--- Sticking to your 2012 resolu...I mean commitments? I've decided that this year I'm going to focus and re-dedicate myself to my music. I'm working on putting together a small group to play my music, and I've started writing again. I just met a grammy nominated song writer that I went to school with, and may start doing some music with him. I'll keep you posted.
 
--- Last month I mentioned and recommended a terrific book called "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell. I just finished another of his, "Blink" and have started "What The Dog Saw". Ever wonder about Ron Popeil and the history of the veg-o-matic slicer? Why there are so many types of mustard, but really only Heinz ketchup? Check out "What The Dog Saw". 
 
--- February is Black History Month, so this year I thought I'd come up with 10 fun trivia questions about some great black artists.

1. This great saxophonist's version of "My Favorite Things" became the best selling jazz album of all time.

2. This top actor started his career on the kids show "The Electric Company"

3. These two famous bandleaders had "royal" nicknames. Hint: one briefly lived in Red Bank.

4. This great pioneer of rock'n'roll guitar has a famous "beat" named after him.

5. This blues legend's first nickname was the "Beale Street Blues Boy"

6. This "St.Thomas" composer was recently awarded a Kennedy Center Honor.

7. This famous director started his film making career at NYU film school.

8. This "royally" nicknamed New Jersey born lady sings, acts and raps and has done music, television and movies.

9. This actor is most well known for his roles in "Roots" and "Star Trek"

10. This "ragtime" composers music was made popular again in the movie "The Sting"

CONGRATULATIONS to faculty member Frank Hughes, the newest member of the All Shore Hall of Fame. Frank is an outstanding teacher and is definitely a hall of famer! Congratulations are also in order for one of Frank's students Sean Landrigan who was just accepted into the All Shore Jazz Band on saxophone. Keep up the great work Sean, and well done Frank!
 
--- We're doing a few field trips this month and next, so I thought I'd mention if you are involved with or are a leader in a Scout group, a preschool or do homeschooling and would like a fun, enriching activity for your group, let us know. Our field trips are an hour long and can be either all music, all drama or half and half. We usually schedule them on Friday afternoons or mornings and they are free of charge.  All children who attend get a "thank you" package.
 
--- It's not too early to start planning Summer!!! We offer a variety of summer camps to enrich and keep your child active and engaged in July anJuly and August including our popular Summer Only Music and Drama Preschool, Music and Me, Week Long Beginner Guitar, Beginner Piano camps and Drama camps, One Day Only Musical Theater and Glee camps and Songwriting workshops as well as regular private music lessons. Our schedule will be together shortly, and a PDF will be sent out soon!   
 
--- Finally, we still have a few spots in our Kindergarten Enrichment program on Thursday mornings, and in Drama 2 on Wednesdays from 5-6.

New "Stuff" This Year -