Sunburst News - April 2025

April 1, 2025

April 2025 - Issue #92

IN THIS ISSUE:

Summer Recital Announcement 🎤
Sunburst Cabaret 🎭
Music Together Spring Enrollment 🥁
Free Fridays 🎹
Sunburst Sessions 🎸
Spotlight on You! 📷
Summer Policy ☀️
School Closure Reminder 🗓

IMPORTANT DATES:

Producers Meet Up - 4/11
Spring Break Camp - 4/14 - 4/18
Spring Break - 4/14 - 4/20
Drum Circle - 4/19
Piano Club - 4/25
Sunburst Jams - 4/25
Sunburst Cabaret - 4/26
Songwriter Share - 4/27
Memorial Day - 5/26

Summer Recital Announcement

Our summer recitals are coming up, and we have an exciting twist! This year’s recitals will be held at Haven, a wonderful new all-ages venue in Oakland created by our own former teacher and student, Eli Alfieri. We think it will be the perfect space for our recitals, and it’s a really cool full-circle moment to be hosted by Eli!

Moving to a slightly bigger venue will let us adjust the format in a way that should be smoother for everyone. We’ll be hosting two epic recital days—Sunday, June 8, and Saturday, June 14—each running about six hours. We’ll schedule slots for each teacher just like we always do, but with ample seating. Students are invited to stay for as much of the performance as they like.

Stay tuned for teacher schedules and more details later this month. We can’t wait to cheer on our students and teachers as they share the music they’ve been working so hard on. Thanks for being part of our journey, and we’ll see you at the recitals!

P.S. Check out some other great shows happening at Haven here.

Sunburst Cabaret

Join us on Saturday, April 26th at 7pm for the next Sunburst Cabaret!The theme of this variety show is Dreams Come True at Sunburst: the Music of Disney, so come and enjoy selections from your favorite Disney movies like Toy Story, Cars, Pirates of the Caribbean and more!

While admission is free, registration is required to ensure we can prepare adequate seating in our lobby and maintain a safe capacity in the room. This event also doubles as a fundraiser for the Sunburst Music Scholarship Fund, with an optional donation at the door. Thank you for helping us support future music makers in our community - we can't wait to see you there!

Date: Saturday, April 26th

Time: 7pm

Location: Sunburst School of Music, 5843 Forbes Avenue

Calling All Performers! Are you a Sunburst student who’d love to share your talents at this magical, Disney-themed variety show? We’d be thrilled to have you join us. Please email us if you’re interested in taking part.

Get Tickets

Music Together Spring Enrollment

Enrollment is open for our Spring Music Together sessions! Sign up today to join in on the fun!

Mixed-Age Class | Ages 0–5

Join our Music Together Mixed Ages class and experience the joy of making music as children ages 0–5 and their caregivers sing, dance, and play instruments together!

Rhythm Kids | Ages 4–5

Discover the joy of Rhythm Kids Level I, where children ages 4-5 explore drumming, rhythm, and creative music-making in this fun and engaging class!

For more information and to sign up, check out the link below!

Sunburst Sessions

A New YouTube Series Showcasing Our Talented Community!

We are thrilled to announce the launch of Sunburst Sessions, our brand-new YouTube series premiering this May on the Sunburst School of Music YouTube channel! This exciting initiative will feature monthly performances from talented bands within our Sunburst community, giving students and instructors a platform to share their music with a broader audience.

Each 15-20 minute session will spotlight a different band, offering a mix of original music and dynamic covers that highlight the diverse musical styles and creativity thriving at Sunburst. From rock to jazz, indie to blues, Sunburst Sessions will be a celebration of the musicianship and artistry that make our community so special.

Whether you’re a student, parent, or music enthusiast, we invite you to subscribe to our YouTube channel and tune in for the premiere of Sunburst Sessions! Show your support by liking, commenting, and sharing these performances to help spread the joy of music.

Stay tuned for more details on our first featured band and performance date. We can't wait to share this musical journey with you!

Free Classes

Music Producers Meet- Up

April 11th | Every 2nd Friday

Make connections with other young producers, share your works in progress, and receive feedback from your peers at the Music Producers Meet-Up led by Charlie Scott.

Ages 14+ | 7–9PM

Piano Club

April 25th | Every 3rd Friday (April's moved for Spring Break)

Get some extra practice in, expand your knowledge of music theory, and gain performance experience with Piano Club led by our instructor Jaime Cohen.

Ages 5–7 | 5:30–6:15PM
Ages 8+ | 6:15–7:00PM

Community Drum Circle

April 19th

Start making cohesive and exciting music in only a few minutes with our drum instructor Matt Price!

All Ages | 6PM
No sign up required

Sunburst Jams

April 25th | Every 4th Friday

Meet up to jam on your favorite songs with other students! Kids and Adult sessions available.

Ages 8+ | 5:30-7PM
Adults 18+ | 7–9PM

Songwriter Group Share

April 27th | Last Sundays

Meet with fellow songwriters and share your works in progress in a supportive space!

Adults 18+| 3–5PM

Spotlight on You!

