Spring Concert This Saturday 3/29

Make sure you come out to see your favorite little musicians play in our recital on Saturday the 29th!
We have a lot of kids coming out to play this year, and the songs should be great. We move all of the books and instruments out of the front room so our students have a place to preform. It's a very intimate place to preform, and should be a great learning experience for our students no matter their age.
    Hope to See You Soon(:

We Have a New Policy!

     Realizing that some parts of our policies have been a bit muddled, we have since changed and reworded our policy to be more flexible and easier to understand. Changes include not having to give a months notice for permanent cancellation of lessons, and making sure previous statements were clear about missed lessons and days that we are closed.
     We understand that parents have busy lives; children have lessons, sports, school, homework, and recitals. We know that it is not always possible to make a life commitment to a day and time for music lesson. For this reason we have removed the one month withdrawal policy. Too many parents have come in the week before, nervous and hoping that because of a surprise recital or changed sport practice days they will have to cancel lessons. Breathe easy parents, we understand. We've got you covered. Thusly, as long as your lessons are paid for, they may be cancelled at any time.

     Make sure that you get a new lesson policy at the front desk! Autograph needed! 

Winter Wonderland

This past week, we had a blizzard! It closed our shop for 2 days and laid a blanket of light, fluffy snow as far as the eye can see. Well, we've shoveled out and are open for music!

Happy New Year! Did you make any resolutions? I did. And for the first time in as many years as I can remember, they do not involve losing weight! I've done that. 128 pounds to be exact! My resolutions revolve around making and sharing music with people. They include working more at my store and learning to repair more instruments.

Did you get an instrument for Christmas or Hanukkah? Do you need lessons? Live in the Wareham area? If so, come on by and let's make some music. I am the luckiest music store owner in the world. I have the most qualified, interesting, talented teachers out there. They are quality musicians and quality people. I believe that combination is essential to having a good student/teacher matchup.

Did you play an instrument back in the day? If so perhaps our weekend warrior program is right for you. It's an opportunity for you to get together with other musicians of your caliber and jam under the direction of one of my amazing teachers. Call the shop and put your name on the list. When we have your group filled, we will call you and schedule your sessions. 508-759-2214.

Music of the Bay...the heart of music because music is in our hearts.

How To Get Kids To Practice

So your child has been taking lessons for a while. At the beginning, he practiced on his own and he never complained about going to his weekly lesson. But now.......

So how do you help him get excited about playing music again? The answer is simple, and this time of the year in this part of the state...sometimes FREE! Take him to see a live concert or two. In this area, there are two concert series I would recommend: Cranberry Coast Concerts and The Onset Summer of Love Concert Series.

Cranberry Coast Concerts is a festival of classical music presented at three local venues at a very low cost. Run by Kirk Whipple and Marilyn Morales, Cranberry Coast Concerts showcase local artists of the classical vein. There is a fee associated with this concert series. I have a few free passes at Music of the Bay. Below is a review of one of the concerts last season from a local concert-goer.

 "Excellet night!"
Review posted by: Palom Picasso from Wareham, MA

What a night! The concert had a variation of pieces. From Ragtime to Sinatra to some pieces arranged by Kirk Whipple that included Chopin and even Grieg. I have to say that if you are bored, you really need to get to this concert! 

The Summer of Love Concert Series is organized by a friend of mine, Kat Jones. This series takes place on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-9:30 at the Onset Bandshell. In the case of inclement weather, head down the road a piece and see the show at the Onset VFW. Here is the line-up. 

June 26th-Grace Morrison & The RSO

July 3rd-Groovy Afternoon-A Tribute to the Woodstock Era

July 10th-Hollow Tree

July 17th-Mark Cutler & The Men of Great Courage

July 24th-Forever Young-A Tribute to Neil Young

July 31st-The Nowheremen-A Beatles Tribute

August 7th-The Paradise Rock Band

August 14th-The Peacheaters

August 21st-The Shaun England Band

August 28th-Heartbreaker-A Led Zeppelin Experience

See you in the audience! 

