Friday Night Jams Rock the Music Loft

It's been seven months since the Music Loft opened its doors to the local community, offering a number of opportunities for people, of all ages, to enhance their musical skills.

Currently, there are more than 100 private students who take lessons at the Music Loft, which has about eight teachers on staff, each a professional musician with experience in teaching.

Private and group voice/instrumental instruction, rentals, books, accessories and coaching, are just some of the services provided. Most recently, the Music Loft began hosting Friday Night Jams, where young musicians can perform in front of a live audience, some of them for the first time.

“Basically, it is an opportunity for kids to get together in a group setting and to form their own band,” said Chief Operating Officer Leanne Flama. “We kind of try to encourage kids around the same age to come together and what they do is they work with one of our instructors and come up with a band name, one to two cover songs and spend time writing their own music as well.”

Flama said there has been a huge response since beginning the Friday Night Jams two months ago. Performers range in age from 9 years old and older.

“A lot of musicians will learn an instrument but they never get the opportunity to play with other kids or students,” said Senior Vice President Jason DiMambro. “That's one of the opportunities they have here at the Music Loft and the great thing about it is it's just a lot of fun.”

Beginning this summer, Flama said that a similar event will take place. A two week session, named Ultimate Jam Camp, will offer students the opportunity to work with their band and an instructor to create songs that they'll be able to perform. Each participant will have the opportunity to record their band's song in a studio on site, and will get chance to perform live on the Herndon Municipal Stage on August 25.

The next scheduled Friday Night Jam performance will actually be held on a Saturday this month. “The Walkers” and “Department of Corrections” will perform on April 16, beginning at 6 p.m. The performance is free and open to the public.

“We always try to emphasize to people that we're very different,” Flama said. “We try to make it a point to make music fun and a good environment for families and kids. We really just like to reach out to schools and get kids to have fun with music, anyway we can.”

“The Music Loft is instruction and resource for a lifetime,” DiMambro said. “Our focus is not retail. A lot of music stores you go into and they're going to pressure you into buying something. We don't even really sell instruments. We rent them to the schools and we sell accessories. We really are in it for the music and the students.”

The Music Loft is open Monday through Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from noon to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 703-956-6563 or visit www.themusicloftonline.com.