Even the most patriotic citizens may not know that today, March 3, is the National Anthem Day. This is a good time to ask: how well do you know “The Star-Spangled Banner”- not just the lyrics, but also the history behind this song? Chances are that you either don’t know or don’t remember. In that case, today is as good a time as any for a little tutorial about the song that is the enduring symbol of our national identity and pride.

By the dawn’s early light…

The anthem was inspired by the events at the Battle of Baltimore, which occurred during the War of 1812. When a Washington lawyer and amateur poet Francis Scott Key saw the American flag flying above Fort McHenry as it was attacked by cannon fire, he was inspired to write the poem he entitled “Defence of Fort McHenry.” Within a week, the words were printed in Baltimore newspapers; soon it was set to music and re-titled as “The Star-Spangled Banner.” However, at that time the “Banner” was just another patriotic song, along with “Hail Columbia ” and “Yankee Doodle Dandy .” During the Civil War, however, it became an anthem for Union troops, increasing in popularity over time. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed an executive order designating it as “the national anthem of the United States,” to be performed at all military ceremonies. In 100 years since then, the anthem has been played not only at military ceremonies, but also at ball games, Independence Day observances, and other special occasions.

Through pressure and accident…

“The Star-Spangled Banner” was born out of a genuine patriotic feeling and a desire to immortalize an event in our nation’s history. But not all anthems came into existence this way. For instance, the anthem of our south-of-the-border neighbor, Mexico, has an interesting history of its own: in 1853, the country held a contest for the most inspiring patriotic lyrics. The girlfriend of the poet Francisco González Bocanegra tried to convince him to participate, but he didn’t want to. So she locked in him in a room filled with pictures of scenes from Mexican history; Francisco had no choice but to pen a poem that became the foundation of that nation’s anthem . And some anthems were purely accidental, created in a moment of panic. This is how it happened: When the Sultan of the Malaysian province of Perak arrived in London at the invitation of Queen Victoria in 1888, his aide was asked for the music to the anthem to be played during the welcome ceremony. At that time Malaysia had no anthem but the aide was not about to admit it, so he hummed a popular love song from the Seychelles Islands, called “Moonlight.” That tune, albeit with new lyrics, is still the country’s national anthem . (Interestingly enough, the original “Moonlight” lyrics are now banned in Malaysia).

Any type of music

Whether you would like to play (or hum) the national anthem of any country, or any other tune, we can help! Just contact us and we’ll send one of our amazing music teachers right to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office. In the meantime, have a happy National Anthem Day!

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This coming Sunday will be an important day for football fans – the SUPER BOWL! It is not just America’s largest sports event, but also a cultural phenomenon of sorts. The hype and frenzy start even before the Super Bowl Sunday and grow in intensity in the weeks leading up to the big game. In fact, people get so excited and caught up in the game, they sometimes tend to forget that, no matter who wins and who loses, the world will go on unperturbed by this event.

You may be wondering by now why we are bringing up this topic in the music blog. The reason is simple: NFL football and music go hand in hand, even if, on the surface, they don’t strike you as a natural match. But just think of all the Super Bowl halftime shows. They are huge! Performers like Tony Bennett, Patti LaBelle, Stevie Wonder, Phil Collins, and many other famous singers had starred in the musical productions over the years. In that way, the Super Bowl is not merely a sports event, but also a musical extravaganza!

Musical interlude

The first Super Bowl game took place on January 15, 1967, so it is just one year short of its 50th anniversary. In the first decades, halftime entertainment featured mostly college marching bands, but that trend changed in the 1990s. In 1991, New Kids of the Block headlined the show , ushering in the era of big-name acts. Michael Jackson, Gloria Estefan, Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, and the Rolling Stones were among many famous halftime performers. The first Super Bowl of the 21st century featured a terrific show by Tina Turner . Other A-listers followed throughout the decade: U2 in 2002 , Paul McCartney in 2005, and Bruce Springsteen in 2009. These were just some of the many featured performers in the past years. What about this Sunday? You can look forward to Coldplay’s performance. Why is it that so many well-known musicians are eager to play at the Super Bowl? Our guess is that it is not only the exposure to tens of millions of TV viewers, but also the frenzied excitement of the spectators, the kind of fervor that is fuelled by good football and good music!

