Happy Valentine's Day, PCYO!

Hola, PCYO!

Hope you're feeling the love this Valentine's Day. PCYO is sure feeling the love from The Pacific Southwest Covenant Church, who just wrote an article about us. Check it out! This is only the beginning - so start practicing signing your autograph! Wait - I take that back. Just practice your instrument for now. Practice like Cupid shot you with the love of music!

Until we see ya next Saturday...

Love & Music,

Fayeruz

PCYO

Rock Star of the Week - Family Edition!

Hey, hey, hey PCYO!

It may seem like the rain won't stop, but let's look at the bright side. Los Angeles is taking a much-needed shower, everything is green and growing and YOU have plenty of time to stay cozy indoors practicing your instrument!

I have plenty of time to catch up on our Rock Star of the Week feature. So much time, that I am doing a double-edition, family style.

Drum roll, please...

The Rock Stars of the Week are...Bailey & Mackenzie Equite!

The talented duo are close in age, (Bailey is 11 and Mackenzie is 10) but they're light years apart in taste. Let's take Bailey for instance. He's got classic taste, a real gentleman in the making. His favorite musician is Duke Ellington and claims this jazz / swing legend is what inspired him to play music. Much like Ellington's music, Bailey prefers to play the piano and trumpet. He has such a strong sense of past, that if PCYO perform one song together, he would want it to be The Star Spangled Banner.

Mackenzie on the other hand has a taste for the fun, pop-infused stylings of Miley Cyrus, her very favorite musician. Mackenzie rocks the flute, and if PCYO could perform one song together, it would be Where You Belong. Mackenzie's favorite song is the inspirational tune, Something Far Greater.

But it looks like these siblings won't be invited to one another's ultimate dinner party! We asked each of them to name the top five people they would invite to dinner, and here are the results:

Bailey's guest list: Mom, Dad, Grandpa, Justin Timberlake and Abe Lincoln

Looks like Bailey has a strong sense of family! He'd invite his parents even if he does eat with them every night. Question: Could Honest Abe convince JT to rock a vintage colonial beard?

Mackenzie's guest list: Harriet Tubman, George Washington, Duke Ellington, Justin Timberlake and Miley Cyrus

Wow, Mackenzie's a fan of Mr. Ellington too? Must be a family thing! I smell a musical collaboration. How would it sound if JT, Miley and Duke Ellington decided to make a song together? Perhaps our first president (Mr. Washington) and Ms. Tubman (historic abolitionist and forerunner of The Underground Railroad) could engage these rockers in a heated political debate. Wish I could be a fly on the wall for that one!

Until next time, remember all things good about the rain and keep practicing!

Love and Music,

Fayeruz

PCYO

Happy New Year, PCYO!

Happy 2009, PCYO!

Maybe you got Guitar Hero for Christmas. Perhaps you're a fan of Rock Band. Either way, there's nothing better than playing real music, and we can't wait to hit the ground running! In a year of fresh new starts, let's all get hyped about mastering our instruments, and playing something to be proud of. We'll be dedicated to making you the best you can be in 2009 and beyond.

And without further ado, drum roll, please....

Joshua Ramirez is the Rock Star of the Week!

This 11 year-old trumpet blaster loves to listen to Dragonforce. His favorite song is Viva La Vida by the very talented Coldplay. Alas, Dragonforce and Coldplay didn't get an invite to his exclusive dinner party. If Mr. Ramirez could invite any five people, they would be Juan Esteban, Obama, Bach, Gabriel Iglesias (AKA Pikachu) and George Lopez. What a crazy mix! What would they talk about? Would George Lopez teach Bach how to make tacos? Will Pikachu teach Obama how to make hilarious speeches?

See Joshua's favorite song, Viva La Vida, here!

Last but not least, out next rehearsal is on Saturday, January 17th. We can't wait to see you.

Happy New Year,
Fayeruz

Merry Christmas, PCYO!

What a wonderful time we had at the Christmas concert, showing off our hard work to friends and family while spreading good old-fashioned holiday cheer!