Sign up for a photo/video feature!

We love showcasing our amazing students and are hoping to do more of that this year! If you're interested in being featured in a photo or video during your lesson, let us know! This could be a short clip of a song or exercise you're working on, or just a couple of photos.

Complete the form below to opt in!

Opt In

Summer Policy

We understand that summer schedules can be unpredictable, and that’s why we’re excited to offer you even more flexibility with your lessons. In addition to our usual makeup allowance, you can now cancel up to 4 lessons between June and August and receive a tuition credit! Just let the front desk know you'd like to use a summer cancelation, and they will adjust your account accordingly.

This new policy allows you to balance your summer activities while continuing to make progress in your musical journey. Reach out to our team if you have any questions about scheduling or cancellations, and we’ll be happy to help.

Summer Policy

School Closure Reminder

As Spring Break is right around the corner, we want to remind everyone of our billing policy. Your flat monthly tuition includes lessons every week, except when we are closed for holidays (see our calendar). We do not issue makeup credits for these days. You can view a full list of our billing and scheduling policies in our Terms and Conditions here.

Thank you for your understanding and have a wonderful Spring Break!

Thanks for reading!

Let us know if you have any questions, comments, etc. Thanks as always for being a part of the Sunburst Community!

Best Wishes,

–Sunburst Team

< Older Post

Sunburst News - March 2025

March 1, 2025

March 2025 - Issue #91

Sunburst News - February 2025

February 1, 2025

February 2025 - Issue #90

Sunburst News - January 2025

By Alex Stanton • January 9, 2025

January 2025 - Issue #89

Sunburst News - December 2024

By Alex Stanton • December 4, 2024

December 2024 - Issue #88

Musicians Holiday Gift Guide 2024

By Alex Stanton • December 2, 2024

The holidays are fast approaching and you’re trying to find the best gift for all of the amazing musicians in your family. There’s a lot of noise out there, but we at Sunburst are HEAR to help!

Sunburst News - November 2024

By Alex Stanton • November 5, 2024

Get ready for an action-packed November at Sunburst! From Winter Recital signups and group program enrollments to free jam sessions and a heartwarming food drive, there’s something for everyone this month. Dive into our latest newsletter for all the details on events, new instructors, and ways to give back!

November Food Drive

October 31, 2024

Join us in donating to the JFCS Food Pantry! Check out our guide on what items they need most and find a link to make a financial contribution directly on their website.

Time to sign up for our Winter Recitals!

By Alex Stanton • October 24, 2024

Sign-ups are now open for our Winter Recitals! Each teacher will be hosting one or two 45-minute sessions during the first two weeks of December. Students can sign up through the link below, or feel free to reach out to us here , and we’ll be happy to assist with the registration process. Here are a few key reminders about the recitals: Participation is free, but we do welcome donations to our Scholarship Fund . You can contribute when you check out, or we’ll also be accepting cash donations at the door. Thank you for your support! Each recital session lasts about 50 minutes, featuring 12–15 students. We anticipate an audience of 40–60 people. Friends and family are encouraged to attend! If you plan on bringing more than four guests, please let us know in advance so we can arrange seating accordingly. If you’re unable to attend your teacher’s assigned session but still want to perform, let us know! We’ll do our best to accommodate you in another session. Adults are welcome to participate in their teacher’s session or in a special BYOB adults-only session on December 13th! Not all teachers will attend the adult session, so be sure to discuss this with your instructor ahead of time. Regularly scheduled lessons and programs may overlap with some recital times, so we kindly ask everyone to be mindful of this when entering and leaving the building. We're here for any recital-related questions (or anything else!), so don’t hesitate to reach out. We can’t wait to see everyone perform this winter!

Sunburst News - October 2024

By Alex Stanton • October 9, 2024

We’re gearing up for our Winter Recitals, offering fun fall group classes, and celebrating Spooky Season with our annual Halloween Party! 🎃 We’ve also got the Sunburst Cabaret, Piano Club, and a Free Improv Workshop lined up. Plus, check out our special tribute for Hispanic & Latine Heritage Month, and join us in wishing our talented instructor Mila Shadel the best as she embarks on her next adventure. ❤️

Hispanic and Latine Heritage Month

By Stanley Malyszka • October 8, 2024

Happy Hispanic and Latine Heritage month everyone! This article is extra special as it includes personal messages from some of our instructors about how their cultural background and heritage have influenced how and why they play music. We're super grateful for their contributions and hope you enjoy hearing their stories as much as we did!