A totally different ball game

What if you are not a football fan, but do like music? That is totally fine. We certainly prefer a student like you, than someone who is a total opposite – loves football but hates music! Our teachers can’t promise you fancy footwork, but when they give you a lesson in your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office, they will be right on the ball. With the teacher’s expert guidance, you will not know the agony of defeat – just the thrill of victory!

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Two days from now, classical music lovers will celebrate a momentous event. January 27 will mark the 260th anniversary of the birth in 1756 of Wolfgang Mozart, one of the greatest composers of all time. Born in Salzburg, Austria, Mozart was a child prodigy, who started to write music at the age of four, and composed his first minuet a year later.

By the time he passed away in 1791, he had composed 600 works – about 17 pieces a year. They include numerous symphonies, piano and violin concertos, and operas, such as “The Magic Flute ,” ”The Marriage of Figaro,” and “Don Giovanni.” Let’s have a look at some interesting facts about this musical genius.

An eventful life

• He was born as Johann Chrysostom Wolfgang Amadeus but his baptism name was a tongue twister: Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, which means “beloved by God.” If they had had playgrounds in the mid-18th century, we are guessing he’d be teased a lot. As an adult, he shortened his name to Wolfgang Amadeus, and has been known as such for two and a half centuries.
• History doesn’t tell us whether young Mozart played with any conventional toys, but we do know that he started to play the harpsichord (the predecessor of the piano) at the age of three. He played the piano for the first time at 22. He also mastered the violin, as well as the organ and the clarinet.
• We don’t know whether Mozart had a foreboding of his untimely death, but in 1791 he worked feverishly on what would be his last work, “Requiem ”. He passed away before he could complete it and it was finished by his pupil, Franz Süssmayr.
• Mozart died at 35, which was young even in those days. In the centuries since, there has been a lot of speculation about the cause of his passing. The theories range from an undercooked pork chop and kidney failure, to murder by his rival Antonio Salieri.

All music genres

These are just a few facts about the great composer. We can’t shed any more light on his life or death, but what we CAN do is send one of our amazing teachers to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office for a lesson. Of course Mozart – and classical music in general – is not the only genre we teach. We also offer lessons in other styles of music, like jazz, rock, blues, and many others. So contact us and we’ll get you set up!

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Last month, a major cinematic event took place, creating a galactic-size explosion right here on Earth: the premiere of the 12th movie in the epic “Star Wars” series, titled “The Force Awakens .” This statement probably elicits two reactions: the rolling of the eyes by some, and the unbridled excitement by others. Whether you are part of the first or the second group, the fact remains that the “Star Wars” franchise is a…force to be reckoned with, and not only for the sci-fi fans.

We will not weigh in on the artistic or other merits of the films, and even less so on the plausibility of the plots (we certainly don’t want the Empire to Strike Back at us!) What we do feel comfortable doing is exploring the soundtracks from these movies.

Space music made on Earth

Here is the background information you may or may not have known: the music of all 12 “Star Wars” films (which were released between 1977 and this year) was written by American composer John Williams and performed by London Symphony Orchestra. Williams said he created the music to “represent the ideas of heroism and adventure” – themes that feature prominently in all the episodes. To achieve that effect, he used a variety of musical styles, culled from, among other sources, 20th century composers like Richard Strauss, Gustav Holst, and Igor Stravinsky. Six of the 12 movies feature the same opening score, “Luke’s Theme ” additional, separate pieces were created specifically for each film. For instance, “The Arrival at Naboo ” is a theme song from “The Phantom Menace;” “Attack on the Clones” featured “Ambush on Coruscant ” and “The Ice Planet Hoth was a score from “The Empire Strikes Back.” What about the most recent movie? Watch Williams himself conduct the opening track . Obviously, we covered only a small fraction of the music featured in all the “Star Wars” movies. Would you like to hear more? Here is a nice compilation .

No Yoda or Jedi – just people!

The “Star Wars” films are set in a far-away galaxy populated by alien creatures, robotic droids, and other characters, both good and evil. Many of our teachers are huge “Star Wars” fans, but their feet are firmly grounded right here, on Earth – New York City, to be more precise. And that is very convenient, because they don’t have to travel through space to land in your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office. And, they won’t be carrying light sabers either (that would be too weird!) – just their guitars, violins, or whatever other instrument you are learning to play. Instead of delving into the mysteries of the Force, they will help you discover the wonders of music!

