Author Archive
Links to music related pages
Here are some of our favorite pages:
Smart Shorties – Music Helps Kids Learn Fractions
Smart Shorties
With the first day of school only days away, parents across the DC area are trying
to ease their kids from the carefree fun of summer to the academic rigors of a new
school year. But getting kids to want to learn doesn’t have to be like pulling teeth.
Students across the country have actually started to enjoy math and give their test
scores a boost with Smart Shorties, a program that puts multiplication facts and
fractions to popular hip-hop beats that kids already love.
Creator of Smart Shorties, Alex Nesmith
Years ago, I had the privilege of performing in a jazz band with the creator of Smart
Shorties, Alex Nesmith. Together, with me playing trumpet and Alex on the baritone
sax, we toured Asia and Europe making music, and we became fast friends in the
process. Alex went on to use his musical background to become a professional music
producer, working with artists like Charlotte Church, Keith Sweat, Chris Brown, and
Outkast.
Kids are Genuinely Excited to Learn Math
But when he learned about the deficiencies American students have in math, Alex
became determined to use music as a tool to develop how students think and learn.
And with Smart Shorties, he’s done just that. Kids who use the program for four
or more months have shown a 67% increase in math facts fluency. Schools across
the country have implemented the program into their curriculums to improve test
scores. And kids are genuinely excited to learn math.
Making the World a Better Place through Music
At B&B, we’re particularly enthused about Smart Shorties because it mirrors our
mission of making the world a better place through music, one lesson at a time. And
we hope you’ll be interested in checking it out too. It’s the perfect way to get your
kids fired up about classes before they’ve even begun.
Brad Clements
Co-owner, B&B Music Lessons
B&B Partners with Guitar Center
48 Years of Helping Musicians
This year, the Guitar Center celebrates 48 years of helping musicians across the
country make amazing music. In the beginning, the store may have been mainly
about peace, love, and guitars, but today, when you walk through the Guitar Center’s
doors, you’ll find just about every instrument known to man, including keyboards,
drums, banjos, and clarinets.
 Brad & Bhagwan planning the recital schedule at Strathmore Mansion |
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Mention B&B and You’re Guaranteed Exceptional Service.
But even more noteworthy than their incredible selection is Guitar Center’s
unbeatable service. The sales staff is inviting, informed, and eager to help. In fact, it’s
all of the the glowing reviews that our students gave Guitar Center reps that led to
B&B partnering with the Guitar Center ourselves! That was over five years ago. And
our relationship keeps getting better and better. Today, if you walk in a local Guitar
Center store and mention B&B, you’re guaranteed exceptional service.
So, if you’re in the market for a new instrument, one that’s just new to you, or
new instrument accessories and parts, try Guitar Center for yourself. And now is
the perfect time to check them out since you can take full advantage of their 48th
anniversary deals through the end of summer.
Stop by one of the following stores to get the Guitar Center experience for yourself.
And don’t forget to tell them B&B sent you!
Rockville MD
12401 Twinbrook Parkway
Rockville, MD 20852
(301) 231-6100
Seven Corners VA
6272 Arlington Blvd.
Falls Church, VA 22044
(703) 533-8500
Progressive Office for Website Design and Internet Marketing
If you learned about B&B Music Lessons online, chances are you can thank Stu Kushner for finding us! Owner of Progressive Office, Inc., Stu is an integral member of the B&B family as our SEO and IT expert for small business. This year, we celebrate the fifth year of our incredible partnership that’s helped B&B reach more students, and in turn make the world a better place through music.
For our first two years, B&B worked with a foreign-based company for our SEO needs. Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of making your web site more visible, and because we wanted a strong online presence, we were willing to pay outrageous monthly fees for quality service. But after two years of getting no results and having the company we hired blame us for our bad search engine ratings, we knew it was time for a change. And we decided to go with a local business. I wanted to do business face to face and not get burned again.
After a quick Google search, Stu popped up as the number one SEO person listed in Washington, DC. Number one, I thought, he must really have this SEO thing down. A few days later we met at what would become our usual lunch spot, Busboys & Poets at 14th and U.
After listening to what we wanted and asking a ton of questions about B&B, Stu made us an incredible offer. He would teach us everything he knew about SEO for less than what we’d paid our last company for just two months of work! Stu introduced us to helpful (and free!) online tools like Google Analytics and Wufoo Forms. He taught us that external links (like this) are good and that never posting content is bad. We also have learned to back up all of our sites regularly and Stu has made this a snap to do.
After putting Stu’s methods into practice, we got results! And in a few months, Stu’s help totally turned B&B around. Today, even though Bhagwan and I have gotten the basics, we still need Stu for special projects like our WordPress installation. And when we run into bumps in the road, like a broken plug-in or a faulty page, Stu’s super-responsive and usually fixes our issue in less than 24 hours. Stu has made numerous upgrades to our software including directing us to Firefox as our preferred browser to use.