Need help? Check out our Opus1 Student Guide here

#sunburstrocks

Follow us @sunburst_music

Enrollment for Music Together is now open! Winter classes for ages 0–5 begin the first week of January and run for 12 weeks. Hope to see ya there! ✨🥁 Link in bio for more info! #musictogether #kidsarethefuture #exploremusic

Sunburst is proud to be a stop on the upcoming Holiday Wine Walk from @uncoversquirrelhill! The event is this Saturday 12/7 4-7pm. Tickets are still available, see their website for details 🍇

Calling all high school musicians! Don’t miss this FREE Masterclass on Songwriting & Production happening this Thursday, December 5th! Join Sunburst Director Alex Stanton (@townsppl_ ppl_) alongside Lucy Clabby (@buffalorosemusic ) and @buscrates , moderated by INEZ, as they share their expertise in the WYEP Musician Accelerator Program. • Open to all Pittsburgh-area high school students. • Attend in-person at WYEP or via Zoom! 💻 Register now at WYEP.org

Happy Thanksgiving from Sunburst! ✨🦃 Just a reminder: Sunburst is closed for Thanksgiving starting today through Sunday. We hope you enjoy the holiday, and we’ll see you back for regular lessons and programs on Monday, 12/2!

Join us for a Drum Circle with Matt Price at Sunburst! Dive into rhythm, musical games, and collaborative exercises as Matt guides everyone through the body language and signals to create music together—no experience needed, and instruments are provided! 🌞🥁 The fun begins at 6pm and wraps up at 8pm; come for the full session or pop in as you like.

🎹 ✨Calling all piano students! Join us for Piano Club this Friday, November 15th from 6:30-7:30 to get some extra practice in! 🎵 Sign up link in bio. It’s FREE! #practicemakesprogress #pianoclub

This is the last month to enter to win the Wheel of Referrals Season II Grand Prize! Refer your friends to Sunburst and both of you get to spin the wheel and win a variety of merch, gift cards, and awesome experiences, as well as be entered in the grand prize drawing! Check out our website for full details. We will be pulling the winner in-person at our first winter recital session on December 6th.

Check out the Free Improvisation Workshop with Vicky Davide tomorrow at 7pm! It’s also FREE 💸 🎶 This workshop offers a unique avenue for folks to explore improvisation and unleash their musical creativity. Vicky will guide the group through various exercises based in play and exploration. There are no wrong notes! All ages and skill levels are welcome. Sign up with the link in the bio or just drop by. Hope to see you there! 🪩✨

Happy Halloween! 👻🎃 Wishing you all a spooky evening full of enormous candy bars 🍫 Swipe to see some highlight from last week’s Halloween party. Thank you for making it such a special night! 🌙

Join us for a Dia De Los Muertos celebration this Saturday in Squirrel Hill! The Sunburst Instructors Boleros band will be performing, along with crafts, food trucks and more! 11-2pm at Murray and Darlington. 💀💀💀

Winter Recital sign-ups are now open! 🎶❄️ Get ready to share your music with friends and family this December! Sign up through the link in our bio.

👻🪩 Thanks for joining us at the Cabaret last weekend! We had a blast sharing our favorite film music with you and hope it brought back some great memories. Huge thank you to our performers, including our instructor Mayim Stith who organized the show. Swipe to relive the magic! 🪄🎞️

🎃✨ Join us this Friday for a spook-tacular Halloween party filled with ghoulish games, crafts, a costume contest, and pizza galore! Starting at 7pm, our student bands will take the stage to cast a spell on you with their terrifying talents! 🔮 Come dressed in your best costume and get ready for a frightfully fun night! 👻🍕👹

Don’t miss out! Seats are still available for the second edition of the Sunburst Cabaret tomorrow! Join us for a night of unforgettable film music, featuring hits from family favorites like Shrek, Ghostbusters, and more! 👻 Free ticket link in bio!

Happy Hispanic and Latine Heritage Month y'all! Thank you for contributing to this month's playlist with top tier song recs! As the month comes to a close, we invite you to check out our latest blog post, where instructors our Laura Fidalgo and Ivan Orellana open up about how their cultural backgrounds have shaped their musical journeys. We’re so grateful for their contributions and hope their stories resonate with you as much as they did with us! Link in bio! P.S. Swipe to see some highlights from the month, including clips of the Sunburst Boleros and the cutest drawing there ever was! #hispanicandlatineheritagemonth #latinmusic

🎶 Sunburst News - October 2024 is out! We’re gearing up for our Winter Recitals, offering fun fall group classes, and celebrating Spooky Season with our annual Halloween Party! 🎃 We’ve also got the Sunburst Cabaret, Piano Club, and a Free Improv Workshop lined up. Plus, check out our special tribute for Hispanic & Latine Heritage Month, and join us in wishing our talented instructor Mila Shadel the best as she embarks on her next adventure. ❤️ Read the full newsletter ☝

Tune in to NBC tonight at 8pm to catch one of our former students Sloane auditioning on The Voice in front of Gwen Stefani, Michael Bublé, Snoop, and Reba! Go Sloane! Check out her original music @officiallysloane ✨

This past Saturday was Student Open Mic Night at Sunburst! Thanks to all of our awesome performers and families! See you at the next one! 🎤

Our next featured artist for the Squirrel Hill Night Market is RH Pioneers! Performing this Saturday 9/28. Since they started writing and performing together in 2016, Ryan Hoffman and Amy Linette have recorded 3 studio albums, and attracted an audience for their narrative-based songwriting, dark humor and vivid lyrical imagery. Check out RH Pioneers and the rest of our awesome lineup this Saturday at the corner of Murray and Darlington!

