Shop the Block is a 4-day event started by independent businesses in down town Reading, MA to encourage residence to shop locally for the holidays. The kick-off night, always a Thursday, is celebrated with special promotions, music, costumed carolers and retail open houses.
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| David, viola student of Karl Orvik, and his mom, Elena, perform Christmas Tunes at The Hitching Post |
Creative Arts contributes to the evening with music. Our music students roam from shop to shop performing classical selections or favorite holiday tunes to delight shoppers.
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| Julia Parker, flute student of Judy Braude, performs at Simms Jewelers |
Students also gain the experience of another performance opportunity, and many practice sight reading...another valuable skill.
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| Lailoo Perriello, violin student of Jenna Potts, plays holiday selections at Encore Consignment |
Plus, students learn to adapt and improvise at each performance location.
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| Savannah Simpson, piano student of Tatyana Foaksman, performs classical repertoire at The Chocolate Truffle |
Store performances are not formal, quiet concerts. Music students must focus on their playing and adapt to ambient music, shoppers and merchants talking and laughing.
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Taylor Aspeslagh, piano student of Roald Wilson and vocal student of Andre Loretz-Frey, plays at Everything But The Dog
And, public performance opportunities allow us to give back to our community! Amy Imrich performs a selection of fiddle tunes to get people in the mood to shop!
Thank you to performers and hosting stores: The Hitching Post, The Chocolate Truffle, Encore Consignment, Everything But the Dog, The Wine Shop of Reading, The Hot Spot, Olde Reading Butcher Shop and Simms Jewelers. |
