Looking for an all ages music venue in Louisville?

Hanging around the shop (working) I hear a lot of the local musicians talk about the venues that they have been playing at on the weekends, lots of taverns, pubs, bars, eateries, as well as staples of Louisville like Pheonix Hill, Jim Porters, Stevie Rays, and a lot of other music venues that offer drink and things of that nature that, unfortunately for the youngsters, and even the older teens, ensure that a lot of people that come through our doors will not get to see these bands.

A lot of times it seems as if the under 21 crowd has to wait for a school or church to throw some type of Battle Of The Bands for one of their festivals to have a chance to see a number of people, as well as people their age, play music.

Some of you may already know about this place, it's been open for a period of time here in Louisville but I felt that it warranted it's own post in the Mom's Music Blog because we love the fact that this has been started and maintained in the wonderful city of Louisville Kentucky.

Skull Alley

That's right, Skull Alley. It's not just a witty catchy name! It's an all ages venue that caters to bands containing members of all ages. Although various genres of bands have played there indie rock, punk, hardcore, some of the harder styles, and folky acoustic stuff seems to be the bulk of what happens in the building.

HOWEVER, that's NOT ALL Skull Alley does...

They have had poetry slams, hip hop bands, art openings, workshops and how-to clinics, they sell records, books and zines, they have a snack bar, a few different groups use the space for meetings and events. YOU can rent the space and have an event there....

Basically Skull Alley is the new black, if you are pickin' up what I'm puttin' down. Concert prices range from $2 to $12 or so, depending on the line up. Such a laid back place. I think you'll be pleased....

Bookmark this site for upcoming events...
http://skullalley.net/wordpress/

They also do screenprinting! Get your t-shirts printed there!

Sabian Vault Tour!

Okay kiddos, listen up.... if you play drums or are just a fan of incredibly loud, tonally pleasing sounds you're going to want to be at Mom's Music on Mellwood October 7th for the Sabian Vault Tour!

What is the Vault Tour?
Basically Sabian, a top notch cymbal manufacturer, is going "on tour" with a bunch of their products. They'll be at Mom's with proven classics from their cymbal lines, a bunch of the new prototype cymbals, and all the education offerings about cymbal making that you can shake a (drum)stick at!

You'll get to check out product demonstations, learn all about how cymbals are made in the Sabian facility, meet the Sabian Vault team and get pointers and tips of choosing cymbals for your kit, plus you'll have a chance to WIN YOUR DREAM CYMBAL SET UP!

CHECK IT OUT WWW.VAULTTOUR.COM
Or if you do that Twitter thing, their tag is #vaulttour

FREE FREE FREE FREE
Hope to see ya at the shop on October 7th!

"Drummer offers alternative to New Orleans Youth!"

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (CNN) -- Drumsticks in hand, Derrick Tabb has found a way to transform New Orleans children from troublemakers to tuba players.

Tabb, wearing a gold chain and a baseball cap, doesn't look the part of a typical band teacher. But every weekday evening in the French Quarter, he beats out the rhythm on his music stand as students play their chosen instruments. In doing so, he gives them an alternative to New Orleans' rough streets.

"I tell everyone I'm competing with the drug dealers," said Tabb, 34. His program, The Roots of Music, offers free tutoring, instruments and music education to more than 100 students.

Reformed class clown Terrence Knockum credits Tabb with changing his life. The 15-year-old tuba player joined the band eight months ago, when he was failing in school and "heading up the wrong road," said Tabb. Today, Knockum is the band captain. He hopes to make music his career and teach it himself one day.

"Before, I was getting in trouble," Knockum said. "Now ... when I come here, I'm learning how to play the horn, be disciplined and, you know, just work hard."

Tabb can relate. During a rebellious phase in junior high, his band teacher became his mentor and helped him get back on track.

"He saved my life," recalled Tabb, a professional drummer with the Rebirth Brass Band, one of the city's most popular acts.

Now Tabb, a New Orleans native, strives to keep young people on the straight and narrow in the city with the nation's highest murder rate, according to FBI statistics.

"When all you've seen is the drug dealers and the killing, you know, they think that's cool," said Tabb, adding that many young people wind up in trouble because they have nothing else to do.

