base-academy-of-music

Duets are Back in the Program

Thu, 20 May 2021 18:38:00 GMT

Discover how BAMKC's Duet Program is back, offering students a fun and engaging way to learn music together, enhancing skills through collaboration and performance.

A Reminder to Just Play

Mon, 12 Apr 2021 15:51:00 GMT

I was talking with one of the BAM board members this week about the challenges I’m working through looking for solutions for BAM to return to in-person lessons. I mentioned to him my tendency to pick the first solution to a problem and not explore lots of options. Curiously, he pointed me to a talk on creativity by John Cleese, co-founder of Monty Python.

John Cleese talked about an open and a closed mindset, the open mindset a place where new ideas are explored and a closed mindset where focus helps complete tasks. While both are important to productivity, we tend to favor the closed mindset and reward children for their ability to operate in that space. The open mindset is a place of play, humor, and where most ideas worth doing start.

At BAM we tell this to our students all the time; play your instrument every day. PLAY! Have fun. Explore. Don’t just run the scale or do the rudiment. Make some silly noise. Everyone is creative, you just have to give yourself permission.

Sometimes you need a good teacher, or a good friend, to remind you the best way to solve the problem in front of you is to have a little fun with. That is a lesson I needed, and one we want our students to take with them for the rest of their life. re. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

Clint Velazquez

Executive Director

Guitar Strumming Techniques: Chucking

Thu, 11 Mar 2021 18:32:00 GMT

BAM instructor Trevor Smith explains how to add percussion and rhythm to your guitar playing through " chucking ".
Chucking is a strumming technique where open chords or single notes are alternated with dead "chucks" to create a rhythm.

"Why Music" Series: Nate Nall

Mon, 15 Feb 2021 16:33:00 GMT

Discover how Nate Nall, a talented musician and BAMKC instructor, shares his journey and passion for music in this installment of the "Why Music?" series. Learn about his inspirations and why he believes music education is so impactful.

“Why Music?” Series: Kerissa Breisch

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 15:13:00 GMT

“Why Music?” Series: Kerissa Breisch

In an effort to express the many positive impacts of music education, we created a video series that delves into the minds of our wonderful BAM instructors. In “Why Music? Why BAM?”, we sit down with our instructors to ask them three questions: “what do you want for your students?” “why do you teach at BAM?” and “can you tell me a story about one of your students?”.

Here, board certified music therapist and violin, piano, guitar, and ukulele instructor, Kerissa Breisch, is given the spotlight to talk about her work with BAM. Breisch discusses the relationships between music education and cognitive development, social-emotional health and problem solving.

“Why Music?” Series: Nicholas Ferguson

Mon, 14 Dec 2020 14:51:00 GMT

“Why Music?” Series: Nicholas Ferguson

As a part of BAM’s “Why Music? Why BAM?” video series, we seek to gain insight into the minds and inspirations of our music teachers. We ask them each three questions: “what do you want for your students?” “why do you teach at BAM?” and “can you tell me a story about one of your students?”.

In this video, BAM instructor Nicholas Ferguson sits down to talk about developing work ethic through musical practice and how music pushes the creative boundaries of his students.

Learn how you can help to further music education in Kansas City’s urban core here .

Learn About Musical Beat And Rhythm with BAM's Trevor Smith

Mon, 09 Nov 2020 18:07:00 GMT

Learn About Musical Beat And Rhythm with BAM's Trevor Smith

What is a beat? You’ve undoubtedly heard the term before, but can you describe what it really Is? In short, the beat is a measure of time that, among other things, allows musicians to identify the underlying pattern of a song.

In this episode of BAM’s Master Class Series, composer and teacher, Trevor Smith, uses a universally recognized example of a beat-- the heartbeat, to help viewers understand how a beat is the “pulse” of music. Smith then goes on to explain the theory of rhythm and its relationship to a beat. He also explains the five types of rhythms.

