

After kids put together this 100-piece puzzle that measures 11 x 15 inches, they can start searching for 24 sets of different farm animals and objects!

––Karly Wood

All photos courtesy of PBS Kids

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5 Ridiculously Fun Places to Learn to Play Music

by rtcarolynrossOctober 6, 2015

Studies show early music education can give kids a major boost in everything from memory capacity to mathematical skills, but these findings also make clear that the under-10 set must do more than just tickle the ivories, they have to have fun doing it! Tap into your little Mozart’s music smarts with lessons at one of these five off-the-beaten-path music instruction outlets where fun and creativity are the priority.

Photo: Bloombars via Facebook

Bloombars
Think: Drums With a Purpose
Families flock to this homegrown arts collective in vibrant Columbia Heights for the myriad music and arts educational programming, much of it aimed at the youngest of virtuosos. The popular Harambee, now offered three days a week at peak times, including two Saturday morning sessions, is a favorite among littles under six. This is kiddo’s chance to really bang a drum, dance like no one is watching, and shout as loud as they can. Look out, too, for the new Friday afternoon series Music Foundations 101 for pre-schoolers led by an award-winning jazz vocalist. There’s also plenty for older children and adults to love, including family drum circles, “Bollywood” style dance classes, and family yoga.

3222 11th St., N.W. (Columbia Heights)
202-567-7713
Online: bloombars.com

Photo: GIGS

GIGS Gaiser Inside Guitar Studio
Think: Out of the Box and Onto the Stage
Having fun doing something you love is the main philosophy guiding this studio’s approach. Here, young talent is encouraged to choose their own instrument, and even the music they want to learn to play. Music industry veteran and GIGS founder Sean Gaiser, along with his hand-picked staff, make helping kids shine their number one mission. GIGS All-Stars have several unique performance opportunities throughout their tenure, so when they do take the stage they are confident and enjoy showing off their skills. Community partnerships with local businesses and schools expand GIGS reach and performance space opportunities, inlcuding a mixed media event called “Art Rocks” showcasing both visual art and live performances every June.

3762 Howard Ave. (Kensington, Md.)
11011 Baltimore Ave. (Beltsville, Md.)
301-466-1358
Online: gigsstudio.com

Photo: ROAM via Facebook

Rock of Ages Music (ROAM)
Think: Rock Star in the Making
While many musicians might say performing is “in their blood,” ROAM founder John Patrick (J.P.), who joined his first band as a pre-teen, might actually be able to prove there is music in his veins. By the time he was in high school at Alexandria’s TC Williams, he was playing in a band, and eventually made four albums and toured across the country with sold-out shows. It is with this firsthand knowledge of the music industry and a passion for teaching that J.P. and his crew of similarly experienced instructors, approach their students instructional needs. From piano and violin to guitar and ukelele, ROAM has an instructor to engage every little music maker’s interest. Your junior jammer wants to be a real rock star? Try ROAM’s Rock School where students are teamed to form a band and practice two hours a week, with a live performance at the end of each semester.

114 Del Ray Ave. (Alexandria, Va.)
703-838-2130
Online: roamrockandroll.com

Photo: Bill Ward via Flickr

Sticks and Bars
Think: Music that Makes the Heart Sing
As founder and director of this marimba ensemble, Premila Mistry doesn’t just talk about a holistic approach to teaching young musicians, she exudes it. Drawing from all over the D.C. area, Sticks and Bars marimba masters aged 10 to 17 rehearse an hour and a half weekly as they develop a discipline enhanced by the Orff style of music instruction. Through lively performance on this deceptively simple instrument, the students seem to dance atop their instruments from small to large, as they engage audiences and bring out the depths of sound for all to enjoy. Making music accessible to children, an emphasis on the natural response we all have to music is key to Sticks and Bars success. Mistry also finds involvement of children in a music experience as early as possible is important, although it depends on the individual child, and the level of commitment to continuing to master an instrument. Get a preview of Sticks and Bars at Columbia Heights Farmers Market, November 7 at 11 am.

3333 14^th St. NW
240-888-2507
Online: sticksandbars.org

Photo: Washington Revels via Facebook

Washington Revels
Think: Creative and Classical Fun
Either watching or choosing to join in on a Washington Revels sing-along means becoming a part of a music and arts phenomenon in the D.C. area. Probably best known for their holiday performances as well as a May Day celebration at Rockville’s Strathmore, this mostly volunteer-run community group’s programming offers a broader view of the Revels experience through choral opportunities for all age groups, as well as a new twist on after-school activities. Depending on the age group, on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays Revels 90 minute after school workshops meet to dance, sing and play. A performance by workshop participants at the end of each semester is always a highlight. Bonus for parents: Before care is offered with pick up from Sligo Creek Elementary or Silver Spring International Middle School.

531 Dale Dr. (Silver Spring, Md)
301-587-5835
Online: revelsdc.org

Has your kid tried any of these lessons? Tell us about the experience in the comments section below.

—Carolyn Ross

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