Michael Kane, LOLEF President (center, back) with Rosemary Barclay, a founding member of LOLEF (left), and master teachers Linda Clifford and Dan Stevens with several of the students of the Magical Musical Mystery Tour workshop

Bring Our Music Back, Inc. launched the first of three six-week music workshop series for middle-school aged students of Lyme-Old Lyme in November and December of 2012 at the Songbird Cafe located on Lyme Street in Old Lyme.

This after-school music series was the first of three six-week sessions that will be offered to students.

With the initial founding support of the Lyme-Old Lyme Education Foundation (LOLEF), Bring Our Music Back, Inc. will continue to offer the workshops in the spring and summer of 2013 expanding to high school-aged students.

The Magical Musical Mystery (MMM) Tour after-school workshop programs take students on a six-week walk through the history of the Blues, jazz, folk, classical and Rock & Roll with fun, interactive teaching.  An introduction to elementary instrumental note reading, basic percussion, winds and strings, songwriting, performance etiquette,stage presence, and music making are several of the highlights.Students craft their own primitive guitars and perform original songs they have composed.

The Workshops are conducted by music professionals in the community and touring artists which included: Jonathan Kehew–owner of Corner Music and Chris Lisorti also of Corner Music; Dan Stevens–Master Blues Artist and Teacher; Laura Agnelli–Master Teacher, Touring Artist and Juno award winning songwriter; Ray Curt Johnson–Classical Violinist and Teacher; and finally, Linda Clifford– performing artist/teacher.

The launch of the MMM Tour workshop was made possible through the Lyme-Old Lyme Education Foundation (LOLEF) whose primary mission is to create, continue or enhance valuable educational programs above and beyond those traditionally provided by Region 18 School District—encouraging innovative and effective learning opportunities for students of all ages.

For more information on the LOLEF, visit www.lolef.org.

In addition to the music workshops and community concert programs,  Bring Our Music Back, Inc. was awarded the five year State of Connecticut contract to revive the summer music at Harkness Memorial State Park.  “Summer Nights at Harkness” will present five concerts in 2013 scheduled for Thursdays in the park on July 18th, 25th, August 1, 8 and 15.  The concert season line-up will be announced in March and tickets go on sale April 1, 2013.

For more information on upcoming workshops sponsored by Bring Our Music Back, Inc., email workshops@bringourmusicback.org or visit www.bringourmusicback.org.