Tag Archives: DC Kids Summer Activities

March 7, 2018 · 12:01 pm

Make Summer Rock at Bach to Rock Music Camps

Kids love to ROCK at Bach to Rock’s Summer Camps! With children’s programs from toddlers to teens, your young music lover will find their groove at Bach to Rock.

A popular music school in the DC area and throughout the country, B2R’s unique method is based on the knowledge that students learn best when they join together to play the music they like the most. And they believe that learning to play music should be fun; afterall, it’s called “play” for a reason!

Summer sessions are offered at seven convenient locations in DC and around the DMV. No musical experience is necessary to sign up. And you can enjoy 10% off all summer camps if you register before April 15 at one of the following locations: Bethesda, MD; Fulton, MD; Gaithersburg, MD; Bristow, VA; Herndon, VA; Lansdowne, VA; McLean, VA; South Riding, VA.

The following sessions being offered this summer:

ROCK CITY® WORLD TOUR (AGES 4-7)
With instruments as diverse as the African Hand Drum and Australian Didgeridoo, adventurers play and explore music and instruments with guided movement activities and imaginary story-telling experiences. Kids will love spending their summer immersed in this global musical vacation. Parents get to enjoy a musical performance highlighting many of these musical adventures on the last day of camp.

ROCK BAND (AGES 7+)
Designed for students of all levels, from beginners to seasoned artists, this program is taught by real musicians using the unique B2R method which will have students playing full songs in no time. Students are placed in a band according to age and ability, and depending on skill level, are encouraged to develop original material. Each session culminates in a public performance and the recording of a CD.

B2R GLEE (AGES 7+)
Working with a professional vocal coach on proper breathing and phonation techniques, students combine solo and ensemble singing in a chorus format while honing their stagecraft and presentation techniques. The session culminates in a public performance and recording session of the group’s songs on a professionally mastered CD.

RECORD A STUDIO DEMO (AGES 7+)
Do you have an awesome band that’s rocking covers and writing songs, but not sure of what to do next? Find out how to create a press kit, including one sheets, photos and even a professional demo created in our state-of-the-art studio with a professional engineer.

RECORDING ARTS (AGES 10+)
Using state-of-the art recording technology, students gain hands-on experience manipulating sound in B2R’s professional recording studio. Participants have the opportunity to create original music and record live bands.

INTRO TO DJING (AGES 10+)
Led by world-class DJ instructors, students get hands-on experience learning the fundamentals of mixing songs, scratching sounds and DJ music theory. Students work on individual state-of-the-art DJ workstations and perform a 2 to 3 song mini-mix at the end of the program. (Available at select B2R locations only.)

Visit the Bach to Rock website for more information about their programs and summer camp registration.

This post is sponsored by Bach to Rock, however, I only promote programs, services, and events that I genuinely believe in and think would appeal to KFDC readers.

The 2013 Smithsonian Folklife Festival

Last year’s Festival spotlighted the 25th anniversary of The AIDS Memorial Quilt

I think the late end to the school year has thrown off my mental calendar, because until I happened upon the clusters of white tents and construction of several interesting wooden structures on the National Mall yesterday, I completely forgot the 2013 Smithsonian Folklife Festival begins this week!

The 10-day celebration of living cultural heritage begins tomorrow June 26 and runs through June 30, then again July 3-7. Generally, the festival is divided into three programs focusing on a nation, region, state, or theme. This year will spotlight “Hungarian Heritage: Roots to Revival,” “One World, Many Voices: Endangered Languages and Cultural Heritage,” and “The Will to Adorn: African American Diversity, Style, and Identity.”

Festival preparations include the construction of several wooden stuctures for “Hungarian Heritage.”

Visitors of all ages will have many opportunities to discover and explore all three areas through special exhibits, workshops, performances, exhibits, demos, and more, including plenty of activities especially children. For specifics, see the festival schedule.

This will all take place on the National Mall just past Smithsonian Castle. Festival hours are 11am – 5:30pm with special events and performances taking place later most evenings. And in true Smithsonian spirit, just about all of it is free and open to the public. Concessions will be available for purchase, including fare inspired by the festival themes.

If you plan to go… Be aware that the National Mall will likely be crowded during this time. Besides the influx of tourists to DC during the summer, the July 4th celebration draws even more crowds, especially in the days leading up to the Independence Day event (on the day of, it’s jam-packed). That said, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival definitely is worth checking out. We go at some point every year and always find exhibits and activities that are interesting for the whole family. Generally, I always recommend taking Metro to the Mall. The Smithsonian stop on the Blue/Orange line and L’Enfant on Blue/Orange & Yellow/Green is also nearby.

The 2012 Smithsonian Folklife Festival

View of a past Smithsonian Folklife Festival (Photo: Jeff Tinsley, Smithsonian Institution)

Lots of white tents are starting to pop up on the National Mall. Which, around this time of year, can only mean one thing: The 2012 Smithsonian Folklife Festival is about to begin. From June 27 – July 1 and July 4-8, the National Mall will become the stomping grounds of folks from around the globe to celebrate living cultural heritage and community traditions.

Focused on a few main themes every year, the festival has three in 2012: Campus and Community commemorates the 150th anniversary of the founding of land-grant universities and the USDA. Citified celebrates arts and creativity east of the Anacostia River. Creativity and Crisis spotlights the 25th anniversary of The AIDS Memorial Quilt and 30 years of life with AIDS.

Visitors of all ages will have ample opportunity to discover and explore all three areas through special exhibits, workshops, performances, exhibits, demos, and more, including plenty of activities especially children. For specifics, see the festival schedule.

This will all take place on the National Mall just past Smithsonian Castle (and all of the construction) from June 27 – July 1 and July 4 -8. Festival hours are 11am – 5:30pm with special performances taking place later most evenings. And in true Smithsonian spirit, just about all of it is free and open to the public.

If you plan to go… Be aware that the Mall will likely be crowded during this time. Besides the throngs of tourists that visit DC during the summer, the July 4th celebration draws even more crowds, especially in the days leading up to the event (on the day of, it’s jam-packed). That said, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival is definitely worth checking out. We go at some point every year and always find exhibits and activities that are interesting for the whole family. Generally, I always recommend taking Metro to the Mall. The Smithsonian stop on the Blue/Orange line lets out right by the Festival, and L’Enfant (Blue/Orange/Yellow/Green) stop is also nearby.