Being a parent who works the usual 9 – 5 can be challenging when it comes to after school activities. You want to put your child in something, but by the time you all get home it’s dinner time. After dinner there might be an hour or 2 to spare before the bedtime routine begins, so, finding something to fit the schedule can become quite a challenge.
Well..at least it used to be…
Enter: The Music Bus Rocks, a “mobile music classroom that comes to you.” The bus is loaded with all the necessary equipment to bring out your child’s (or your) inner rock star. Ages 4 – 99 are welcome!
The bus is the brainbaby of Robert Slangen, a Music Performance major, and Nathan Anderson, a Music Education major. After being a bit disgruntled teaching music at a private school, they discussed opening up a music classroom of their own. After tweaking the idea further, they thought it would be pretty cool to have a mobile music classroom, as sort of “the next generation of teaching,” according to Slangen. And they’re right, it is pretty cool. Not only for time-crunched parents, but for them too. Being mobile has given them the chance to play at music festivals like Wakarusa and the upcoming Utopiafest. At festivals, they bust out the Junkyard Orchestra which features handmade instruments made from everyday junk. The rainy weather may have stopped the stage for a bit at Wakarusa, but it did not stop the festival goers from having an all-out jam session at The Music Bus Rocks’ Junkyard Orchestra!
- Junkyard Orchestra at Wakarusa
As of now, the bus is making routes to Cedar Park, Lakeway and Bee Caves, but has plans of going everywhere. Eventually they would like 3 buses gallivanting through Austin with magical sounds and rainbows beaming out the windows..er…maybe that’s just in my head, either way, they would like to expand! Private lessons are available during after school hours and are $150/month for one 30-minute lesson a week. If you’re interested in lessons for you or your child, give them a call or an email. If you have any press-related inquiries, shoot Nnedi an email at pr@themusicbusrocks.com.