Tell your friends about Sunburst and you BOTH get to spin the wondrous Wheel of Referrals! 🎡

Sunburst Plays Stevie Wonder was an unforgettable night! 🌟Huge thanks to everyone who joined us and made it so special. Roll the clips! 🎥✨ #steviewondertribute #sunburstplays #livemusic

The next Squirrel Hill Night Market is September 28th and one of our featured artists is Matt Calvetti! Matt's original instrumental music dips into various genres, and he'll be joined on stage by a few special guests. Check out Matt and the rest of the lineup next Saturday! #squirrelhillnightmarket

Happy National Hispanic and Latine Heritage Month! Our latest staff band, the Sunburst Boleros, opened for the Sunburst Plays: Stevie Wonder concert last night, and their performance was such a lovely way to kickstart this month. Thank you to our amazing instructors and special guests for putting on such an engaging and beautiful set! Enjoy this sneak peek of their performance from last night, and stay tuned for more celebration to come! In the meantime, check out our playlist for National Hispanic and Latine Heritage month in our bio 🎶 #nationalhispanicandlatinxheritagemonth #sunburstboleros #livemusic

The September Issue of the Sunburst News is here! 🌟 Dive into all the exciting updates, from Fall Group Program enrollment and August Camp highlights to a special interview with piano instructor Dr Bank and the return of Sunburst Cabaret! 🎤 Don't miss out on upcoming events, like Sunburst Plays on 9/14, and our Student Open Mic on 10/4 🎶🎸 Check out our linktree ☝

Music Together Fall Term Starts this week! Join our Mixed-Age classes for kids 0-5 and their parents, or our rhythm kids I & II classes for kids 4–8. Morning, afternoon, and a weekend times available! Learn more on our website 🎶

Thanks to everyone for an amazing night of music on both stages at the Squirrel Hill Night Market! So great to see so many past, current, and future students, teachers, families, etc. get involved and brave the rain. Make sure to check out and support all of these awesome bands: @we.are.female.hysteria @timesnewwrestlers @jackwildercountry and @townsppl_ and @nativealloys who were rained out ☔️see everyone on September 28th for the final night market of ‘24!

Huge night of music tomorrow night at the Squirrel Hill Night Market! Featuring tons of SB students, teachers, and alumni. Music starts at 6pm with Sunburst bands Female Hysteria and Sunburnt, followed by Times New Wrestlers, townsppl, The Tells, and on the acoustic stage Jack Wilder, Abbey Martin Band, Aaron Lewinter, Roots Sessions + special guests! Main stage located at Murray and Darlington, Acoustic stage on Murray between Bartlett and Beacon. Stop by and enjoy the tunes!

Throwback to our Pride Month activity! 🌈 We asked our students, 'How has music given you comfort and strength in your identity?' and their responses were super heartwarming. We're not crying, you're crying! #pridemonth #expressyourself #youareloved

Scene making and playbills from 2024 Night at the Rock Opera Camp!

Dreaming of starting a band? The Sunburst Band Program is now enrolling for the fall term with spots available for kids and adults! 🎤⚡ If you’re wondering whether you’re ready to take this step, check out our recent blog post, where we break down the skills we recommend having before joining the Sunburst Band Program. Spoiler alert: It’s easier than you might think! Link in bio 💫 While you’re here, enjoy this slideshow of performances from the 2023–24 school year. 🎸✨ #thesunburstbandprogram #musiceducation #letsstartaband

Sunburst Plays is BACK, and this time, we’re paying tribute to the legendary Stevie Wonder! Join us for a night of grooves and tunes on Saturday, September 14th for Sunburst Plays Stevie Wonder featuring the Sunburst Boleros band and our talented teachers! Music starts at 7pm. Ticket link in bio! Can’t wait to see ya there! #livemusic #steviewonder #sunburstplays

🗞 The August issue of the Sunburst News is here! Learn about our fall slate of group programs, read our summer camp wrap up, and get yourself some new Sunburst gear! Link ☝

Another Camp Studio is in the books! ⭐🎙 Our campers dived into the recording process, mastering Ableton, and developing their individual projects to debut at the end camp concert. We're excited to present two hit podcasts: The Newspaper and Humans Talk, alongside two special recordings by our talented teen campers. 🎧✨ Check them out via the link in our bio and enjoy! #campstudio #kidsarethefuture #ableton #recordingcamp #musiceducation #podcasting

We had a great time at the Squirrel Hill Night Market! Thanks to all of our awesome performers @trionovapit, @posterchildpgh, and @phaseshiftershifter as well as @uncoversquirrelhill for putting it on. See everyone in August!