Whether it’s work for hire or on a contract basis, I give Stu my highest recommendation for being honorable, dependable, and professional. Today, we get 50% more prospects every week due to his efforts alone! And with the goal of making the world a better place through music, that’s a pretty good place to start. But don’t just take my word for it, check out these testimonials from other customers.
Thanks for a terrific five years Stu! We couldn’t have done it without you.
Because music matters,
Brad
P.S. Looking for a great website design and effective Internet Marketing for your small business? Maybe Stu can help you too! Take a look at his services:
- Email Solutions
- Office and Commercial Cabling
- Printer Repair
- IT Support
- VoIP Phone
- Internet Marketing
- Website Design
- Internet Marketing Service Plans
- Analytics
- Contact Stu
Brad Clements joins Eric Benét at DAR Constitution Hall
The crowd loves the music and Brad Clements is glad to be a part of the performance by Eric Benet and Band.
Show is July 25, 2012:
Four-time Grammy-nominated singer, Eric Benét is coming to DAR Constitution Hall on July 25 for a performance guaranteed to leave many an audience member speechless. Known for his perfect pitch, this smooth and soulful R&B master will sound even better than usual on Wednesday night because of one thing – his accompaniment! B&B’s own Brad Clements is the trumpeter in Eric’s band for the show, and he’s sure to make the instrumentals as unforgettable as Eric’s velvety vocals.
Brad Clements poses, trumpet in hand, ready for a great night with Eric Benet and Band.
…“He can blow!”
But this won’t be their first gig together. The two originally worked with one another on Tom Joyner’s Fantastic Voyage Cruise in 2011, and they’ve done a few shows together since. Brad, who’s worked with the likes of Chuck Brown, Prince, and Jill Scott, instantly respected Eric for being an original, consistent hard worker with a unique interpretation of song. And on top of all that, Brad added, “He can blow!”
Eric Benet passionate about music, sings along side Brad Clements on trumpet.
Get Your Tickets Before They’re Gone!
But don’t take Brad’s word for it. Come see for yourself. Eric’s performing as a special guest for Ledisi’s Be Good To Yourself Tour. But tickets are going fast. To get yours or for more info, please visit http://www.ticketmaster.com/Ledisi-tickets/artist/1104783
Brad Clements plays his heart out, flanked by Greg Boyer and Brent Birkhead.
“Ledisi … a force certain to bring the house down…”
And by the way, Brad has experience playing with Ledisi too! She’s actually one of his favorite performers to work with, a force certain to bring the house down. You can check her out here.
Beacon Theater before the show, Ledisi with special guests Eric Benet & Band with Brad Clements.
Brad Clements enjoying some down time with Greg Boyer and Brent Birkhead.
Check out Greg Boyer’s performance below!
Four-time Grammy-nominated singer, Eric Benét performs along side trumpeter and B&B Music Lessons co-founder, Brad Clements.
B&B Student Recital: July 8, 2012 (Group C)
The attendees, parents and friends of our students, of July 8, 2012′s recital.
*scroll down to view videos
B&B’s 2012 Summer Recital, Group C
This Sunday, our students took to the stage for B&B’s 2012 summer recital at the Strathmore Mansion. All of the performers had a blast entertaining the crowd with their own renditions of some incredible jazz, pop, and classical numbers. Plus, they got solid experience playing in front of people – and that’s what music’s all about!
“They’re casual, low-pressure events in a fun, friendly atmosphere.”
Well, I guess it’s not all about the performing because music’s also about having fun. From weekly lessons, to personal practice time, to listening to MP3s, students should enjoy the process of learning music. And we treat our recitals the same way. They’re casual, low-pressure events in a fun, friendly atmosphere. After all, performing in front of people is stressful enough on its own!
“…we know that a four-hour recital can be a lot to sit through.”
Music aside, one of my favorite parts about our recitals is that they’re such social functions. I finally get to meet our parents face-to-face. And the students get to hang out with one another and see what their peers are up to. Our busy parents like that we break our recitals into four mini-sets, instead of having one big show. So they can just come for their child’s set. (We love music, but we know that a four-hour recital can be a lot to sit through – especially if you have toddlers in tow.)
Enjoy a few videos of the event below…
If you made it out on Sunday, thanks so much for coming! I hope you had a fantastic time as we did. You can now enjoy a few videos of the event below. Enjoy!
Because music matters,
Bhagwan Khalsa
B&B Music Lessons Co-founder
*Be sure to click the word “playlist” in the bottom left hand corner of the video player below.
Student Recital: July 8, 2012 (Group B)
The attendees, parents and friends of our students, of July 8, 2012′s recital.