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Today is the last day of 2015 – congratulations, we made it! We are now looking forward to tomorrow – and the other 364 days of the new year, which we hope will be peaceful in our city and around the world .

But before 2015 becomes the “old” year, let’s look at some of the musical anniversaries that came up during the past 12 months. We are guessing you were not aware of many (or any, for that matter) of these milestones, but it’s never too late.

Has it really been that long?

Yes, it has! Time sure flies, and before you know it, two-digit anniversaries sneak up upon us. Let’s go down a list of musical anniversaries of 2015, starting with the 60th: on July 9, 1955 the song Rock Around the Clock , a hit for Bill Haley and His Comets (and the theme from the film Blackboard Jungle), became the first rock ’n’ roll song to reach No. 1. And can you believe it has been half a century since Bob Dylan recorded (on June 15, 1965) Like a Rolling Stone . Four days later, the actual Rolling Stones released (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction . Interestingly, Rolling Stone Magazine recently placed both hits as No. 1 and 2, respectively, on its list of the greatest songs of all time. The summer of 1965 continued to be prolific for music: on August 15, the Beatles performed at Shea Stadium in New York during their first U.S. your. July 26 marked the 40th anniversary of Van McCoy’s The Hustle , which was a huge disco hit in those days. We don’t know about you, but to us 1985, the era of big hair and shoulder pads, seems like only 30 years ago… October 26 of this year marked three decades since Whitney Houston had her first No. 1 song with Saving All My Love for You . Moving on: August 4 of this year marked the 25th anniversary of the day Mariah Carey had her first chart topper with Vision of Love . Twenty years ago, two sad events occurred in the music world: On March 31, 1995, the most popular Tejano singer, Selena, was shot to death in Corpus Christi, Texas. And on August 9, Jerry Garcia, leader of the Grateful Dead, died of a heart attack. . These are just some of the milestones that happened in 2015. Aren’t you glad we told you?

We are a class act!

Now, you may not know this, but 2015 also marked the 8th anniversary of the founding of Hey Joe Guitar. All these years, our teachers have tirelessly traveled all over New York City to give music lessons to students in their Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Riverdale homes and offices. We can promise you that 2016 will be no different: you can always count on our school to provide the best private lessons and teachers in the city. This will be our New Year’s resolution for many years to come!

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It’s Christmas Eve and, to paraphrase the famous poem by Clement Clarke Moore, “all through the house
not a creature is stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings are hung by the chimney with care,
in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.” Of course, this is an idealized image of Christmas Eve, one that all too often doesn’t match the reality of our hectic lives. If you are like most New Yorkers, chances are that responsibilities of jobs and families have not left you enough time for comfort or joy this holiday season.

But the good news is that it is not too late to “soak up” some holiday spirit and enjoy the hours ahead. How? We are not talking about the frantic, last-minute shopping, but rather about a quiet immersion in Christmas concerts that take place in almost every corner of our city.

Off the tourist track

Sure, there are famous venues like Radio City Music Hall with its Christmas Spectacular or the performance of the Nutcracker at Lincoln Center. Both are superb, of course, but what we have in mind are less touristy and more intimate venues. For instance, today there is holiday caroling at Washington Square Park, Gramercy Park, and East Village (by the statue in the West Stuyvesant Square Park),.They will certainly be fun community events. Whether you are a churchgoer or not, as a music lover you will enjoy Christmas concerts in various churches around the city. Tonight at 10:30 pm and tomorrow at 1 am, there will be plenty of music at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine at 1047 Amsterdam Avenue and 112th Street. Following traditional carols sung by the Cathedral Choristers, a concert featuring Mozart’s Adagio and Rondo, K. 617, Coronation Mass, K. 317, and more, will be performed by he combined Cathedral Choirs. On December 26, you can hear Handel’s “Messiah” at Trinity Church on Wall Street and Broadway. These are just some of the many Christmas Eve/ Day events that will brighten up your holidays.

Post-holidays lessons

In a couple of days, Christmas will be over, though the holiday season will continue until New Year’s Eve. We’ll understand if you want to spend this special time with family and friends rather than with your music teacher! However, once all the festivities are over, please contact us and ask us to send one of our excellent music teachers for a private lesson at your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office. For this occasion, we’d like to re-write Moore’s poem this way: “T’was after the holidays and all creatures were in good mood cleaning the violin and waxing the flute. The guitar was dusted and piano polished with care In the hopes the music teacher soon would be there.” Okay, so we are not great poets (nor have we ever pretended to be), but we sure know music!