☀️Summer classes start tomorrow☀️ Join us for a trial class through the end of July or get in touch to learn more about our fall schedule. We would love to see you there! Music Together welcomes all children, from infants to 8 years old, to begin their music journey, fostering a lifelong love of rhythm and song. Each group offers an engaging and beginner-friendly experience designed for your child's age and development! Age Groups 0–5 - Mixed Age Class (caregiver/child) 4–5 - Rhythm Kids I 5–8 - Rhythm Kids II Sign up with the link in our bio! #musictogether #musiceducationforkids #rhythmkids #summerclasses

That's a wrap on our June summer camps! ⭐ We had an absolute blast with all our fantastic campers from Drummer Camp, Let’s Start a Band Camp, and Beats & Loops Camp! Your enthusiasm, teamwork, and creativity blew us away and we're so grateful for the opportunity to work with y'all! 🥁🎸🎛️ For more camp highlights and photos, check out our blog—link in bio! And the fun’s not over yet! There are still spots left in Camp Studio and Night at the Rock Opera. Register on our website! 🎤🎬 #SummerCamps #MusicCamps #DrummerCamp #BandCamp #BeatsAndLoops #MusicEducation #SummerFun #SeeYouNextYear

The first Squirrel Hill Night Market of the year has been rescheduled for Saturday, July 13th. Stay dry everyone!

Summer Enrollment Now Open! 🎶 Join us this summer for Music Together and Rhythm Kids classes at Sunburst! Our Mixed-Age Class (ages 0-5) offers a 45-minute caregiver/child music experience filled with singing, movement, and instrument exploration. Rhythm Kids I (ages 4-5) and Rhythm Kids II (ages 5-8) inspire natural musicality through play, drumming, singing, and creative activities. Classes start the second week of July and run through the end of August. Sign up today and nurture your child's love for music and understanding of musical fundamentals. Reach out if you have any questions!

🌈🌟 HAPPY PRIDE MONTH! 🌟🌈 Join us this Friday from 6–8pm for our Pride Party! We'll be celebrating with live music featuring the Rock Pups and @aurorapgh, plus snacks, games, and a friendship bracelet-making table! 🎵✨ Thank YOU for helping us create a safe, affirming space every day. We really do have the best students! 🌟💐 #AllAreWelcome #PGHPride #MusicForAll #YallMeansAll

🎵 I don't know about YOU 🎵 but we're feeling so proud of our students who performed at the Spring Recital. It takes a lot of courage to get up on stage, and it’s inspiring to see students of all ages taking that step to be vulnerable and share their talent with family and friends! We hope that you feel energized and excited to continue playing music over the summer and can’t wait to see you at the next recital! 💗 While you're here, check out some highlights from our events last week featuring our amazing student bands and singer-songwriters! 🎸🎤🌟 #recitals #music #schoolsout

Consider this an official reminder that we teach adults too! Stop by @golittlegiant this Sunday at 7pm for our 21+ Spring Concert featuring Alan Higby, Abbey Martin, Ampersand, and Thundershark 🥁 This event is BYOB, but we'll have plenty of drinks (alcoholic and non) for you to enjoy. See you there! ✌

80s Night was a smashing success! Thank’s to everyone for coming out, to all of our awesome guest students and teachers, to @we.are.female.hysteria for opening the show, and to Lorrie for these great snaps! See you next time after time 🕶️

Check it out! 🌟Our band program students designed sticker merch this semester and they look sooo good. We’re super proud of these kids. Comment your fav design below! 🧡 #kidsarethefuture #bandmerch

Y’all sold out the show! 🥳 We’ll see you at 7pm! #Sunburstplays #80snight

Sunburst Jams is TONIGHT! ⚡️Join us at 5:30pm for the kids session or at 7pm for the 21+ jam. Hope to see ya there! 🎸 #jamsession #happyfriday

Sunburst is officially a teenager! 🎂🎂🎂 We opened our doors as “Sunburst Guitar Instruction” in May 2011, with one room in the basement across the street from our current location. Now, 13 years later we’d like to say thank you to our amazing community and the teachers, students, admins, families, and friends that make Sunburst a special place! You can read more about the full history of our school on our blog, look up our 10th anniversary post.

🎸This weekend was filled with so much fun! We started off with a beautiful performance by our student, Abbey, at the EQT Children’s Festival! After that, we offered free mini lessons to all who attended. We had a blast at our Spring Concert at Frick Park Market. Congratulations to all the bands that performed!! And big thanks to EQT and @frickparkmarketofficial for giving us a space to jam! 🎸

Noteful is hosting a free workshop with freelancer and Hamilton musician Leslie DeShazor. In addition to her performing prowess, Leslie is a long-time music educator and TED speaker and it’s going to be a dynamic and inspiring session. Next Thursday, May 23rd, 6–6:30p at the Magee Rec Center in Greenfield. Learn more and register: https://www.info.noteful.net/magee-registration

Thanks so much to @openstreetspgh and @bikepgh! We had an awesome day of mini-lessons and student performances this past weekend on the Southside. See you next time! 🚲 🎸🎤

Aurora covering Hot & Heavy by Lucy Dacus 😍 Come out to the Frick Park Market on May 19th to see Aurora and our other youth bands play for the Spring Concert. We’re so proud of these kids! While you’re here, check out line up and their awesome band names! The Rock Pups Shoplifted Lemons Kasio Aurora Female Hysteria Showtime is 2-4pm on the 19th. See you there! #frickparkmarket #livemusic #pghmusicians #youthmusic #kidsarethefuture

Sunburst will be participating in the upcoming Uncover Squirrel Hill Wine Walk on Saturday, May 11 from 3-7. Make sure you stop in for some wine, snacks, and free lesson cards! Get tickets @uncoversquirrelhill.

