There’s always a buzz in the air when you visit Standard Electric Recorders Co. These days, it’s the excitement of the upcoming three-part Little Treblemakers Flower Hour showcase. This year’s virtual production features talented kids with contributions from acts like Book Club, Semicircle, Connelly Crow, EmmoLei Sankofa, and other in-demand local artists.
Little Treblemakers, a music education program that offers instruction for anyone from toddlers to seniors, is the brainchild of musician Sydney Eloise Ward of Sydney Eloise and the Palms. Right now, she’s sitting among eye-catching curios, thick succulents, and the bright colors that make up Little Treblemakers’ newest location adjoining Standard Electric. Even though she burned the midnight oil until 4 am last night, she radiates joy as she talks about the program and this year’s Flower Hour.
Since starting Little Treblemakers in August 2017, Ward has seen it grow into a meaningful way to connect with children and support herself. Her tenacity and ambition have expanded her vision from a one-woman operation into a multi-faceted organization offering lessons from talented artists like Anna Griffith and Tim Holder of folk-rockers bandanna.
But last year’s lockdown almost put everything on hold. While people struggled to adjust to the new normal, Ward had to completely reconfigure her business and figure out how to run her operations entirely online. She set up a permanent home base for LTM where she could ensure the safety of her instructors with dedicated learning spaces perfect for video conferencing.
Additionally, 2020’s recitals were at risk of being delayed. This was anything but ideal. The bi-annual student performance is a big part of the learning experience for students at Little Treblemakers. And part of that involves students having a real-life experience playing music with professional musicians to back them up.
So, like many artists, Little Treblemakers had to go virtual. Working on a shoestring budget, Ward created three programs last year to spotlight her students’ talents. The videos have impressive homemade sets and a smorgasbord of clever puns.
These concerts also presented an opportunity to give back to her musician community. Revenue from touring and shows were coming to a screeching halt; these performances let musicians share their art with a broader audience. With the virtual Flower Hour achieving considerable success, bringing it back again this year was a no-brainer.
For a preview of the fun times, check out the Little Treblemakers squad taking on the Beach Boys classic “Surfin’ Safari.” The video is a loving homage complete with hang ten vibes and beachy vistas. You can practically smell the coconut sunscreen. The video stars Ward, Griffith, and Holder alongside Lynnette Ferreira, Parker Bradford, and Andrew Barkau.
Watch/listen below.
As Little Treblemakers expands beyond the Atlanta area, Ward marvels at the progress she’s seen in her students. The professionalism of Little Treblemakers has helped students become empowered as musicians. Her eyes grow wide as she reflects, “It’s kind of mind-blowing to have 10-year-old students who are so articulate with [an] exacting vision.”
“They say things like, ‘no, I’m going to write this song,’ or ‘this is what my set is going to look like,’ or ‘I need to do this on a bridge,'” she adds. “They’re thinking about performance in a much more creative way than they would otherwise.”
In the last few years, Ward realized her students need to know more than just how to play an instrument, so she expanded the program’s offerings. “One goal for us is to keep opening doors beyond just the performance side,” she exclaims, “to explore sound engineering, producing video, and set design!”
As they look toward the next year, Ward is amazed at how far her business has come. “At first, I didn’t know what I was doing,” she acknowledges. “It all just started from my love for children, my love of music, and the desire to feel happy. It’s important to find something that brings joy, you know? We need artists in our world. We need musicians. Little Treblemakers is here to empower the next generation of music makers and shakers and have a good time doing it.”
This year’s Flower Hour will take the form of an epic three-day beach party. Individual episodes will air May 18-20 at 6:30 pm via YouTube Live! on the Little Treblemakers’ channel. Check out the event poster and full special guest lineup below.
Flower Hour Special Guest Lineup
Episode 1: Nordista Freeze, Dinner Time, Connelly Crow
Episode 2: EmmoLei Sankofa, Semicircle, Prisca, Book Club
Episode 3: Babe Club, Blonde Bones, girlpuppy, Wordy
More Info
Web: littletreblemakersatl.com
Facebook: @LittleTrebleMakersATL
Instagram: @littletreblemakersatl