Tag Archives: acoustic

Free Gypsy Jazz Concert by Franglais

Blending the rhythmic pulse of gypsy jazz and the improvised elegance of American jazz, Franglais will hold a free concert at the Takoma Park Community Center on Feb. 9.
Rhythm guitarist Ben Wood and vocalist Eve Seltzer formed Franglais in 2004 after being inspired by the Django Reinhardt jazz festival in France during their honeymoon. Based in New York City, the couple regularly plays with other musicians and has performed from Paris to Honolulu and cities in between.
No tickets or reservations are required, and donations will be accepted to support the band. You can learn more about Franglais and hear some of their music at franglaisjazz.com.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Wood and Seltzer were stuck in their Brooklyn apartment and started recording some jazz duets to cope with their isolation. The songs became their latest album “Pairings” that was recorded and edited by Seltzer, who is a Grammy-nominated sound engineer. Each of the eight songs was paired with a drink in a nod to Wood’s work as a sommelier which also was disrupted by the pandemic shutdowns.
“I grew up in the D.C. area so we’re really looking forward to playing in Takoma Park again,” Wood said.
This concert is part of the Takoma Park Arts series organized by the City of Takoma Park’s Arts and Humanities Division, which includes free concerts, art exhibitions, film screenings, theater, dance, and other performances at the Takoma Park Community Center. Go to takomaparkmd.gov/arts for more info and to sign up for our weekly e-newsletter.

Greg Rekus and Teething Veils

Join us for an evening at the Gazebo with songwriters Greg Rekus (on tour from Winnipeg!) and Teething Veils. Greg Rekus “plays acoustic guitar and sings and dances around on a 4 x 4 x 1 stage with tamborines mounted to it.” Teething Veils (guitarist/vocalist Greg Svitil) plays soft, reflective songs for solo acoustic guitar and voice.

Christmas caroling (sing along)

Join members of the Takoma Park Presbyterian Church choir for a christmas carol sing along! No experience necessary – singers and non-singers welcome! We’ll bring song books. Hark the herald angels sing!

Fusing the Music From China To Appalachia and Beyond

Part workshop, part masterclass, the program will give a detailed view of their instrumentation, particularly the lesser known Yanqin (Chinese Hammered Dulcimer), along with five-string banjo, cello banjo, gourd banjo, mandolin, ukulele and percussion. The band will co-show how they fuse their eclectic musical instruments and ideas for both an arranged piece and an improvised piece of music. If people bring instruments, they will teach 1 Chinese tune that easily adapts to American old-time instruments. Q & A to follow and a last tune.

Takoma Open Spark

7112 Willow Ave., Takoma Park, MD 20912 | signup at 6.30pm, music at 7pm
This is the rarest of all things – a listening room open mic!

Sponsored in conjunction with Institute of Musical Traditions and School of Musical Traditions at SMT’s new lesson space in Takoma Park, we’ve got a small room for performances and we’re not afraid to use it. This is NOT a restaurant so bring your own food or drink if you want to eat or drink! (no alcohol please, and of course please clean up after yourself). House keyboard in the house. The night is free to attend, but we hope that you’ll support our featured artist with tips and adoration. Scroll back to the top of this page for our next feature…

We’re not big enough for amps or drumkits, so don’t bring’em. 2 songs, 10 minutes, 1 pun – whichever’s shorter. Webcasting Live on Facebook.com/robsopenmics, YouTube.com/robsopenmics and Twitch.tv/ilyaimy.

D.C. Sing-Along at School of Musical Traditions

Sing your heart out, together, with the D.C. Sing-Along!

The D.C. Sing-Along is a hootenanny for the digital age. Combining the communal spirit of ’60s sing-alongs with a modern songbook and rawk ‘tude, the D.C. Sing-Along is a heartwarming, cathartic, and analog good time.

Songbooks and kazoos provided, no musical ability needed. Chords are provided for musicians — feel free to bring acoustic instruments. Free!

Bluegrass & Books: Cane Mill Road from Boone, NC + ‘American Ending’ author

Enjoy music and lore of Appalachia with Cane Mill Road’s brand of NC bluegrass, and Mary Kay Zuravleff reading from American Ending, which made Oprah’s Spring Reading List! This new work of historical fiction takes place in Appalachia making it a perfect match for Cane Mill Road. Their style of music originated alongside the ancestors who inspired American Ending’s story.

