UpBeat NYC Blog

Please help us continue our work in 2012!

2011-12-30T10:11:00.001-08:00

UpBeat NYC: Short Film

2011-12-30T03:57:00.000-08:00

Student thank you videos

2011-12-01T14:39:00.000-08:00

UpBeat NYC Spring 2011 Concert

2011-05-01T15:58:00.000-07:00

UpBeat NYC 2010 Video

2011-01-01T09:49:00.000-08:00

Summer 2010

2010-08-31T16:48:00.000-07:00

Make Music New York June 21st, 2010

2010-06-21T08:12:00.001-07:00

Greetings all,

We hope this message finds you in good health and spirits. We're writing to let you know about our programs' participation in this year's Make Music New York (MMNY), a live, free musical celebration across the city that takes place each June 21 — the longest day of the year.

Please come out and support the kids from our South Bronx and Bed-Stuy programs as they bring in the summer with music and fun! They will be joined by their instructors and local musicians and anyone who wants to participate. Please bring your instruments and your kids!

Our designated site is in The Brooklyn Bridge Park in Dumbo. It's a great park with amazing views of the bridges and Manhattan so bring a blanket to lounge in the grass and take in the the sites and sounds.

When: Monday, June 21st, the Summer Solstice

5:30pm - 7pm

Where: Main Street Portion of the Brooklyn Bridge Park

Entrance at 1 Main Street in DUMBO

(see directions and map below)

Thanks,

Rich and Liza

Google map link:1 Main Street (Brooklyn Bridge Park Entrance)

By Subway

The A/C to High Street. Exit onto Cadman Plaza West. Go left, toward the BQE. Cadman Plaza West becomes Old Fulton Street as you walk down the hill. Take a right at Front Street. Take the second left at Main Street. The entrance to the Park is one block ahead at the end of Main Street.

The 2/3 to Clark Street. Exit onto Henry Street. Take a left and walk down Henry Street until you reach Cadman Plaza West/Old Fulton Street. Take a left and walk down the hill. Turn right at Front Street. Take the second left at Main Street. The entrance to the Park is one block ahead at the end of Main Street.

The F to York Street. Walk down Jay Street 2 blocks toward the waterfront. Turn left on Water Street. Proceed straight until Main Street. Turn right. The entrance to the Park is one block ahead at the end of Main Street.

By Bus

The B25 bus stops at Fulton Ferry landing. On weekdays it also loops around Front Street to Water Street.

By Water

Beginning for the season on June 2. The New York Water Taxi stops at Fulton Ferry Landing, adjacent to the River Café. The Park is one block away. For ferry schedules, please visit www.nywatertaxi.com.

By Car

From Manhattan via the Brooklyn Bridge: Take the Cadman Plaza West exit, stay in the right lane, and drive west under the BQE, down the hill and toward the harbor and Fulton Ferry Landing. Cadman Plaza West becomes Old Fulton Street. Turn right on Front Street. Proceed 2 blocks and turn left on Main Street.

From Brooklyn: Head to Downtown area. Cadman Plaza West is off Tillary Street at Court Street. Follow directions above.

From Long Island: Take I-495 west (LIE). Take Exit #17 onto I-278 west (BQE). From I-278, take Exit #29 onto Tillary Street. Drive west on Tillary Street. Turn right onto Cadman Plaza West. Follow directions above.

From All Points South: Take the Verrazano Bridge to Brooklyn. Exit onto I-278 west (BQE), travel approximately 3-4 miles. Exit at Cadman Plaza West and head towards the waterfront. Follow directions above.

http://upbeatnyc.org/

Fall 2009/Spring 2010

2010-05-11T20:09:00.000-07:00

UpBeat PLC 2009 Fall Session

2009-11-11T17:01:00.000-08:00

At long last, UpBeat PLC blog has begun! In July of 2009, UpBeat NYC began offering free music classes in partnership with The Promised Land Church (PLC) in the Mott Haven section of the South Bronx. The program's foundation rests on the efforts of Chris Austria who taught a recorder intensive at PLC during the summer of 2008.

UpBeat PLC classes have been meeting regularly, on Saturday afternoons, since the summer. Students ages 3-11 meet from 3-5pm and participate in semi-private lessons on both piano and recorder and in group movement, singing and rhythm activities. Each session ends with student performances and healthy snack, provided by Chris. Students ages 12 and up meet from 5-6pm working privately and semi-privately on drums, guitar, saxophone, piano or voice.

A huge thank you to all our volunteer teachers who make all this possible! Thank you:

Joleen Wilkinson, Rey Soriano, Ruben Austria, John Austria and Chris Austria.

Be sure to check out our picture gallery!

Instrument Donations

2009-11-11T09:35:00.000-08:00

We would like to give a big thanks to our most recent instrument donors: Pat Winters, Vincent Alfano, Fred Daniels, Joseph Abrajano, Alex Jung, and Jason Hainsworth. These individuals have put musical instruments into the hands of UpBeat's students and made a real difference in their lives.

Instrument donations are crucial to what we do at UpBeat PLC. The opportunity for our kids to have hands on experience with real musical instruments is a big part of why they stay motivated and come back week after week. It is too often the case that we have a qualified instructor and eager students ready to get to work learning a specific instrument, but no instruments for them to practice on.

Many of us have old instruments lying around the home or stored in a closet that we have all but forgotten about. If you happen to have an instrument that you no longer need, please consider making a donation. We have kids who can put them to good use immediately!

To donate, contact us at upbeatnyc@gmail.com

Music and the Brain at UpBeat PLC

2009-11-11T08:41:00.000-08:00

UpBeat PLC is excited to be implementing Music and the Brain's curriculum in our children's piano lessons. The use of MATB's piano books and teaching materials enables our teachers and students to explore musical concepts while developing instrumental skill. Several of our keyboards are provided by MATB and we are grateful for the opportunity to put them to use.

Thanks to MATB's Program Director Lisha Lercari and Program Manager Lisala Beatty for their ongoing support!