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We are delighted to announce a new musical opportunity at our Rockville studio!  Beginning on Thursday, October 14, Mari Carlson and Justin Heath will lead a bi-weekly old-time jam from 7:00 – 8:00 PM. This jam is FREE to both students and community members, and intended for high school and adult students who know at least the basics of their instrument.  While it is not a class per se, Mari and Justin are ready to support you with questions you might have about chord progressions, playing with others, and general jam etiquette. This is a great opportunity for those of you who are ready to expand beyond your living room but still feel a bit hesitant to join a regular...

Welcome back SMT students and parents! We are delighted you’re continuing to learn with us. Here are some details to know for Fall 2021. Fall Term Dates: September 7 – December 19 Closed Studio Dates:  September 4 – 6 for Labor Day November 23 – 28 for Thanksgiving December 20 – January 2 for Winter Holidays Fall Workshops: Adult Recreational Taiko: Fall Class Series – September 19, 26, October 10, 17, 24, November 7, 14, 21, 5:00 – 7:00 PM Intermediate Bodhrán Class with Scott Morrison – Saturdays, September 18 – October 9, 11:00 – 12:00 PM Youth Jam with Justin Heath – Saturdays, September 25 – October 16, 12:30 – 1:30 PM Intro to Melodic-Style Banjo with Ira Gitlin...

Summer Billing In July and August we will be billing everyone monthly (including anyone who has elected for term billing) in order to accommodate summer scheduling. Please let us know if you have any questions! Fall Term will start after Labor Day: September 7 – December 19.   Discounted band and orchestra rentals: Click HERE to rent a band or orchestra instrument from the House of Musical Traditions now and get two months for the price of one! We have an amazing woodwind instructor (flute, clarinet, saxophone) who has some openings if you or your child want to get into band instruments.

With all the Taiko classes we’ve been offering lately, you might be wondering “what the heck is taiko, anyway?” Here is an explanation by Mark Rooney, who teaches all of our taiko workshops! WHAT IS TAIKO? This may seem like a pretty straightforward question at first glance, but I have learned over the past 20 years that there are as many different answers to this question as there are people you might ask. TAIKO = DRUM Firstly, “taiko” is a word used to refer to any drum in Japan. A snare drum is a “taiko,” a djembe is a “taiko”. But to the English-speaking world, “taiko” is a term that has come to mean “a traditional style of Japanese drumming”...