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“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas; Soon the bells will start, And the thing that will make them ring Is the carol that you sing Right within your heart.” Can you imagine the Christmas season without the carols? We are guessing not (unless you have a Scrooge-like disposition), because these songs are an integral part of the holidays. But before we go any further on this topic, this may be a good time for a little historical reality check: did you know that in 1659, Puritans who settled in America actually banned caroling for about 20 years because they associated it with singing, dancing and drinking – all the practices they found reprehensible. In fact, before 1800, celebration of Christmas by singing was regarded as a rowdy and potentially violent activity.

All this to say that caroling did not always enjoy the wholesome image depicted in Victorian art or Normal Rockwell’s paintings. Having said that, most people today enjoy listening to (or singing) Christmas songs, because they reflect the spirit of the holidays. But as much as we love traditional renditions, we are also fond of less conventional, but nevertheless beautiful, versions. Let’s explore some of them.

They did it their way

Many people associate one of the most popular holiday songs, “White Christmas,” with Bing Cosby. However, we also like this more modern version of the old classic, performed here by an Australian group, Human Nature. Then there is this gripping a capella rendition of “Little Drummer Boy,” by five vocalists who form an American group Pentatonix. We also like the way the duo of Sugar & the Hi-Lows bring a retro swag to “Jingle Bells .” And how about the smoky -voiced Nora Jones putting her own touch on “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear ?” Last but certainly not least, we find these two mall flash mobs really great, because they bring an element of surprise to on-lookers: “Home for the Holidays and “Hallelujah Chorus .”

Spreading the cheer (all year round)

Christmas comes but once a year, but we don’t have to tell you that music lessons know no seasons. That’s why our teachers will come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office regardless of what time of the year it is. And when they arrive, you don’t have to deck the halls with boughs of holly. The only thing you need is your guitar, violin, or whatever other instrument you play. That and a festive mood!

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Christmas is less than two weeks away and the stores around New York City are full of shoppers looking for just the right gifts for family and friends. We love the traditional exchange of presents around the Christmas tree, or the unwrapping of packages left by Santa. We realize that most people these days (both adults and children) prefer big-ticket items that cost an arm and a leg – figuratively speaking, of course.

However, having said that, we are partial to gifts that are personal and symbolic – ones that have special meaning to you and the person who receives it. Such a present, no matter how small or inexpensive, is a wonderful gesture because it comes from the heart. It says to your loved one: “I chose this particular present because I knew you would enjoy it,” instead of, “I had to idea what to buy you, so here’s this tie. It doesn’t matter to me whether you’ll wear or or re-gift it; at least I didn’t come empty-handed.” Does this sound familiar?

A partridge in a pear tree…or two front teeth?

Actually, we are betting that nobody (okay, to be on the safe side, let’s say very few people) want to receive either a partridge or a set of front teeth for Christmas – no matter what the songs say. So how do you choose a gift that is personal and specific rather than generic? It’s easy: most people love to receive something that is useful to them. If they have a hobby or an interest, it makes it even easier to choose an appropriate gift. We don’t mean to sound self-serving, but let’s say your friend or family member is a music fan or musician. There are literally dozens of things you could offer them, ranging from tickets to one or more concerts that are scheduled to take place in New York in 2016, to some unique objects like a bracelet made from a recycled guitar string, vintage band posters, or any other of these cool items. It’s the thought that counts!

Play it right!

Of course, among the best gifts for music lovers are music lessons. It doesn’t matter whether the person is already playing an instrument or wants to start. In either case, we can help. First of all, you can’t go wrong with our gift certificate. Whether you buy a 3 or 5-pack of lessons, or a monthly membership; a 30-minute, 45-minute, or hourly sessions, the gift card is a perfect present for any music aficionado. Secondly, once the music lesson is set up, we will send one of our amazing teachers to the student’s Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale residence. (He or she will ring the bell, not come down the chimney). Think about it: isn’t a gift of music better than another tie, sweater, or scarf?

