Arts
www.SanTanSun.com
June 20 - July 3, 2015
57
Blackbird Music Center opens studio BY TRACY HOUSE
Blackbird Music Center is expanding its business, opening a studio in Chandler at Alma School and Germann roads. “We’re really excited to get into Chandler,” said Melody Smith who, along with her husband, Robb, have had a studio in Queen Creek for eight years. “We live in Chandler and we’re really excited.” While her name is musical, Smith said it’s deceiving: Robb is the musician; she is an artist. Smith said it was time to open the studio in Chandler, considering its work with schools in Chandler. “We do a lot of rentals to a lot of the Chandler schools, so it was a great opportunity to get into a bigger city,” she said. Smith has been busy getting the studio ready for the grand opening as well as its open house from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 27. “It’s more of an open house, tour the new studio and meet the teachers,” she said. “They’ll be rotating through. We might have some acoustic music going on.” Smith invites the community to stop by, meet the teachers, see the studio, ask questions and get information about the center. Blackbird Music Center is at 1800 S. Alma School Rd., Suite 3. Look for more information on its website at www. blackbirdcenter.com or visit the Facebook page Blackbird Music & Art Center.
multiple instruments. “All of them are extreme professionals in the industry,” Smith said. “They either have degrees or they have an extensive amount of performance experience. You can see that by their bio page on our website. We’re not hiring kids out of high school to teach. We’re really looking for top-of-the-line teachers for the students who can really customize the lessons for the student. We don’t build one plan for everybody. We go with what keeps the kids interested. The type of music they want to play. A lot goes into it.” The center teaches everyone from child to adult. “Pretty much any instrument, including voice,” Smith said. “We do piano, guitar, bass, brass instruments. Kids can get extra lessons for school band. We start them out at an earlier age.” Depending on the instrument children can begin as young as 5 years old. Lessons are private, and Smith indicated that in the future they may be offering group lessons, such as guitar. “It’s always good to check on the website or our Facebook page to see what’s going on.” For parents looking for extra help for their children’s music education, or kids who want to learn an instrument outside of school, Blackbird Music Center is available for that opportunity. The children’s background or level of experience isn’t a factor.
Experienced teachers Blackbird Music Center has 12 professional instructors, some teaching
Instruments available Instrument rental is available at Blackbird Music Center.
“We have our complete line of instruments,” she said. “The great thing about us, is two years ago is when we started instruments, so all of our instruments are practically brand new, whereas some of the other companies, the instruments are pretty old right now that the Blackbird Music Center opens its doors kids are renting, so they’re getting a quality Saturday, June 27, with an open house from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to meet the community. instrument from us.” Submitted photo Smith mentioned that Blackbird Music The teachers Center has a reasonably priced student attend, and sometimes they’ll guitar that is worth the purchase. In accompany them out on stage. It’s really addition, she said, the company works nice. The parents love seeing it of course.” with the school band directors to ensure The Smiths have lived in Chandler for they have the right music books and three years and are a family of musicians. instruments available. They have three children who attend “We try to work with them to make Basha High School, twins Carson and sure we’re renting out the types of quality Cole, 17, and Tara, 15. “My daughter sings, instruments for their students.” and my boys are really accomplished Tuition for lessons is monthly, and musicians. They play all over town. Smith mentioned sometimes they have They’re called the West Hills Brothers.” long-term students, while other times The West Hills Brothers play students will work for a short time alternative, classic rock and originals, preparing for an audition or talent show and have performed around the Valley they want to get some pointers on before at festivals and at the Chandler Center the performance. for the Arts. They have a website, www. Recitals for students are held westhillsbrothers.com. throughout the year, and Smith points out they are optional. “We don’t force Tracy House is a freelancer for SanTan anybody to do that, but it’s a great way Sun News. She can be reached at news@ to get performance experience and the santansun.com. teachers really help them out for that.
FRIDAY July 17, 6-10 PM
Food trucks, coffee & ice cream will be available. TechShop Chandler 249 E Chicago St Chandler, AZ 85225
Craft table for the kids! Music by Randy Scott of Hooked on a feeling Art Walk Sponsors:
www.ChandlerArtWalk.com
Classic summer blockbusters return to Harkins Theatres Harkins Theatres will present Tuesday Night Classics with special presentations of retro films at 7 p.m. For $5, guests can relive their favorite films on the big screen at theaters throughout the Valley, including Chandler Crossroads and Chandler Fashion Center. June’s lineup includes: • “Big” Tuesday, June 23 • “Apocalypse Now” Tuesday, June 30 • “Top Gun” Tuesday, July 7 • “Saving Private Ryan” Tuesday, July 14 • “The Karate Kid” Tuesday, July 21 • “The Usual Suspects” Tuesday, July 28 • “The Departed” Tuesday, Aug. 4 • “Bad Boys” Tuesday, Aug. 11 • “The Shawshank Redemption” Tuesday, Aug. 18 • “Beverly Hills Cop” Tuesday, Aug. 25 • “The Sound of Music” Tuesday, Sept. 1
• “Fletch” Tuesday, Sept. 8 • “North by Northwest” Tuesday, Sept. 15 • “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” Tuesday, Sept. 22 • “Raising Arizona” Tuesday, Sept. 29 • “Gremlins” Tuesday, Oct. 6 • “Alien” Tuesday, Oct. 13 • “The Exorcist” Tuesday, Oct. 20 • “Halloween” Tuesday, Oct. 27 • “Three Amigos” Tuesday, Nov. 3 • “The Jerk” Tuesday, Nov. 10 • “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” Tuesday, Nov. 17 • “Planes, Trains & Automobiles” Tuesday, Nov. 24 • “Christmas Vacation” Tuesday, Dec. 1 • “Elf” Tuesday, Dec. 8 • “A Christmas Story” Tuesday, Dec. 15 • “The Polar Express” Tuesday, Dec. 22. For more information, visit www. HarkinsTheatres.com/TNC.