⌛️ Time after Time by Sunburst Plays! Get your 80’s Night tickets for May 25th ☝ Full video on Youtube!

☕ Grab a cup and check your inbox for the May edition of the Sunburst News! Issue - 81 is chock-full of exciting updates, such as: 🎟️ Sunburst Plays Tickets: Secure your tickets for the upcoming ‘80s themed show! ☀️ Summer Hold Plan: Signup to pause your lessons over the summer while reserving your lesson time. 🎵Performance Opportunities: Learn more about our upcoming recitals and summer performance opportunities at the Squirrel Hill Night Markets! Not subscribed? Check out the blog section of our website or message us to sign up 👋

🎸 Calling All Bass Players! 🎸 We are on the lookout for bassist to audition for the 2024 Sunburst House Band! If you love bass and want to gain on-stage experience, we encourage you to talk to your instructor and sign up to audition! Rehearsals will be on Sundays from 4-6pm until the end of December. Students can anticipate performing at least one gig per month and recording an EP of original music by year-end. In December, we’ll cap off the cohort with a show at a local venue, serving as both a celebration of your collective achievements and a release party for your original music!

Spring Break Beats and Loops Camp memories are forever! Our talented campers, along with their instructor Charlie Scott, produced this very serious and educational deep dive into Sog, detailing the historic moments that led to the creation of this new genre. Enjoy Sog History 101! Be sure to experience Sog first hand with the Beats and Loops Camp playlist in our bio! 🎧 #musiceducation #innovationinsound #musicproduction #beatsandloops

Sunburst Plays Blondie’s Heart of Glass! 80’s Night is May 25th at Sunburst, see all of your favorite Sunburst teachers and team members take on the decade that (a few of us) were born in! tickets are limited see our link for details 🤩

Have you spun our Wheel of Referrals yet? Here’s how it works: If you refer a friend to come take weekly lessons at Sunburst, after they complete one month of lessons you both get to spin the wheel and win whatever prize you land on! Prizes include a free lesson, an official Sunburst t-shirt, gift cards to local shops, 5 entries for the Grand Prize, and more!!! Refer a friend and spin to win!

Perform at the Squirrel Hill Night Market! Sunburst is working with @uncoversquirrelhill to book music for the 2024 Squirrel Hill Night Markets. It's a great performance opportunity for both bands and solo artists of all genres. Deadline is May 15th, application link in bio ☝.

We are thrilled to announce that Summer Recital sign-ups are officially OPEN! Now’s your chance to get up on stage and showcase all the hard work you’ve put into your lessons! Recitals will take place on June 1st, 2nd, 7th, 8th, and 9th. Grab a spot before they fill up! We can’t wait to jam out with you!

Warming up for Sunburst Plays 80’s Night! On May 25th get ready to rewind to the raddest decade—featuring iconic hits by Madonna, The B-52’s, Talking Heads, Cyndi Lauper, and more! Sunburst Plays is our series of staff band shows at Sunburst. Tickets on sale now 👆#SunburstPlays #80snight #Madonna #Pghmusic

It’s time for Spring Cleaning! Join Squirrel Hill Litter Patrol and Sunburst School of Music as we Clean Sweep our beautiful neighborhood! The official community event is on Sunday, April 21st, but you can gather a group to clean anytime between April 14th - 22nd! Be sure to snap a flick of your cleaning in action and tag @squirrelhillurbancoalition to be entered for a chance to win prizes from local businesses including a Sunburst gift card for free lessons!

Join us for our very first Free Improvisation Workshop led by our instructor Vicky Davide! Free improvisation is a musical art style that allows individuals to explore their musical creativity on their instrument and with others. Whether you're a seasoned musician or a total beginner, come join us on April 19th for an evening of creative exploration. Let's make some magic together! 🔮🎹✨

Thanks to everyone for attending this past weekend’s drum circle event!! 🥁

Community Drum Circle this Saturday at Sunburst! 🪘🪘🪘 Join Sunburst instructor Matt Price for a free, all ages community drum circle event Saturday at 6pm. No experience or equipment necessary! See you then.

Reflecting on the exciting and hilarious journey that was our 2024 Spring Break Beats and Loops Camp! From mastering the basics of music production to crafting mind-blowing compositions with SoundTrap, these campers have truly outdone themselves. We couldn’t be prouder of their dedication and creativity! Oh, and did we mention they birthed a whole new genre? Say hello to Sog - a delightful concoction of hilarious samples and random loops that’s as unique as it is entertaining! Here’s to the next generation of musical innovators! #musicproduction #futureofmusic #proudmentors #musicinnovation

Our Spring Term of Music Together® starts April 1st! 🌼 🎶 Through play, children acquire new skills, learn self-regulation, build connections with their world, and more. Want to know more about how music-play supports your child’s development? Check out our website to learn more about Music Together at Sunburst!

