Friday, September 28, 2018 by Mary O'Connor | OCMS

A new reward system for fall.

These collectible cards will excite and motivate your beginning students. Your student will get one when they complete a task or accomplish a goal in their musical journey! Each level has fifty-four achievement cards. There are enough for the whole year.

Bravo Badges are designed to be eye-catching. Your students will love showing off their collection.

When the next levels become available, intermediate students will be able to collect these, as well.

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Monday, September 24, 2018 by Mary O'Connor | piano

Steinway Place, Queens, New York, 11105. steinway.com or 718-721-2600.

It all begins with bare wood, rough and fragrant.

Skilled craftsmen then use muscle, fine motor skills and magic to transform simple planks into magnificent instruments. In the bridge-notching process, the " bellymen " use tools they've constructed themselves, the better to execute this highly skilled operation.

Alaskan Sitka Spruce becomes a soundboard, with ribs of Sugar Pine.

Eighty-eight keys, 88 hammers, more than 230 strings -- all are carefully created, installed and tested in every piano.

All in all, it takes about 11 months to make a Steinway grand piano.

Steinway & Sons has been located in the same spot in the Astoria section of Queens since the early 1870s. Founded in 1853 in a loft on Varick Street in Manhattan, the company’s reputation grew quickly, and the company needed space to expand their operations.

Factory tours are offered from September through the end of June. (Factory tours are not available in July and August.) Tours are scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays, for a maximum of 15 people.

Needless to say, tours fill up quickly and must be booked in advance. Steinway currently has no openings for the rest of 2017 and is not yet taking reservations for 2018. Plan way ahead, and check for updates by emailing tours@steinway.com or by calling 718-721-2600.

Adapted from http://www.app.com/story/entertainment/events/2017/08/18/factory-tours-made-usa/530543001/

Mary and Michael playing in the original Steinway Hall

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Wednesday, September 12, 2018 by Mary O'Connor | local event

Pender Rocks the Block

Friday, September 14, 6 - 9 p.m. Rain or Shine

Pender UMC: 12401 Alder Woods Drive, Fairfax, VA

Cost: Admission is Free but for some of the food, there will be a cost.

Pender Church is rocking the block again! We're having another block party for our neighbors, and you're invited for food, games, and live entertainment.

Fun for the whole family includes:

Food available for purchase from local food trucks, plus cupcakes and ice cream!

"Minute to Win It" games

Moon bounce

Face painting

Balloon sculpting

Cake Walk

Games for kids, teens and adults

Live music

Parking will be available in parts of the Pender UMC parking lot, and at Christ Presbyterian Church just down Alder Woods Drive.

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