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Starting yesterday and for the next eight days, Jewish people around the world celebrate Hanukkah. Like every year, there is no lack of cool Hanukkah events and celebrations being held in New York City, for adults and kids alike. This holiday commemorates the victory in 165 B.C.E. of the Maccabees over the Greek army that occupied the Holy Land, and the subsequent liberation and “rededication” of the Temple in Jerusalem. Because this holiday is traditionally celebrated with the lighting of the menorah, it is called the Festival of Lights.

In fact, Hanukkah arouse from what could probably be called the world’s oldest oil shortage crisis: when the Maccabees liberated the Temple, they found only a small cruse of oil – enough to light the Menorah for one day. It would take eight days to produce new oil, but, miraculously, that one cruse lasted eight days and nights.

חנוכה שמחה

There is not as much Hanukkah related music as there is about Christmas, but we really like these flash mobs and other street scenes that could be enjoyed during the holidays:

• In Hebrew, Hashem Melech means “The Lord is King” and this lively melody , even though it’s not a “typical” Hanukkah song, is likely to put people of many religions in a celebratory mood.
• New York’s “StandFour,” which is made up of four former members of Yeshiva University’s all-male a capella group, recorded this cheerful song .
• Very appropriately, this flash mob took place on a street in Jerusalem, the city where Hanukkah traditions originally started.
• And how about these two different but upbeat renditions of Hanukkah mash-ups: one by the aptly named group “The Maccabees ,” and the other performed by a Chicago troupe.

The classics

Now, you may be wondering if there are any classical pieces that would fall under the category of Hanukkah music, the way that, for instance, the “Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s “Messiah ” symbolizes Christmas? Not really, but there are some beautiful classical compositions of Jewish themes, such as Leonard Bernstein’s 3rd Symphony (“the Kaddish”) , Sergei Prokofiev’s “Overture on Hebrew Themes ,” and quite a few others. Here is the bottom line: no matter what kind of Hanukkah (or other holiday songs) you enjoy the most, one of our music teachers will give you a lesson in the privacy of your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office. With that, we wish you a very happy holiday season!

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Christmas is soon here and you know what that means: Santa Claus is coming to town . But wait. Before the jolly old Kris Kringle makes his annual appearance, he will be pre-empted by another traditional holiday visitor: St. Nicholas. In fact, long before the white-bearded, red robe-clad Santa became popular towards the end of the 19th century, it was St. Nick who –according to the traditional lore – distributed gifts to good children in many parts of the world.

But while Santa is “on the job” on Christmas Eve, transported hinter, thither and yon by his flying reindeer, Nicholas works the world on December 6, traveling by foot, on horseback, donkey, or other modes of transportation. Who exactly is this mysterious figure? Unlike Santa, who, in his modern form, was created by the Coca-Cola Company in the 1920s, St. Nick was a real Greek bishop, who lived in the 3rd and 4th centuries; by the early 13th century, he became known as a patron of children and a magical gift bearer.

Overshadowed by Santa

December 6 is still largely celebrated as St. Nicholas Day across Europe. The gifts he brings usually consist of treats like cookies and chocolate, unlike big ticket-items Santa is known for. Also, if a child has been particularly naughty during the year, St. Nick will give him ribbon-tied birch twigs, which are comparable to lumps of coal in the more modern Santa version. What about the United States? The tradition of St. Nick is not as common here, even though early European immigrants brought some of their customs to America. To this day, some Greek and Russian Orthodox churches, as well as those with the strong Dutch or German heritage, still celebrate December 6 as St. Nicholas Day. But at least at one point in history, St. Nicholas made news in our city. On December 7, 1773, the New York Gazette reported: “Last Monday, the anniversary of St. Nicholas, otherwise called Santa Claus, was celebrated at Protestant Hall, at Mr. Waldron’s; where a great number of sons of the ancient saint [the Sons of Saint Nicholas] celebrated the day with great joy and festivity.” Another such notice appeared in 1774: “Monday next, being the anniversary of Saint Nicholas, will be celebrated by the descends of the ancient Dutch Families.”

Celebrate with music

You don’t want St. Nicholas to bring you birch twigs, or, even worse, get lumps of coal from Santa? Well then, don’t skip your lessons (the same goes for your kids) and continue to practice regularly. No matter what holidays you celebrate, our teachers will always be available to come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office, bearing the gift…of music!