This fabulous evening is hosted by Maureen Andary at Takoma Park’s newest venue, Takoma Spark at the School of Musical Traditions. Books will be sold on site by People’s Book – a brand new, woman-owned, book store in Takoma Park.

Join us ! Complementary refreshments will be served. Seating is limited and is first come first serve. KIDS 12 and UNDER ARE FREE – just don’t purchase a ticket for them; they can come on in 🙂

Classic, Tango, and Contemporary Music Concert – WAU Music Faculty

The Washington Adventist University Music Faculty presents a concert of classic, tango, and contemporary music on Thursday, June 22, at 7 pm. The concert is free!

Takoma Park SDA Church
6951 Carroll Ave
Takoma Park, MD

Preston Hawes, violin
Mark Di Pinto, piano
Dan Zhang, viola
Susanna Mendlow, cello
Brian Liu, violin
Shawn Alger, double bass
Stephen Czarkowski, cello

Chamber Music Concert – WAU Music Faculty

Washington Adventist University Music Faculty present a chamber music concert featuring the works of Handel, Sarasate, and Robert Schumann on June 21 at 7 pm. The concert is free!

Peters Music Center
7711 Greenwood Ave
Takoma Park, MD

Preston Hawes, violin
Brian Liu, violin
Dan Zhang, viola
Susanna Mendlow, cello
Mark Di Pinto, piano

Summer Romance on the Solstice: A Concert by WAU’s Music Faculty

Washington Adventist University invites Takoma Park residents and their friends to join our esteemed music faculty in this FREE concert open to the public! Join us as we explore the music of Schumann, Sarasate, and Handel in a program that delights the heart and ears alike. The performance, appropriate for all ages, will run about an hour. Afterwards, audience members are invited to get to know the performers in a brief Q&A. We hope to see you there!

Performers:

Preston Hawes & Brian Liu, violin
Dan Zhang, viola
Stephen Czarkowski & Susanna Mendlow, cello
Mark Di Pinto, piano

Christmas Caroling

Join us for caroling!
The Takoma Park Presbyterian Church choir and friends invite singers and non-singers to join in singing christmas carols to celebrate this special season.
Bring yourselves, bring your friends.
No experience required – all welcome.

Finding Melodies on Your Instrument with Ira Gitlin

Saturday, November 19, 10:30 – 12:30 PM EST

Whether you’re playing lead or rhythm, being able to find melodies on your own is an essential skill for any instrumentalist. We’ll explore techniques for finding the notes you hear in your head, so you can forge the connections between your ears, brain, hands, and fingerboard, making you a better and more self-sufficient player.

This workshop is open to ALL string instruments!

SMT’S NEW STUDIO LOCATION!
7112 Willow Ave
Takoma Park, MD 20912

Takoma SPARK will be SMT’s new home base starting in November.

All private lessons, group classes & workshops, and jams will occur at SPARK. And we are already cooking up some new events to host in our large event space, including open mics and a performance series! Stay tuned!

INSTRUMENT RENTALS
Students may elect to rent an instrument from the House of Musical Traditions, depending on availability.

HEALTH PROTOCOLS
We are following the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services guidelines for health and safety. Students are encouraged to wash hands upon arrival.

REGISTRATION POLICY
We require a minimum of 3 attendees for all group classes & workshops. Classes will be cancelled if we have not met the 3-person minimum 72 hours in advance of the start time.

In the event of a cancellation, you may choose between either (1) a full refund, or (2) a full credit to private lessons or a future workshop.

In the event the 3-person minimum has been met, registration remains open at a slightly higher cost for the final 72 hours before the class.

$55 Workshop

Bluegrass Day Special! Purchase both workshops for $100 (add both workshops to your cart, then enter code BUNDLE10 at checkout).
– Finding Melodies on Your Instrument with Ira Gitlin (https://www.schoolofmusicaltraditions.com/event/finding-melodies-on-your-instrument-with-ira-gitlin/)
– Exploring the Bluegrass Vocal Sound with Dede Wyland (https://www.schoolofmusicaltraditions.com/event/exploring-the-bluegrass-vocal-sound-with-dede-wyland/)