BAAMS Offering Free Online Music Lessons

ADAMS, Mass. — The Berkshires' Academy for Advanced Musical Studies is offering a free online after school program for all Berkshire County music students ages 12-18. 

The Berkshires' Academy for Advanced Musical Studies (BAAMS) is offering eBAAMS this fall and Berkshire county students can access online instrumental lessons with BAAMS faculty.

"We have been working closely with a small group of Berkshire County student musicians for the past month with great success," Richard Boulger, BAAMS co-founder and executive director said. "We are really excited now to offer free online access for all Berkshire County music students ages 12-1."

Students will be taught the fundamentals of improvisation and musical composition with a special emphasis placed on the art forms of Jazz and Contemporary Music, which serve as a foundation for improvisation and musical composition.

Access to online instrumental lessons will include woodwinds, piano, guitar, drums, bass, trumpet and trombone.

The classes are currently being offered and students can sign up here. Click on “Create Account” once the log in menu automatically opens.

Click here to support BAAMS, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization.

More information about BAAMS can be found here.

Friday Afternoon Fire Destroys Cheshire Barn

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
04:40PM / Friday, April 03, 2026

 

CHESHIRE, Mass. — A fire on Friday afternoon destroyed a barn at 920 Sand Mill Road.

 

The building is a total loss but firefighters were able to prevent the flames from reaching another nearby barn and the house at Stoney Brook Farm. 

 

Fire Chief Thomas Francesconi said the fire was called in 12:39 p.m. by the homeowners "but it already had a foothold before they noticed it."

 

Responding firefighters found the L-shaped structure fully involved. Adams, Lanesborough, Savoy and Windsor fire companies responded and Williamstown Fire covered the station.

 

The tankers were used to transport water from a nearby brook until a pool could be set up near the scene and water pumped into it. 

 

Northern Berkshire EMS responded and one firefighter was treated at the scene and then taken to Berkshire Medical Center. 

 

Francesconi said there were no other injuries but the owners told him there were 18 chickens in the barn. The structure also had equipment and other materials in it, including a Jeep.