The type of music support systems that helped Tabb years ago have been struggling since Hurricane Katrina; musicians scattered after the storm and budget cuts ended many school music programs. As a result, Tabb chose to target 9- to 14-year-olds with his program.

"That's just the most vulnerable time of your life," he said. "If I catch them now, I can hold onto them for at least four or five years and guide them the way that we want to guide them."

Students meet from 4-7 p.m. every weekday, year-round. They work with tutors on schoolwork, practice their music and eat a hot meal before heading home.

Through funding from donations and sponsors, Tabb's group is able to provide bus transportation, instruments and food for free. He calls it his "no excuse" policy -- "you don't have no excuse why you're not here," Tabb said. With a 90 percent attendance rate, his formula seems to be working. Watch Tabb and The Roots of Music program in action »

Tabb attributes the success in part to the nature of music.

"You're constantly learning something new," he said. "That's what keeps the kids coming back every day."

Since getting underway last year, The Roots of Music has already exceeded Tabb's expectations. The band marched in five Mardi Gras parades this season. The program also helped students improve their academic performances, with 85 percent having raised their grades in at least one class; some D and F students have become A students. And there are more than 400 children on the waiting list.

Tabb said he's assembled a "dream team" of musicians to help teach the students, and he personally works with all the beginners. No previous musical experience is necessary -- many students don't even know the names of the instruments when they start -- but youngsters like 9-year-old Lauren Washington, who plays the flute, learn fast.

"It's kind of hard to play, but I sound good," she said proudly. "It's fun!"

But the program isn't only about fun.

"Music is about discipline," said Tabb. He insists on good behavior and keeps kids in order with threats of sit-ups, pushups or tasks like picking up grains of rice -- but these measures aren't just punishment.

"We wear them out so they don't have any time or energy to get mixed up in anything on the street," he said.

Discipline aside, Tabb wants young people to realize that music can help them build a better future.

"I don't say that I'm saving lives," he said. "I say I'm giving life -- a whole different life of music."

http://www.therootsofmusic.com/

Mom's Music is open!

Mom's Music is OPEN TODAY. We experienced very minor flooding and we've got it all cleaned up! HOWEVER, our phones are down. Come on in and hang out!

NEW ROCK SCHOOL SESSION STARTS AUGUST 10th!

We're gearing up for the next 8 week session of Rock School here at Mom's Music, on both sides of the river!

Performance Bands are continuing their rehearsals and we're working on some end of summer, fall weather performances for them before the snow starts to call and everyone buckles back down for school.

If your Rock School band is going to return for another session make sure you re-up via the www.momsmusic.com application! Or you can just ring Ella at the shop or shoot her an e mail at Ella@momsmusic.com!

If you would like to sign up for your first enlistment here are the cold hard facts about life in Rock School!

Rock School is for all ages up to 18. (If you are over 18 don't fret, we have a seperate, but similar, program for you called Weekend Warriors!) If you are under 18 and would like to be in a band, can get your hands on a guitar/bass/drum sticks, then you can join up!
You'll be grouped with folks around your age that are into the same kind of music and have a similar level of proficiency as you.
You'll be matched with a coach based on your bands proficiency and the times you have open to practice.
Your band will have their first rehearsal on the scheduled day (Monday-Saturday) during the week beginning August 10th 2009!
We're flexible on practice times but once it's established that's what the band sticks to so you can plan your life accordingly! We make it easy! Band rehearsals are usually an hour and a half once a week.
The band will learn a handful of their favorite songs, most bands are doing 2-4 songs each session.
At the end of the 8 weeks after you've got your songs, your band name, and your awesome band you'll play the finale concert in front of friends, family, all the other bands, and even strangers that have just come out to rock!
We've been having a lot of our concerts at 4th Street Live, Hard Rock Cafe and Pheonix Hill in the highlands!

Once you've done Rock School for one session you'll have a two week break and if your band stays together you guys can come back for a second session, work up a longer set list, get tighter, and eventually audition for Performance Band status, which means you'll rock out on more songs, be more of a cohesive unit, and you'll be playing out a lot more and eventuallyrecording and working on originals if that's in agreement with the band!

