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Photos courtesy of On Stage Academy.<\/em><\/p>\n On Stage Music Academy is flinging its doors wide open\u00a0this Saturday\u00a0and extending an invitation to the Long Beach community.\u00a0<\/p>\n Community Day, which will go from\u00a0noon to 3:00PM, is intended to serve both children and adults who are curious about learning to play an instrument as well as musicians of all levels. Free workshops include vocal health for singers, musicianship and rhythm, sound for bands and live shows, stage presence and performance, guitar stringing and tuning. Kids\u2019 activities include making your own kazoo and drums as well as music and movement games. \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to get to know the people in the community, and this is one way to do it without any obligation,\u201d said Bill McRae, On Stage Music Academy\u2019s founder and director. \u201cA lot of this stuff is what we do on a regular basis, but some of these topics are just good to know. We\u2019d like to be a resource for the community.”\u00a0<\/p>\n McRae, who has been living in Long Beach for five years, began playing music in the third grade. He is a pianist, guitarist, vocalist, bassist and has a degree in composition and music theory. He\u2019s also played in bands all his life while teaching English and literature in schools. Since founding On Stage Music Academy in December of 2014, he has been at the helm of a growing team of instructors.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s exciting in this neighborhood,\u201d McRae said. \u201cThis is what I wish I had when I was a kid, where you can learn to play music and be mentored on how to be a band. It\u2019s exciting to see people growing and enjoying themselves.”<\/p>\n \u201cIf you haven\u2019t played music before, it\u2019s a chance for you to experience being a musician even just for one day,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n On Stage Academy\u2019s eight professional teachers teach private lessons in all levels of voice, guitar, bass, drums, piano\/keyboards, violin, viola, trumpet, ukulele and mandolin. The Academy also offers guided band rehearsals as well as programs in songwriting, recording and artist development.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI really had a good chance to understand what education is about and how to work with people in the long haul with a larger vision,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"5961](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/5961_370855166434105_8719940201848516359_n.jpeg\")
On Saturday, instructors will put on live performances and invite their students to jam along. Community members, of course, are also welcome to jump in on a song, McRae said.\u00a0<\/p>\n