Spring Programs at Brookline Music School (Jan. 29-June 17)

Brookline Music School’s (BMS) Spring programs begin January 29 and offer a variety of classes and private instruction for all ages and abilities.

BMS welcomes students ages 4 years to adult to study private music lessons on a number of instruments. The school introduced a folk music program that offers group classes for adults and family jams. Music for iPad classes include Garageband for iPad and iPad Band! Jazz/Rock, and Chamber Ensembles are offered year-round for kids, teens and adults. Ensembles provide a unique opportunity to experience the joys of music making with others.

Brookline Music School has a wide array of ensembles for all ages and abilities – with multiple performance opportunities – catering to a variety of musical abilities and interests.

For more information or for a schedule of recitals, concerts, community outreach events, school calendar, registration forms and more visit the BMS website or call (617) 277-4593.

Oak Hill parent offers flute & saxophone lessons

An experienced teacher (New England Conservatory faculty) teaches all levels of flute and saxophone.

Come explore music in a unique and professional environment.  Jazz, classical, world music, improvisation, and ear training.

For further information and a free trial lesson please contact Amir Milstein by email or phone, 617-795-5923.

Berklee graduate offers guitar lessons

Berklee College of Music graduate seeks motivated students for private/group guitar lessons in Newton. Lessons are offered in your home on Tuesday evening and Thursday afternoon or evening. All levels are welcome, including beginners.

Through a comprehensive approach that combines technique, ear training, and harmony, I will help your son or daughter develop music skills applicable to all styles of guitar playing. S/he will learn to play and analyze songs and solos from a broad range of musical genres. Working with me, students sharpen their overall musical skills. I also help students interested in song-writing & composition.

For references, video and audio samples, visit my website. Contact the teacher Maldi Kellici by email or phone 617-792-2244 for more information or to schedule a lesson.

School Council/PTSO Meeting hosts School Committee Members: Jan. 8

All Newton Public School parents are invited to a joint NSHS School Council/PTSO meeting in the Newton South Lecture Hall, January 8 at 7PM.

Claire Sokoloff, Margie Ross-Decter, and Steve Siegel will be there to hear parent concerns and answer any questions about the most pressing issues facing the Newton Public Schools, including enrollment growth and space issues as well as the upcoming override vote on March 12.

Please feel free to submit any questions in advance to Robin Maltz via email. Details and information about the override is available on the city’s website.

The meeting is part of an outreach tour to meet with parents at every school in the district, at least once per year.

Children’s Theater Programs through Brookline Community Education

Learn how much fun acting can be! In this program for students in grades three through eight, we’ll engage in the whole acting process, creating unique songs, choreographing dance moves, playing improvisational games, writing a script, and putting on a lively performance for family and friends. New and returning students are welcome.

10 Wednesdays, 5:00-7:00 pm. Begins January 9 at Brookline High
Cost: $220.
Course Code: M328 Sec. 01

For registration info and details, call 617-730-2700 or visit our website.

Public Hearing on Funding for Newton Homebuyer Assistance Program, Jan. 10

The Newton Community Preservation Committee’s meeting on Thursday, January 10, at 7 pm in City Hall Room 222 will include a public hearing on further funding for Newton’s long-running Homebuyer Assistance Program.

The full meeting agenda and full text of the proposal are online at the CPA website. Or contact Alice Ingerson by email or phone: 617.796.1144.

Children’s Jazz, Hip Hop and Creative Dance at Waban Library Center

Dancers will learn the basic elements of Jazz Dance and Hip Hop set to today’s popular music. Along with dance technique instruction, they will be given the opportunity to creatively express themselves through open-ended movement.

Ages 4 to 6 yrs.
8 Fridays, 1:30-2:15pm
Cost: $96
Class dates: January: 11, 18, 25 February: 1, 8, 15 and March: 1 and 8.
Waban Library Center, 1608 Beacon Street

The class will include stretching exercises, progressions across the floor and sequences of age appropriate choreography that will build week to week. This fun, lively 45-minute class is offered to students who danced with us last season as well as new students.

To register please email us at wabanlibrary<at>gmail<dot>com

Upcoming gigs by School of Rock Boston

School of Rock Boston invites the general public to 3 sets of all-ages concerts in January:

Black Keys VS. The White Stripes takes place on 1/11 at the Arlington Center for the Arts & 1/12 at Johnny D’s;

Best of Boston Rock (1/19 & 1/20) and The Soul of Grohl (1/26 & 1/27) will be 1pm matinees at the #1 club in town, The Middle East in Cambridge.

42% of School of Rock students hail from the Newton, MA school districts and they would love your support! For more information, please call 617-923-3434 or visit SRB’s website.

Winter art classes beginning at Arsenal Center for the Arts

The Arsenal Center for the Arts revs up the new year with a program of winter art classes and workshops beginning the week of January 7. Children’s classes (offered for three age ranges up to teens) include Art Adventures, Clay Projects, Mixed-Media, Comics & Cartoons, Jewelry-making and more. Fun Parent/Child workshops are also available.
Classes are held at the Arsenal Center for the Arts, 321 Arsenal Street in Watertown, with free parking and access to public transportation. Scholarships and Membership discounts are available.

For class descriptions, visit the Arsenal Center’s website. To register, call 617-923-0100, ext. 309.

Newton’s Tax Override Vote

On March 12, 2013 Newton Voters will be asked to vote on an $11.4 million tax override.

The package presented consists of 3 separate but interconnected ballot questions that will allow the city to rehabilitate some of the crumbling school buildings, alleviate the pressures of enrollment growth in our schools, and improve public safety in our community. The package includes:

$1.3 million debt exclusion tax (temporary for capital projects) for the Angier School Project
$1.7 million debt exclusion tax (temporary for capital projects) for the Cabot School Project
$8.4 million operating override that also includes funds for roads and sidewalk repair, four additional police officers to manage traffic and safety concerns, the renovation of the hub of our fire department: Station 3, and department headquarters, as well as rising school enrollment (we have grown by over 1000 students in the past 8 years).

These issues are key for our city and our schools and we encourage Bigelow families to become educated on the issues. The Mayor has information on his website at http://www.ci.newton.ma.us/gov/executive/override.asp

We will keep you informed as we hear of informational sessions or items related to the override.