What do you have to lose? How cool would it be to start school this year being able to say that what you did this past summer was JOIN A ROCK N' ROLL BAND?!?!?!?

You can fill out the Rock School application at WWW.MOMSMUSIC.COM
This does not obligate you to participate but ensures that we know you are interested and we will contact you for further details and to see where we can fit you into a rockin' band!

July 26th Rock School Concert

The July 26th Finale Concert for our Education Program went really well! We were able to work in some student recitals with one of our private instructors, Sheila O'Bannon! This was a treat for the private students and gave the crowd a little break as far as volume goes.

We had Rock School outside on the big stage at 4th Street Live and we had Performance Bands and Weekend Warriors inside on the cozy stage in Hard Rock Cafe!

In attendance we also had the Census Bureau holding down the fort with an information table and lots of free goodies, across the way from them we had the Derby City Roller Girls in full effect! Malice was so kind as to be our guest MC for the concert! Thanks a lot for coming out and setting up shop folks! We hope to add more booths and information tables from local groups and businesses in the future, so if you're interested or you have an idea please let me know!

Peace, Love, and Drums clinic!

The "Peace, Love, And Drums" show encompasses various genres of drumming, jazz, funk/fusion, rock as well as vocal stylings. The show is performed live on stage with pre-recorded music tracks and is usually presented in either concert format or a clinic format that allows time for audience participation and questions! Folks are allowed to ask pretty much anything from questions about her drumming technique to experiences growing up playing music, and what it's like to be a female in the music industry playing an instrument typically played by men.

The show is for anyone interested in music, not just for drummers. Youngsteres are encouraged to attend as well as older folk. Hannahs main theme is the importance of music in our world today, especially in the lives of young people. Taking both an educational and entertaining approach, Hannah reaches out to the kids in the audience and shows them how much fun and how special music can be, the places it can take them and the long-term benefits it can bring.

Adults in the audience will see how important it is that they continue to support programs in the local schools and communities and make sure that there will always be music programs for their children to participate in. So many programs are being eliminated due to lack of funding, yet the positive effects music has on students - not only from an academic standpoint but from a social standpoint, as well 0 has been proven time and time again.

The show runs about an hour as a concert presentation and a little more than an hour in clinic format.

The clinic will be taking place at the Mellwood Mom's music location at 1900 Mellwood Avenue Louisville Ky 40206, in ye ol' Tumbleweed building right next door to the Mellwood Arts center!

Louisville Science Center Camp!

Louisville Science Center Camp!

The Louisville Science Center is hosting a number of camps this summer for folks of various ages. They are doing one camp in particular that we think you folks will find interesting and may want to take part in.

The program is somewhat like RockSchool on a much smaller scale which might suite some families perfectly!

This is technically a camp, it runs from July 27th to July 31st of 2009. The class size is kept small, only 20 folks are allowed in. The age range for the camp is roughly 12 to 14 years of age.

Basically the kids will engage in classes at the Louisville Science Center that explore the science of sound, audio engineering, and music Monday through Wednesday. On Thursday and Friday the class will participate in fully day workshops at the Mellwood Mom's Music shop to learn an instrument, and prepare a piece of music to be performed by the class.

Also, this Rock - n - Roll camp will have a culminating concert at the Louisville Science Center on July 31st! This is kind of like our RockSchool concert as the group will perform their song at this event!

Steve Inman, one of Mom's RockSchool and Weekend Warrior coaches will be working alongside a few other choice Mom's employees to get all the kid's rockin!

To sign up for the camp you'll need to contact the Louisville Science Center. Megean Kincaid in particular, the Education Services Coordinator, 502.560.7146. Her e mail is megan.kincaid@louisvilleky.gov

Check out the Louisville Science Center at http://www.louisvillescience.org/

Bands playing lately..

Slakker, one of our new performance bands just recently participated in a performance at the Madison Regatta Battle of the Bands. The band won second place to another Mom's Music Performance band, Identity Crisis! Congratulations you guys.

Kyle Simpson had his photo featured in the Madison Courier after the event! Way to go Kyle!