Instruments:

Guitar, Bass, Drums, Rock Bands

Genres:

Rock, Pop, Indie, Prog, Math-Rock

Location:

Gaithersburg, Germantown, Rockville, Potomac, Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Maryland

Why I work well with kids?

I have been teaching kids for over 4 years now, and I’ve had only 2 students stop taking lessons with me because of lack of interest.  I love working with kids because they are so malleable and you can help mold them into the little rockers they want to be.  You know everything is going well when the next lesson comes up the following week, and your student is plugged in and ready to show you what he/she has mastered.  Teaching kids music theory through the songs they know and love is in integral part of the way I teach.  I find that in doing this, students have more fun in the lesson, and are keen to practice more in between lessons.

John W. Resume and Bio

Matt B. moves to Frederick!

Many of you may already know Matt B. He’s been one of our trusty, expert guitar instructors for years. And now, for all of you lucky Frederick County folks out there, we’re pleased to announce that he’s made the move to your area!

Matt’s spent close to twenty years playing the guitar and electric bass, and he’s been playing the stand-up bass for nearly a decade. So if your child is ready to start strumming, Matt’s your guy. He’s a native Italian who studied jazz and music technology at George Mason. And with over a decade of professional teaching experience under his belt, he’s a perfect pick for any prospective guitar student out there.

When he’s not teaching students, Matt keeps busy with his own original music project, a power-pop, power-trio called Classified Frequency. To check out what his band’s been up to, just visit Classifiedfrequency.com. And to learn even more about Matt’s passion for music and his energetic teaching style, make sure you stop by his B&B profile.

Jonathan S. Blues Guitar

Meet Jonathan, King of the Blues

Look out B. B. King. B&B officially has its very own resident “King of the Blues.” Jonathan Sloane is not only B&B’s newest all-star instructor, but he’s also winner of the Guitar Center’s 2011 Washington regional “King of the Blues” competition. And as a guitar instructor well-versed on teaching students how to read music notation, build chords, play scales, and learn rock and blues progressions, we couldn’t have asked for a better addition to the B&B team!

But if you think Jonathan’s only into Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan, think again. He’s also plays lead guitar for Yellow Dubmarine, a reggae/dub Beatles tribute band that’s toured extensively throughout Canada and the U.S. The group, which also includes B&B’s own Robbie Cooper on drums, has even opened for the Wailers, Burning Spear, and Sonny Landreth. The band recently released their first recorded album, “Abbey Dub,” an imaginative interpretation of the Beatle’s classic, “Abbey Road.” To hear a few tracks from the album, check out their Web site: http://yellowdubmarine.com/

And then, be sure to take a look at Jonathan’s B&B teacher’s profile to see all of the other cool projects he’s been working on. If you’ve been thinking about guitar lessons for your child, he may just be the perfect teacher for you. After all, who better to teach students how to play guitar than the king?

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

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

Fairfax VA
11051 Lee Highway
Fairfax, VA 22030
(703) 934-8838

Four Reasons to go with the Guitar

We all know it’s a good idea to sign kids up for music lessons. Countless studies have shown that studying music heightens math and verbal skills, improves memory, and helps build social skills. But if you’re still not sure which brain-boosting instrument to choose for your child, you may want to consider the guitar. Here are the top four reasons why parents like it for their kids.

Variety – Guitars come in a multitude of shapes and sizes. Choosing a ½ or ¾ sized guitar gives little hands easier access to all of the frets on the fingerboard, so smaller kids have an easier time playing guitar than they would with say a trombone. Plus, guitars are available in countless colors and designs that are cool enough to entice kids to practice.

 Portability – Guitars are easy to pack, take, and tune on the road. Whether the road leads your child to the playground for an outdoor jam session, a neighbor’s garage for band practice, or the backyard for some time strumming in solitude, the guitar is easy to pack transport. And it can be store in super-small places, which is ideal for the city dweller.

 Popularity – Some of the most popular songs on the radio feature the guitar. And in turn, some of today’s most celebrated musicians are guitar players. The appeal of being able to play the same instrument as his or her favorite rock star can give a child who’s just starting out an incredible incentive to keep at it.

 Proficiency – Mastering the guitar, like mastering any instrument, takes time and effort. But since it’s easy to learn quick tags to most popular songs, students can feel and sound accomplished even early on.

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Best Electric guitar for kids

So, your child has her heart set on jamming out on the electric guitar. Now, you’ve just got to decide which one to buy. When you’re shopping around, one of the main things to consider is size. Kids have small hands, so they need guitars that are three-quarters or even half the size of an adult’s guitar. But it’s not okay to just settle on a toy instrument either. We’ve compiled a list of the top three electric guitars that will make even the youngest student feel like a rock star.

1. Squier by Fender Mini Strat

The Squier Mini Strat is the highest regarded child’s electric guitar out there. It’s got 20 frets and a 22.75-inch scale, so it’s three-quarters the size of the full-sized version – perfect for beginners. It also boasts 5-way stitching, giving your young musician a multitude of various sound options from bright to muted. And, the Squier features a double cutaway body, 3 single-coil pickups, a maple neck, and a rosewood fingerboard.

You even get your choice of colors: black, pink, or Torino red. This is a quality guitar that’s perfect for small hands, and considering the hundred-dollar price tag, it’s almost impossible to beat.

2. Epiphone Les Paul Special II

This is a solid guitar for any beginner. The slim taper neck makes the Epiphone easy for kids to handle. It also features wax potted humbucker pickups, preventing annoying microphonic feedback when the amp’s up loud. The Epiphone is well-known for it’s mahogany neck and body and signature Les Paul sound. It comes in Vintage Sunburst, Heritage CherrySunburst, and Ebony.

3. Ibanez GRGM21 GIO Mikro

Featuring a 22.2-inch scale and a small neck and body, this is another great choice for a child. It has 24 frets, dual Powersound humbucking pickups, a hard-tail bridge, and an amazing sound. This Ibanez is lacking a tremolo bar, but comes in a host of colors, including yellow, jewel blue, and candy apple red. It retails for about $150.