Explore Chrome Music Lab with Nate Nall

Mon, 19 Oct 2020 17:44:00 GMT

Explore Music with Chrome's Music Lab

Tumperteer, composer and BAM instructor, Nate Nall, showcases Google’s Chrome Music Lab. The free-to-access website was developed in 2016 as a contribution to Music In Our Schools Month as a way to make music exploration and education accessible to many.

Watch as Nate explores the platform’s interactive experiments and learn how they can be used to demonstrate the concepts of sound, rhythm, harmony and others. You can visit Google’s Chrome Music Lab at https://musiclab.chromeexperiments.com/ or google “ chrome music lab ”.

If your child is ready to begin or progress their music education, call Base Academy of Music at (816) 533-5018 or sign up here .

Meet Our New Board Members

Tue, 22 Sep 2020 16:58:00 GMT

Meet The Newest Members of Our Board of Directors

We are beyond excited to welcome Mishawnda Mintz and Sherman Whites to the Base Academy of Music family as our newest board members!

Sherman Whites currently serves as a director in Education for the Mauriel Ewing Kauffman Foundation and also lends his time to the Kauffman Foundation’s Communications and Public Affairs team to help shape the lives of Kansas City youth through providing access to education.

Mishawnda Mintz along with her husband, James, own and operate InvestMintz, a real estate and investment company that works to provide beautiful and affordable housing options to their community. Mintz is also CEO and co-founder of What an organization that provides a network of resources and support for black homeschoolers and their families.

Here, Sherman and Mishawnda share their experiences of first being introduced to BAM and how the organization has impacted the lives of themselves and their families.

We’re fortunate to have Sherman and Mishawnda join our community and lend their support and talent to the BAM mission!

FroYo for BAM

Thu, 10 Sep 2020 16:25:00 GMT

Yogurtini Plaza will be donating 20% to BAM this weekend!

This Saturday, September 12, head on over to Yogurtini on the Plaza in Kansas City. Grab a cool treat and tell them you are there to support BAM! Yogurtini Plaza will be donating 20% of all sales to support music lessons in Kansas City, through Base Academy of Music.

BAM Staff will be hanging out between 2pm to 4pm. If the weather permits, we may even bring a piano and play some tunes!

Look forward to seeing the BAM Fam there. You can learn more at the Facebook event here .

Tips on Helping your Piano Student at Home

Thu, 13 Aug 2020 18:19:00 GMT

Piano Practice Tips For Parents

Do you have a piano student at home? Here are a few ways to help your student practice piano at home, without their instructor.
What is your role in your students practice? That may depend on the students age. Younger students may need a bit more hands on help, where as a more experienced student may be able to practice on their own. When you are with them during their piano time, there are a few things you can do to make sure their practice is productive.

Make sure your students eyes are following the music. A good way to encourage that is by pointing at the note as they play. A lot of kids may try to look at their hands, and pointing also keeps them at their place.
If your student seems distracted by looking at their hands often, you can cover their hands with something like a thin book.
Consistency is key (no pun intended). Creating a regular scheduled time that your student can practice will encourage routine.

Grace Odell is a piano teacher at Base Academy of Music . BAM teaches the foundations of music to Kansas City urban youth. If your child is interesting in learning to play piano, sign your student up today.

Lean on Me (Bill Withers Cover)

Tue, 28 Jul 2020 19:41:00 GMT

Lean on Me by Bill Withers, performed by the teachers and students of Base Academy of Music.

Musical Arrangement by

Trevor Smith

Nate Nall

BAM Teacher Performers

Malek Looney

Kerissa Breisch

Gerald Turner

Nate Nall

Clint Velazquez

Trevor Smith

Special Guest

Kristen Nall

BAM Students

Rachel F

Roland W

Liam S

Lucy S

Alfredo L

Elijah B

Sergio R

Ayeden M

Kennedy G

Ceasar R

Robby V

Belén V

Mia K