*scroll down to see the videos
B&B’s 2012 Summer Recital, Group B
This Sunday, our students took to the stage for B&B’s 2012 summer recital at the Strathmore Mansion. All of the performers had a blast entertaining the crowd with their own renditions of some incredible jazz, pop, and classical numbers. Plus, they got solid experience playing in front of people – and that’s what music’s all about!
“They’re casual, low-pressure events in a fun, friendly atmosphere.”
Well, I guess it’s not all about the performing because music’s also about having fun. From weekly lessons, to personal practice time, to listening to MP3s, students should enjoy the process of learning music. And we treat our recitals the same way. They’re casual, low-pressure events in a fun, friendly atmosphere. After all, performing in front of people is stressful enough on its own!
“…we know that a four-hour recital can be a lot to sit through.”
Music aside, one of my favorite parts about our recitals is that they’re such social functions. I finally get to meet our parents face-to-face. And the students get to hang out with one another and see what their peers are up to. Our busy parents like that we break our recitals into four mini-sets, instead of having one big show. So they can just come for their child’s set. (We love music, but we know that a four-hour recital can be a lot to sit through – especially if you have toddlers in tow.)
Enjoy a few videos of the event below…
If you were able to make it out on Sunday, thanks so much for coming! I hope you had as incredible a time as I did. But, even if you missed it, you can enjoy a few videos of the event below. Enjoy!
Because music matters,
Bhagwan Khalsa
B&B Music Lessons Co-founder
* Be sure to click on the word “playlist” in the lower, left hand corner of the video player below.
Student Recital: July 8, 2012 (Group A)
The attendees, parents and friends of our students, of July 8, 2012′s recital.
*scroll down to see videos
B&B’s 2012 Summer Recital, Group A
This Sunday, our students took to the stage for B&B’s 2012 summer recital at the Strathmore Mansion. All of the performers had a blast entertaining the crowd with their own renditions of some incredible jazz, pop, and classical numbers. Plus, they got solid experience playing in front of people – and that’s what music’s all about!
“They’re casual, low-pressure events in a fun, friendly atmosphere.”
Well, I guess it’s not all about the performing because music’s also about having fun. From weekly lessons, to personal practice time, to listening to MP3s, students should enjoy the process of learning music. And we treat our recitals the same way. They’re casual, low-pressure events in a fun, friendly atmosphere. After all, performing in front of people is stressful enough on its own!
“…we know that a four-hour recital can be a lot to sit through.”
Music aside, one of my favorite parts about our recitals is that they’re such social functions. I finally get to meet our parents face-to-face. And the students get to hang out with one another and see what their peers are up to. Our busy parents like that we break our recitals into four mini-sets, instead of having one big show. So they can just come for their child’s set. (We love music, but we know that a four-hour recital can be a lot to sit through – especially if you have toddlers in tow.)
Enjoy a few videos of the event below…
If you were able to make it out on Sunday, thanks so much for coming! I hope you had an incredible time, as I did. But even if you missed it, you can enjoy a few videos of the event below. Enjoy!
Because music matters,
Bhagwan Khalsa
B&B Music Lessons Co-founder
* Click on the word “playlist” in the lower, left hand corner of the video player below.
B&B Owner Plays American Music Festival with See-I
B&B Music Lessons Owner Brad Clements has been playing trumpet in the Washington, DC area for the last 20 years. For the last 4 years, Brad has been playing trumpet with See-I, DC’s funkiest Reggae Band. Check out the pictures below from See-I’s performance at the American Music Festival at the National Harbor on June 30, 2012.
“Man, it was the hottest day of the year at over 100 degrees but made it a cool happening just the same. I met the See-i front men, Rootz and Zee, from my days playing with Thievery Corporation years ago. Good music, good vibes and good times were had by all.”
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Gaithersburg, MD private drum teacher at home
We know that you’ll love JJ as your drum teacher. How can we say that? Because he wouldn’t be with us if we didn’t love him too! We have strong personal relationships with all of our private drum teachers, especially JJ. Clearly our most talented drum teacher JJ also provides guitar lessons, piano lessons and bass lessons too. At this time JJ has availability on Thurs afternoon/evening. He is by far our most popular private drum teacher and we only have a few time slots remaining on Thursdays only for JJ, so click the contact us button immediately:
Contact B&B Music Lessons for the perfect teacher!
We are the premier provider of private drum lessons in Gaithersburg MD. Our current families love that we are so easy to work with and don’t require a long term commitment. Kids truly benefit from drum lessons but only if they are into it. That’s why we are happy to work with JJ who is fun and engaging. B&B Music Lessons goes to great lengths to ensure your satisfaction with our service. To see how we’ve been doing please click this link to the Better Business Bureau:
The benefits of private drum lessons, or any other musical instrument, are widely known. Studying drums during a young student’s formative years helps the brain develop in meaningful ways. Playing the drums is so much fun that children often don’t realize that they are developing the same part of their brain used in understanding math and science. This fact alone should make most parents at least try to direct their child into some form of music study.