Pictured: Music Compound students (from l-r) Justice Lockley, Christian Bathori, Reed McKenney and Jack Mackey. Photo courtesy of Music Compound.

Music Compound, the local Sarasota music school on Cattlemen Road is celebrating the opening of its new Music Compound MAN Bradenton location on Saturday, January 14 with a Family Fun Festival. From 12-4 p.m., guests can enjoy live music by students of all ages, a bounce house, kids' activities, a food truck, beer samples courtesy of Big Top Brewing Company, and tours of the facility. This event, which takes place from noon-4 p.m., is free and open to the public.

Music Compound opened its Bradenton location (located at 4740 SR64, just west of I-75 in the Braden River Business Park) this past summer, offering a two-week Introduction to Music Summer Camp in late July. The expansion was necessary as its Cattlemen location was fully booked. The new 4,500-square-foot space features 13 spacious studios and a music lounge, where young students can socialize, decompress, and make the transition from their time in school to the music enrichment programming. The location features lessons for kids, including Kidz Rock and Modern Band programs for area youth wanting to grow musically and socially. These programs encourage team building, boost confidence, and build performance skills. Available adult programs will include private and group lessons as well as jam sessions for those wanting to play music while meeting new people.

“We have clients who have been asking for us to consider a location in Manatee County for quite some time,” Music Compound owner Jenny Townsend says. “We have students who have been commuting for years from Parrish and Lakewood Ranch. And even with the addition of new studios at SRQ, we can’t keep up with demand!”

Music Compound was founded in 2016 by Jenny Townsend. The Cattlemen Road location started with just one teacher and four studios in just 1,800 square feet. “My goal in founding this business in 2016 was to be more than a place where people took music lessons – I wanted to create a music community,” Townsend says. “Over time, we have built a place where member families and staff feel like a part of our family, where instructors adhere to certain standards but have the creative freedom to express their own passion, where aspiring artists of all skill levels can gain confidence that will carry them throughout their lives, even if they don’t pursue music professionally. I feel so fortunate to be able to love coming to work each and every day.”

Music Compound MAN offers lessons for children ages 3 and up in piano, vocals, guitar, bass, drums, violin, woodwinds, ukulele, and digital music as well as a band program for teens. Kids are grouped according to skill level and preferred genre (for younger kids there are Jr. Rockerz and Kidz Rock offerings), musical theater, songwriting classes, and the Gulf Coast New Horizons Music program for adults ages 50+. Available adult programs include private and group lessons as well as jam sessions for those wanting to play music while meeting new people.

Admission to the Family Fun Festival is free but pre-registration is requested at musiccompound.com/mcmanfestival. Music Compound, 4740 SR64, just west of I-75 in the Braden River Business Park.

Pictured: Music Compound students (from l-r) Justice Lockley, Christian Bathori, Reed McKenney and Jack Mackey. Photo courtesy of Music Compound.