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

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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When we think of music, we think of harmonious, pleasing sounds that create or recall emotions and memories.  In that sense, it may be hard to think of banging on a drum as “music”. Few of us would want to sit through an entire performance of drum solos;  yet, drums and other percussion instruments play  an important role in any performance;  as much as the piano, the violin or guitar.

Drums set the tempo and rhythm of the music, adding emotional shadings and emphasis to the music being played.  Drums in an orchestra are like the sound track in a movie; always in the background — adding color, emotion and tempo to the scene — but only rarely, if ever, becoming the scene or the performance itself.  Traditionally, drums and percussion instruments play supporting roles to the “musical” instruments; they provide rhythm, shading and texture, but are not the music itself.  

Yet, despite its supporting role in traditional music, it is an integral part of the performance itself.  

The emergence of Jazz and Rock n’ Roll has often put drummers in the forefront of the performance. They are not just “bit players” doing backup, but star performers, virtuosos in their own right.  Who has not been thrilled by a drum solo from such legendary drummers as Gene Krupa, Keith Moon, Mick Fleetwood, or Ringo Starr?

 Like any other instrument, playing a drum badly is just making noise; but playing a drum with style; in sync with other instruments or as a solo performance, is a skill that rivals the virtuosos of any other instrument.   But does a drum “make music”?

The dictionary defines “Music” as:

1. The art of arranging sounds in time so as to produce a continuous, unified, and evocative composition through melody, harmony, rhythm, and timbre.
2.  Vocal or instrumental sounds possessing a degree of melody, harmony, or rhythm.

Drums are all about rhythm.  They don’t create melodies or harmonies. The sound of a drum is as basic and visceral as a heartbeat. Drums interpret the rhythms of nature into musical forms:  the ominous rumble of thunder from the Tympani, or the pattering of raindrops on a roof from a snare drum.  That is what we sense when we hear the beat of a drum: the rhythms of life itself.    

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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Instrument: Guitar, Electric Bass, Piano, Banjo, Mandolin

Genres: Rock, Folk, Blues

Why I work well with kids?

I work well with kids because I want to see them succeed. I invest because I believe that coaxing out the ability to read and play music helps to develop the best attributes of their development into adults.

Instrument: Piano, Suzuki

Genres: classical piano, punk rock, hip hop, jazz

Location: Ashburn, Reston, Herndon, Sterling, Chantilly, Virginia

Why I work well with kids?

I simply adore kids. Kids are so crucial because if the right concepts and techniques of piano playing are ingrained at the right age, then there will be minimal issues as they move on to more difficult repertoire. I would work well with kids in this age group because I have volunteered in the past at a school-age child care center where I worked with many kids. I am also very good at engaging them, and if I were to teach piano, I would explain everything to them, as I do usually, in the simplest terms possible. With this age group, communicating as succinctly and simply as possible is imperative.