Why do you need a teacher?

So, you’re thinking of taking up the guitar. You know there are lessons available online and through DVD.  While you certainly can take self-guided lessons online or through books and DVDs, taking lessons from a qualified instructor offers several benefits.

If you're just starting out, a good instructor can guide you through the basic principles of playing guitar, such as chord formation, techniques and instrument mechanics. He'll also be able to correct improper hand positioning before it becomes habit.

Practice makes perfect, but making time for practice isn't always easy. Regularly meeting with an instructor can make you more accountable. You're less likely to not practice or skim over the hard parts when you have to answer to an outside person.

Improvement also comes from constantly challenging your current skills. An instructor can tailor your lessons so that you're always advancing.

When you begin to take guitar lessons, you won't notice mistakes or tuning issues. Your instructor's trained ear can help you key in on mistakes and become more aware of what might seem like small differences in tone and timing.

Chances are, you picked up the guitar to play a specific type of music. A guitar instructor can help you discover other types of music that might complement the style you want to learn, broadening your skills.

Playing with other people is a sure way to improve your guitar skills. Watching people who are more advanced can help you pick up new techniques and stay excited. A reputable instructor may be able to introduce you to other students with compatible skill levels.

Now that you see the benefit of having an instructor, the key is to get paired up with the right instructor for you. Since you will be spending at least a half an hour a week with him or her, be sure your personalities mesh. Music of the Bay has 13 qualified instructors to choose from. Visit the website to read each teacher’s bio and get a feel for which teacher would be best for you. Then call the shop and get yourself started. 

Spring Into Music

Ah, spring..the vernal equinox. A time of rebirth and growth. Plants are sprouting, the air is warm and the sun shines bright. This weather makes me want to sing, outside and out loud. How about you?

Music soothes the soul, awakens the spirit and keeps the mind agile. Ever thought of taking up an instrument? How about singing lessons? This time of year, we see a good amount of seasoned adults coming in to learn a new skill or hone one that has been laying dormant. Can we help you do the same?

Meet Adam Kelly, our newest hire. Adam is an accomplished singer, guitarist, and music business consultant. He worked in the industry for many years as back up singer for Michael Jackson and Lionel Ritchie. Adam works on Monday, Thursday and Friday. He is available for both beginners and more advanced students.

Is piano or organ more your interest? Meet Colin Bradley. Colin comes to us via the Daniel Byrnes Band. Colin is a Berklee graduate with many years of experience playing professionally in bands on the South Coast. He is currently available for lessons on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Summer Music Camp

AH, Summer...or as we say around here. SUMMAH. The time of year when the schedule relaxes a little, the sun shines bright and the kids are home from school! Wait, the kids are home from school? How is that relaxing?

Why not let Music of the Bay and Cranberry Coast Concerts help educate and entertain your children for a few weeks this summer to keep that relaxation quota up? Enroll the kids in CampCCC for a 2 week or a 4 week session.

•  Session I July 8- July 19
• Session II July 29 - August 9

Click here for a detailed summary of CampCCC.

Why send your kids to CampCCC? Here are the top 5 reasons:

1. It's being run by Michelle Bowlin, owner of Music of the Bay and local K-4 music teacher. So you know it will be developmentally appropriate for your kids and musically sound. 
2. The staff is made up of the area's leading musicians and music teachers, like Alex Duff from Peebles Elementary and Kat Jones fro the Onset Summer of Love Concert Series. 
3. Camp runs from 9-4 daily with drop-off at 8:30 am and pick up as late as 5:00 pm.
4. Music Camp is not all work and no play. Camp is held at Onset Campgrounds which has many outdoor venues for sports, hiking and swimming daily. And there is a concert every day for kids to enjoy. 
5. Music makes you smarter! Check out this study that talks about the benefit studying music has on the brain.