Do you hear the people sing? 🎶 Thanks to everyone for being a part of the first ever Sunburst Cabaret! ☀️ 🎭 Was an amazing night of performances from some of our incredibly talented staff and students or "The Company" as they say in the biz. Check out some of the performances in our highlights! These student and staff shows are so much fun, we'll be running more of them, next up is Sunburst Plays in May, stay tuned for details and let us know if you want to get involved 🙌

🎭 Tomorrow Night at Sunburst its the debut of The Sunburst Cabaret! Join us for an incredible night of broadway performances from teachers and students and help raise money for the Sunburst Scholarship Fund. Space is limited, RSVP on our website.

Next week is Spring Break at Sunburst and there’s still time to sign up for our Spring Break Beats and Loops Camp! Monday–Friday, 9am–3pm for ages 8–12, see our website for full details and to sign up 🌸 🎧 🏕️

What an incredible weekend of performances for Sunburst students! Our student Open Mic Night on Friday was truly special with a supportive crowd thanks to our amazing community of students and families. Finally Sunday was the culmination of the 2023 Sunburst House Band season at the Government Center. The show included two awesome opening sets from Sunburst related acts Aurora and Abbey Kelkenberg. The House Band put on a blistering performance making a diverse selection of technically challenging songs look easy, and clearly having a blast. Sean (aka the House Band rhythm guitarist) also led the audience in a special birthday serenade to his brother Ethan who is also one of our delightful students! Huge thank you and congratulations to this group! Especially our graduating members Nate and Nina who’ve both been a part of Sunburst groups for a decade. Reminder: Auditions for next year’s House Band are April 7th, see the full criteria and sign up on our website.

WOW! Huge thanks to NEXTpittsburgh for the great write up on Sunburst!! Link ☝️

The Sunburst House Band wraps up it’s ‘23 campaign with a show this Sunday at the Government Center! Join us in celebrating the accomplishments of this year’s group! We couldn’t be more proud of them. The show features special guests Aurora and Abbey Kelkenberg, $10 at the door. Want to be in the next House Band?? We’ve also just announced that we’ll be holding auditions for next year’s group on April 7th. The House Band is an audition only band program for our most dedicated students 10–17, the group meets weekly and performs year round, and we have a ton of exciting stuff in store for ‘24! Full criteria and sign up link on our website. ☀️🏡 🎸

Its official — Registration for #summercamps have begun 🔥🥳😎 This year we are offering a range of exciting camps to choose from including: playing in a band, sampling audio and recording, joining the rock opera, banging on drums and more! Our camps run Monday–Friday, starting at 9 am and concluding at 3 pm. Then on Friday, cap off the week with a thrilling on-stage performance as our campers showcase their newfound skills for family and friends from 3–4 pm. Explore the fantastic lineup of our 2024 camps at the link in our bio. #pittsburgh #summer2023 #letsstartaband #rockandroll #musiccamps #fun #squirellhill

Sunburst plays FUNK was a jam last night 🥳🎊 Thanks to all those who came out and made this a night to remember!!

Sunburst plays FUNK Saturday! Get your tickets now at the link in our bio. Space is limited 🤩🎊🥳

Plenty of events coming up in the next few weeks. Don’t let the cold stop you! Come warm up with music!!! Link in bio for more details about each event 🤗 #winter2024 #pittsburgh #livemusic #musicforall #squirrelhill

🎶 Wishing you a harmonious holiday season from all of us at Sunburst School of Music! 🌟🎄 May your days be filled with joy, laughter, and beautiful melodies. 🎵✨ Thank you for making music with us this year. Here’s to a fantastic holiday and an incredible new year filled with wonderful tunes! 🎶❄️ Please note that our school will be closed from December 23rd to January 2nd to allow our staff and students to enjoy this special time with loved ones. We’ll be back to spread the music on January 3rd! 🎸🎹 #HappyHolidays #SeasonsGreetings #Pittsburgh #SquirrelHill #MakeMusic #Winterbreak2023 #musicforall #pgh

2023 winter recitals recap!! So many great performances this year it’s hard to capture it in one short video. Thanks to all the performers and everyone who came out to support the music. Have a wonderful holiday break everyone and we will see you in the new year.🤩 🎉💫 #2023recitals #musiclessons #pittsburgh #pgh #sunburstmusic #musicforall #lessons #squirrelhill #winter2023

Join us for the Polar Express Winter Party! Save the date for Friday, December 15th, from 6-8pm for a night filled with hot cocoa, games, and a screening of the Polar Express! Just put on your coziest pair of pajamas, and you'll be all set. This party is for students ages 10 and under, along with their parents. Older siblings are more than welcome to attend too! We hope to see you there!

Adult Recital Highlights from winter 2023. Thank you to everyone for the amazing performances!!!

