Lifeguard Certification Training to be Offered this Fall

Summer is over, but it is not too early to start preparing your teen for summer job opportunities. The typical place teens seek a summer job is in retail or fast food areas. Although many skills may be learned, that is the whole summer - the time to be outside and enjoying the sun, spent usually indoors. If your teen is seeking a different opportunity where their job speaks summer and sun, they may want to consider

University of Tennessee Extension and Williamson County 4-H Offer STEM Classes


The University of Tennessee Extension and Williamson County 4-H are offering several STEM classes in the evenings. Classes are currently available for 6th to 12th grade students interested in Robotics, Engineering, 3D printing or Raspberry/Python programming. Fees are very reasonable just to cover supplies.

Class registrations are first come first serve and classes will start the second week of next month through April 2018. Classes will meet 13 times for 2-hour classes (Robotics are 1 ½ hour classes).

Students/families can call (615) 934-1291 with any questions.

 

For more information, check out the 4-H STEM Program brochure.

Guitar Lessons Are Awesome by Marty Keith

What do Taylor Swift, The Beatles, Chris Tomlin, and Steven Curtis Chapman all have in common? Three things actually. They play multiple instruments, they each started learning at a young age, and I teach their music to my students.

I love music. I love the guitar… and bass… and ukulele. I love teaching these instruments. There is satisfaction in knowing that I get to pass on to a new generation of students all of the wonderful things I have learned as a professional musician. I am a recording artist and have toured all over the United States for 20 years. I will do so as long as the Lord allows me to. But eventually, I will not be able to do it any more and neither will Taylor Swift or Chris Tomlin. Someone will have to fill that position. My goal is to help students
reach their musical aspirations so they can be a confident worship leader or the next major pop or country star, if that is their desire. 
 

Currently, I have students who have what it takes to get there and my job is to bring out the best of their abilities so they can make those dreams come true. Some want to have a general knowledge of an instrument or music theory. Some just want to play along to songs on the radio. I want to help each student find out what their musical goal is and help them achieve it.

Studies have proven that learning a musical instrument helps enhance brain development/function, concentration/attention, coordination, and pain relief among other things. Plus, there is hard proof that students who learn a musical instrument develop a better memory than those who do not learn one.

Being the father of a homeschool student, I understand the importance of time with your kids. Sports, homework, and life in general are always pulling at your schedule. I offer time slots throughout the day for homeschoolers so you can have the evenings free for other activities.

I am also a licensed retailer of musical instruments and accessories. Some music stores will sell you anything to make a few extra dollars, but not take into account what the student actually needs. It is important for me as a teacher to make sure that each of my students has an instrument that best fits their body and hands. For example: the strings on a guitar need to be high enough that they do not buzz when you pick an open string, but low enough that you do not have to push down on it so hard that it hurts your fingers to play a chord (especially for younger students). The height of the strings from the fretboard is called the “action.” This is not something that a lot of salesmen are going to make sure is addressed for your particular student. I will talk through all of the dynamics that make an instrument a good fit for your student, whether you choose to purchase instruments through me or not.
Instrument lessons are once a week for 30 minutes. Homeschool students get their first lesson FREE when you pay for the first month of lessons. Be sure to mention this article or the sidebar ad to receive your free lesson. You can read more about guitar lessons on my website.

Marty Keith is the owner of Edenbrooke Music. Edenbrooke Music strives to improve the quality of musical entertainment by improving talent though teaching, by improving sound through production, and by improving the career of the musician through performance and recording opportunity. Edenbrooke Music offers guitar, bass guitar, and ukulele lessons, instrument sales, live sound for special events, booking for touring artists, and music production services.

Marty grew up in Paducah, Kentucky. At age four, he began learning how to play the guitar from Herb Chapman, father of GRAMMY and Dove award winning artist Steven Curtis Chapman. The way Steven Curtis and Marty learned to play guitar is how Marty teaches his students to play.

Learn more at Edenbrooke Music and to learn more about Marty’s music visit his artist website at John Martin Keith.

You may contact Marty Keith by phone at 615-415-1942 or by email at johnmartinkeith at hotmail dot com.

New Sewing Classes for Homeschoolers


Learn hand stitching and sewing machine skills in classes offered by advanced teen seamstress, Abby Gustavson, in her Primrose Sewing Studio on the west side of Franklin. Classes, special events, workshops, and camps are offered throughout the year. For more information, visit the Primrose Sewing page on Facebook,  send an e-mail to primrosesewing at gmail dot com, and/or call (615) 506-7171.

Middle Tennessee Monarchs Homeschool Baseball

The Middle Tennessee Monarchs Homeschool Baseball Camp is right around the corner. This year the camp will be Friday, Sept. 8th from 6pm - 9pm and Saturday, Sept. 9th from 9am - 4pm. Early Bird price for the 2 day camp is $50. The price is $60 if you pay the day of the camp.
This baseball camp is open to middle school and high school homeschool boys ages 11-18.
We're looking for athletes even if they've never played baseball before.

The Middle Tennessee Monarchs Homeschool Baseball Camp : Location: Joel Cheek Park
Address: Claude Yates Dr., Franklin, TN 37064

To go ahead and get registered for the camp go here:  https://www.research.net/r/MonarchsCamp2017

If anybody needs any more information or would just like to speak to one of our board members with specific questions they can contact: Barry Young at barry.young at healthstream dot com