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A few more hours and the month of November will be over. Tomorrow December begins and, with it, all the excitement surrounding the holidays. While celebrations of Hanukkah (December 6 until the 14th), Christmas (December 25), and Kwanzaa (December 26 – January 1) dominate this month’s agenda, other special occasions are not getting as much attention. But the fact is that December is full of (mostly wacky) holidays that most people don’t even know exist. We thought it would be fun to match some of these crazy events with appropriate songs. So let’s get to it!

A bit of craziness…

OMG – texting is no longer a new technology; as a matter of fact, December 3 will mark the 23rd anniversary of the very first text message, which was sent out in 1992. What did it say? Very appropriately, the message read “Merry Christmas.” We think a good song to mark this occasion is this upbeat tune . Let’s move on to December 9, which is the “Weary Willie Day.” In case you are not an expert on clownery, you may not know of a professional clown Emmett Kelly, who was born on this day in 1898. He went down in the clowndom history by creating one of the more memorable clown characters of the 20th century, known as “Weary Willie.” What’s the best song to commemorate this day? It’s a no brainer ! Now, if you are an animal lover, this next holiday will be right up your alley. December 14 is Monkey Day, an “annual celebration of all things simian, a festival of primates, and a chance to scream like a monkey” – if that’s your thing. And the next day, December 15, marks another animal-related event, National Cat Herder’s Day. What exactly is it? It celebrates humans whose lives or jobs feel as if they are constantly herding around cats. Songs? How about these , two? These are just a few of the bizarre December celebrations, but there are many more. Aren’t you glad we told you?

Keep playing!

Whether you commemorate one of the above-mentioned wacky events or celebrate more conventional December holidays, one thing is certain – no matter how busy you are during the festive season, there should always be time for music. What we mean is this: New York has no shortage of concerts during the month of December, so whatever kind of music you like, it is right there in your neighborhood. But also don’t forget music lessons. Our teachers are not so busy celebrating National Cat Herder’s Day that they would not find time to come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office!

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To most of us Thanksgiving means stuffed turkey with all the delicious trimmings, pecan and pumpkin pies for dessert, and afterwards a football game. That’s the traditional take on Thanksgiving. But there is no law, rule, or regulation that says it’s the only way to celebrate this holiday. Is there a reason you shouldn’t have pizza instead of turkey? No, there isn’t.

In fact, some folks are eschewing the customary way of celebrating Thanksgiving and creating some wacky traditions of their own. And that is okay – after all, change is good. So this blog is dedicated – in the words of Apple founder Steve Jobs – “to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently.”

Re-writing tradition

A couple of years ago, USA TODAY asked its readers on Twitter about the unusual family traditions that people look forward to the most on Thanksgiving. Among some funky answers was a longstanding tradition of ordering Chinese food on Thanksgiving and eating it in the den. Another reader reported that much of the day is spent “hiding in the garage, sipping apple pie rum.” On another site, people report having Thanksgiving paintball tournaments, and roasting a turkey on a stick over a sage fire. And if you believe David Letterman, New York has a funky Thanksgiving tradition of its own, which has nothing to do with the Macy’s annual parade. “In New York City there are lots of engaging Thanksgiving traditions,” he said.  “For example, a lot of New Yorkers don’t buy the frozen Thanksgiving turkey. They prefer to buy the bird live and then push it in front of a subway train.” (Lest animal lovers take this seriously, let us assure you that Letterman was joking – at least we hope so!) And speaking of odd Thanksgivings, many of us tend to think that the modern version of this holiday is similar to the way Pilgrims celebrated it. If you subscribe to this view, you might be surprised by these archives from the Library of Congress. They show that 100 years ago, Thanksgiving was celebrated very much like the present-day Halloween is. It seems that back then “children and adults alike would dress up and go on ‘crawls’ in big cities like New York and Chicago… fantastically garbed youngsters and their elders were on every corner of the city.” Instead of turkeys, they would get “pennies and nickels, apples, or pieces of candy.” See? You learn something new every day!

Don’t forget the music!

If you are a traditionalist rather than an out-of-the-box thinker, you will probably want to celebrate Thanksgiving in the customary way. If so, have you thought about what background music will be playing while you feast? There are some very nice compilations that will make your meal even more special. And speaking of music, we’d like to remind you that our teachers are happy to follow tradition – the one that involves private music lessons in your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office.

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