Is your little one bubbling with curiosity and endless energy? Music Together® classes are the perfect playground for their musical explorations! 🎵👧👦 Winter term enrollment is now OPEN for our Music Together® programs! 🎼❄️ In these classes children of ages 0 - 5 get to dive into the enchanting world of music, connecting with their peers and uncovering what truly captivates them about melodies, rhythms, and beats. 🌈🎹 Join us this winter as we embark on a musical journey filled with joy, discovery, and shared moments that will create lasting memories. Spaces are limited, so click the link in our bio to secure your spot now and let the music magic begin! 🎶✨ #MusicTogether #WinterTermEnrollment #SunburstSchoolOfMusic #Pittsburgh #squirellhill #pgh #musicforall #winter2024

21+ Jam session this Friday 12/1 🔥🎵🥁🎸🎹 #pittsburgh #jamsession #makemusic #pgh #squirrelhill

📣 Events 📣 Events 📣 Lots of great stuff coming up in the next few weeks. Including: 💥 8+ Jam Session - 11/17 💫 21 + Jam Session - 12/1 ❄️ Winter Recitals - tons of Dates! ☃️ Winter Party - 12/15 Check the link 🔗 in our bio to find out more 👌 #winter2023 #pittsburgh #musiclessons #pgh #squirrelhill #musicforall

The stage is ready for recitals in December. Did you sign up yet? Link is in our bio 🔥🤗 #recitals #2023 #sunburst #musiclessons #pittsburgh

Caught this nice rainbow yesterday. #sunburst #rainbow #musicforall #pittsburgh #pgh #squirrelhill

Little Monsters Mash 2023! 👻🎃 #spooky #halloween #pittsburgh #squirrelhill

Renovations finished early 2023. It’s finally time to take you on a tour of our school. Check it out!! #sunburstmusic #pittsburgh #musicschool #allages #fun #pgh #musictogether #musiclessons

🎵 Elevate Your Musical Journey this Fall with the Sunburst Band Program! 🚀 Ready to take your skills to the next level? Join the Sunburst Band Program for: 🤝 Collaboration: Create music with a group. 🎤 On-Stage Thrills: Perform at local venues. 🎼 Rockin’ Rehearsals: Master songs and group dynamics. 🎸 Requirements: Primary instrument, basic skills, and a passion for music. 🤘 Check out the link in our bio and let’s make music this fall. 🎶 #SunburstBandProgram #MusicMakers #Pittsburgh #Pgh #JoinaBand #AllAges

The show is coming! Check out this classic from Tammy Wynette. Which BTW we will be performing at the show. 9/23 7pm 😁🤠🎶🤩 #countrymusic #sunburstplays #tammywynette

Legendary Women of Country is coming! 9/23 at 7pm. Hear music from Taylor, Dolly, Shania and many more 🤠🎉🎶 Get your tickets now. Link in bio 👍 #womenofcountry #taylorswift #dollyparton #pittsburgh #livemusic #sunburstplays

We are thrilled to present the Wheel of Referrals! When you introduce a friend or family member to Sunburst, both you and the new student get to spin our IRL prize wheel for a chance to win incredible rewards. Prizes include free lessons, merch, gift cards, and more! Plus every spin automatically enters you into a grand prize drawing held twice a year for even bigger and more exciting surprises! Invite your friends to join the Sunburst community and let's make music together while spinning to win! Thank you for being an essential part of our musical journey—we can't wait to see what the Wheel of Referrals has in store for you! 🎸🥁🎶🎤🤩

This is part of practice. Write it out and do your homework! #drumlessons #practice #pittsburgh #drumming #drums

If this isn’t the most precious thing I’ve ever seen 🥹🥹

@thanakarnlimtham piano student Finn worked very hard on accomplish a song “Champions Ballad” from the game The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. It starts with the slow section and get faster in the end! 🔥 👏🥳 Give this video a like and comment and let Finn know he did a great iob 👍 #zelda #ledgedodzelda #piano #pgh #pianolessons #musicforall #breathofthewild

House band plays their final show Friday August 1st at @thegovernmentcenter music starts at 8pm 🥳🎶🔥 #pittsburgh #livemusic #governmentcenterpittsburgh #sunburstmusic

Music Mania at the @jccpgh 🎸🥁🎤👏👏 #musiccamp #jccpgh #summer2023 #shakeitoff #taylorswift

How do you teach a group of 15 students a chord progression? Like this!! #summer2023 #summercamp #pittsburgh #shakeitoff #taylorswift #music #musiccamp #jccpittsburgh

@alex.balazs_ having some fun with the opening drum fills from “Spirit of The Radio” @rush Straight fire 🔥🔥🔥 #neilpeart #rush #spiritoftheradio #drumming #pittsburgh #drumlessons #pgh

Camps camps camps🎸🔥🥁 #valerie #summer2023 #pittsburgh #musiccamp #musicforall

Huge congratulations to our piano instructor Bank @thanakarnlimtham for taking first place at the 2023 19th Century Music Competition from Charleston International Music Competition 👏👏🥳🎊 Leave a comment and say congrats to this amazing achievement from and excellent pianist!!