Here’s some great news from the area. Three new businesses have opened over the summer in the Garden Court neighborhood, and other area businesses have recently re-opened or are reopening soon after being closed due to the pandemic.

Openings

• Throttle Gear Apparel Company store has opened at 4746 Spruce St., in the former Aladdin Pizza space, which had been vacant for years. You won’t recognize this space now since it’s been completely redesigned. The store offers streetwear designed by local entrepreneur and motorcycle enthusiast Todd Briggs. He started the company in 2012 on the basis of his love for motorcycles and relieving stress while riding them. The store hours are: Tuesday-Thursday 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m.; Friday & Saturday 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. (closed on Sundays & Mondays). For more info, visit: www.thrtl.com. Continue Reading

Summer Rock at The Green Tambourine.

The Green Tambourine is reopening soon for in-person learning!

Programs:

Beginning September 7th, the 9-year-old music studio located at 711 S. 50th St., will be offering in-person individual lessons for all ages, as well as group beginner instrumental classes for 2-4 kids and ensembles (vocal groups & rock bands). Go here for more info and to register.

Teachers:

• Julia is a vocalist and pianist with focus on classical and musical theater.

• Justin is a guitar player and classroom music educator who also plays bass, piano and ukulele. He loves funk, jazz and pop music.

• Evelyn is a pianist focusing on classical music. Continue Reading

The Green Tambourine founder Ann Schwartz in front of her expanded studio at 4614-16 Baltimore Avenue (Photo by Annamarya Scaccia / West Philly Local)

As West Philly Local reported last month, HALO Foundation Boutique at 4616 Baltimore Avenue—which we profiled in March—has closed down, becoming just another failed business in a space that’s known as a revolving door for entrepreneurial spirits. But it was undergoing renovations, which means it wasn’t going to stay empty for long. So what or who was now moving into that space?

A West Philly Local reader tipped us off: The Green Tambourine (4614 Baltimore Ave), Ann Schwartz’s music program—turned—music studio, is expanding next door after two years of operations. When we caught up with Schwartz at her space last Wednesday, the veteran musician told West Philly Local that she had been working on the adjacent space for about a month, and should be ready to open it within a few days.

As part of the expansion, Schwartz will install a drum set and more pianos in the new space, add drum classes and adult ensemble rehearsals (think bluegrass, Irish fiddle, and jazz) to her program, and bring in more teachers to accommodate for the additional students she hopes to attract (right now, Schwartz is the only teacher). “My schedule is completely booked, so it’s the right time to do it,” she told West Philly Local.

An open house for the expanded space is scheduled for Saturday, June 14 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Sunday, June 15 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in order to introduce the new Green Tambourine to the public. Schwartz wants locals to drop by, check out the studio, learn more about her programs, and check out the different instruments.

“I’m really excited. [I’m] just looking for new ways to grow and be active in the community. It’s all about having music be a fun experience,” Schwartz told West Philly Local. “It’s been awesome being here, and I’ve so appreciated community support and involvement, which has allowed me to grow so quickly.”

–Annamarya Scaccia

West Philly resident Jay Sand has big, big plans to expand his popular world music program for youths that began out of his Pine Street living room. Sand’s goal is “to create the opportunity for every child to meet the world through music.”

Jay Sand

Sand, who has taught more than 1,000 classes to neighborhood kids, has launched an ambitious campaign to crowdfund this expansion. Last spring he took his program, which combines music and cultural exploration, into the public schools. His curriculum includes some 300 songs from more than 100 countries.

Now he wants to make it even more accessible to kids throughout the city regardless of income. Part of that plan is to create a series of CDs (and digital music) with all kinds of performers. He has already released one – All Around this World: Latin America – this fall. And two more, which will include music from Africa, are currently in post production. You can see some of the studio recordings in the video below.

So far he has self-financed these efforts, but now he is offering a chance for you to get involved through tax-deductible contributions (and get a special gift such as a CD or a “musical map” or even a free private concert for you and your family and friends).

To help promote his expansion, Sand is also putting on 24 straight one-hour webcast classes on December 7-8. You and yours can attend the free classes in person if you RSVP here. The classes start at 9 a.m. on Dec. 7 and Sand says the only song he will repeat during all of the classes is the Ugandan song “We Are Happy,” which he uses to mark the beginning of each class. Here is the schedule.

Ann Schwartz, a musician skilled in a wide range of instruments and with over 15 years of music teaching experience, is launching The Green Tambourine, a new series of interactive music programs for kids ages 0 to 10 years at The Rotunda (40th & Walnut). The programs include musical playgroups for babies and little kids and group instrumental lessons for older children. Musical playgroups are divided into the following age groups: birth-9 months, 2 & 3 year olds, 4 & 5 year olds, and Toddler Class (10-23 months). The first 6-week session includes one class per week every Friday kicks off on June 22.

The Green Tambourine also offers group violin and guitar lessons for kids ages 6-10 beginning in September. The lessons are taught once a week on Thursdays and are also offered in 6-week sessions. Participants will need to bring their own instrument.

To sign up for classes and for more information, please visit The Green Tambourine’s website or contact Ann Schwartz at (215) 360-3215, info@thegreentambourine.com. A special 20% Class Kickoff discount is offered. Scholarships and other discounts are also available.

This Friday and Saturday, June 15 & 16, The Green Tambourine will be at Clark Park from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. for some musical free play.  You and your kids are welcome to stop by to meet the class facilitator,  get more information on programs and most importantly, play music!

Registration is open for the fall session of All Around This World, the kids music program based on international songs, movement and drumming.

The program’s director, Jay Sand, is a well-known West Philly musician and music teacher. Three times a year – in the fall, winter and spring – he offers interactive weekly music classes “All Around This World” for infants to 8-year-olds and their families. Each class is dedicated to a particular region of the world and music from that region.

The fall session begins right after Labor Day, on September 7. The West Philly classes (classes are also offered in Fairmount Park and Center City) are going to explore West Asia and the Middle East. Classes take place near 44th and Pine on Wednesdays and Saturday mornings (check the full schedule here). There is also a special class for babies only at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. Discounts, scholarships, free trial classes and sliding scale tuition plans are available.

For more information about the classes and to register go here or contact Jay Sand at: jay [at] allaroundthisworld.com, 215-913-2679.