PCYO wants to thank all the students for their diligence in practicing for the big day, the parents for bringing in the delicious dishes (TAMALES! TAMALES!) and for the instructors and volunteers who helped make the event run smoothly. It was a resounding success!

In our midst was a professional photographer, Michael Bulbenko and in 2009 we should have a collection of memorable snapshots from the day.

In the meantime, PCYO wants to wish you the happiest of holidays!

Love & Music,

Fayeruz

Rock Star of the Week

Man, were we bummed we couldn't meet last week! Thank goodness Saturday is just around the corner. Hope you've been practicing for the big concert.

Drumroll, please...

The Rock Star of the Week is...Patricia Orozco!

This PCYO flute player has vintage taste, because she loves The Beatles! She thinks they rock, and I'd have to agree. Her all-time favorite song is Hey Jude, and if she could choose any song for PCYO to perform at a concert, it would be, Let it Be. Patricia likes to stick to the classics!

If she were to have any five people over for dinner, she would choose The Beatles and her parents. But...uh oh! Wait, there are four Beatles and two parents, making a total of (who knows their math?) six! Someone will have to get kicked off the table. Will it be Mom, Dad, or Ringo?

Check out her ultimate PCYO concert song, Let it Be:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67J_66hdN-I

Did You Know?
Beatle Paul McCartney (singer of Let it Be) has a daughter named Stella who's a cutting-edge fashion designer! Check her out right here: http://www.stellamccartney.com/

Don't forget to blog your answer for last week's trivia question in order to take home a brand new Hollywood tee shirt!

Now go and practice, practice, practice. See ya Saturday!

Love & Music,
Fayeruz

Hollywood Prize and Rock Star of the Week!

Hey PCYO!

Hope you've been practicing. The holidays are just around the corner, and that means a mind-blowing Christmas concert that will bring tears to the eyes of your parents. Keep up the hard work.

In the meantime, the first person to respond online with the correct answer to this trivia question will score a Hollywood tee shirt, size XL. If it doesn't fit you, it will make the perfect holiday gift. Here's the trivia question:

Q) Genius Albert Einstein not only played the piano, he played the _________.

First person to answer scores the Hollywood tee. Good luck!

Drum roll, please...

Our Rock Star of the Week is...Favian Mendez!

This 12 year-old trumpet player has Slipknot on the brain! His favorite band is Slipknot, his favorite song, Before I Forget, is by Slipknot, and if PCYO could compose a song together, he wishes it were Before I Forget. Now, for the burning question...if he could invite anyone to dinner, who would it be? Slipknot?

No! Barack Obama! That's it. No one else. No Slipknot. Although I'm sure our future Mr. President would make excellent company.

Check out Favian's favorite music video right here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_09wFxoaeQ

And if you think Favian's trumpet is cool, this guy plays nose trumpet!
Check it: http://www.gigglesugar.com/1132700

See you Saturday at noon!

Love & Music,
Fayeruz

Spotlight on...Robert Regan!

What's up, PCYO?

The new Rock Star of the Week will be announced this weekend, but until then, we have a spotlight on...

Wait! Drum roll, please...Robert Regan!

Because sometimes the old people, er, I mean, the instructors, should share the limelight for all their work. Besides, wouldn't you be jealous if you couldn't be a rock star? I set up a little interview with the goofy tall guy. Check it out below!

Q: Is it true you love to eat Bugles and kimchee?

A: Oh yes, delicious. And once when I was 12, I ate chicken noodle soup with gummy bears.

Q: How was it?

A: It was the most disgusting thing I ever had.

Q: What's your most embarrassing moment?

A: When over half of PCYO came to rehearsal without their practice sheets!

Q: Kids, you heard it here first! What's your favorite color?

A: Blue!

Q: Why?

A: Because blue is the color of blood.

Q: That's true, oxygen makes your blood turn red.

A: That's why your veins are blue. Ahhh, veins are beautiful.

Q: Stop. You're scaring me. Who's your favorite composer?

A: First Camille Barnes-

Q: Aww...

A: Then Bach.

Speaking of Bach, there's no rehearsal this weekend, but on November 15th, Robert and rehearsal will BE BACH!

Love & Music,
Fayeruz