Summer 2019 - Schedule & Events

climbing Mt Washington!

I will be on vacation from the last week in June through the first week in July.  I will be back on Tuesday, July 9, 2019.

Please mark your calendars!

The Summer Schedule is as follows:  Tuesday - Thursday, 5pm-9pm.  Check my schedule here for a more recent update. 

• There will be no morning hours available until September.  
• If you had a previously scheduled morning slot, make sure you've moved to an open slot in the evening if you still want lessons.  If the slot you wanted is not available, contact me asap to find another.
• Several people will be traveling or vacationing this summer, so their slots will be available during the summer months.  
• If you don't see the slot you want, contact me asap

Due to illness in the family, I will not be attending Festivals as previously planned.  

If you would like to try one of the Mando Mo instruments, contact me for a private viewing!

Events:

• Celtic Calamity (the Thursday night Celtic group class) performing and singing Thursday June 20, 2019 at 7pm at Mill 180 Park in Easthampton
• Granby Mandolin Ensemble (the Tuesday night Classical group class) performing Bach and Mozart on Sunday, July 28 at 2:30pm at Porter Phelps Museum in Hadley.

How To Protect Your Instruments At Music Festivals, While Camping, or Traveling

How To Protect Your Instruments At Music Festivals, While Camping, or Traveling

by Adam R Sweet

The Summer is a wonderful time for music!  What with music festivals, outdoor concerts and events, plus vacationing with the family and camping with the kids, there's always the opportunity to get out the mandolin, fiddle or guitar and pick a few tunes, sing some songs.

So how do you protect your instrument from the inevitable weather/sun/movement damage?

It's not easy!  But here are some tips:

1. Find a shady spot in the tent/car/camper - seems simple enough, but the darker the better.  
2. Keep the instrument or case wrapped in a space blanket - you can get them from any good camping store, or on Amazon.com
3. If backpacking or camping with your instrument, make sure you keep it in its case, then cover that in a space blanket and/or poncho.  Most cases are almost air-tight these days.  If yours is not, you might want to upgrade to one that is.  It will keep moisture out and protect the instrument from extreme heat and humidity.
4. When traveling, make sure your case is down on the floor behind your seat, not on the seat and NEVER in the space behind the window!  That area is the hottest in the car, a sure way of killing your instrument!  The reason for keeping it on the floor is so that it doesn't fall off the seat if you have to stop quickly.  Immobilize it by packing other items around it, or by putting pillows or blankets around it.

Have fun, be safe and don't forget to bring your instrument with you!