THEATER 4 KIDS! is a focused and fun introductory class for beginning elementary school students who want acting and theater games to free their imaginations and inspire their lives. Classes begin October 16th and run each Monday through December 4th, skipping Thanksgiving week. 

BEGINNING ACTING & THEATER Through theater games, exercises and texts, students learn the craft of acting and improve the skills they need to become actors.  This course focuses on developing the fundamental process used in rehearsing and performing modern realistic plays.  Actors explore ensemble, scene and monologue work and improvisation to acquire the techniques needed to live truthfully on the stage.

BEGINNING ACTING & THEATER Through theater games, exercises and texts, students learn the craft of acting and improve the skills they need to become actors.  This course focuses on developing the fundamental process used in rehearsing and performing modern realistic plays.  Actors explore ensemble, scene and monologue work and improvisation to acquire the techniques needed to live truthfully on the stage.

TECHNIQUE AND ANALYSIS  is an intermediate theater course that focuses on developing the skills used in rehearsing and performing modern realistic plays.  Students experience the art of ensemble, scene and monologue work, and text analysis and preparation techniques through an exploration of various acting techniques.  Class placement is at the discretion of the instructor.

SCENE STUDY – This course implements the different methodologies of master theorists such as Stanislavsky, Meisner, and Chekov through scene study and rehearsal.  Students prepare scenes from first read-through to performance and focus on a single method of preparation.  Course placement is at the discretion of the instructor.

MUSICAL THEATER REPERTORY is open to both new and experienced theater and/or music students and is designed to heighten the student’s knowledge of and ability to perform musical theater literature through a combination of the core disciplines of acting, singing and movement.  Students build a personal portfolio of audition and performance material specifically chosen for them and gain an awareness of character development in song.  They are exposed to a broad cross section of musical selections from American musical theater literature.

MUSIC 4 KIDS is a focused and fun introductory class for beginning elementary school students who want to begin the study of the wonderful world of music and music-making.  Classes begin October 16th and run each Monday through December 4th, skipping Thanksgiving week. 

VOICE STUDY is designed to improve singing by studying the fundamentals of healthy vocal production—including proper posture and breathing, support, tone placement, diction and care of the voice.  Students learn to warm-up properly on their own and before singing individually and as a group in class.  Appropriate song repertoire will be chosen by the instructor.  Practice outside of class is required for success in this class.

MUSIC 4 KIDS is a focused and fun introductory class for beginning elementary school students who want to begin the study of the wonderful world of music and music-making.  Classes begin October 16th and run each Monday through December 4th, skipping Thanksgiving week.

This series of classes (Beginning Piano, Intermediate Piano, and Advanced Piano) offers instruction to students who have never studied piano as well as those who have had previous training.  Students taking class for the first time concentrate on reading music and learning the keyboard, hand position, posture, basic theory and their first pieces of piano music.  More advanced pianists review these basics, expand their knowledge and develop proficiency.  Class placement is at the discretion of the instruction and class offerings are based upon enrollment.  Students enrolled in any level of instruction must have a piano or keyboard at home or access to a place to practice regularly.

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT PIANO & KEYBOARD INSTRUMENTS:

• Instruments in the Piano Lab will be provided to all students for use during class.
  
• ALL students must have access to their own piano or full-88 key keyboard instrument (weighted action preferred) for home practice.

Classroom: North Studio, Palmer Performance Hall
Instructor: NELMS McKELVAIN

This series of classes (Beginning Piano, Intermediate Piano, and Advanced Piano) offers instruction to students who have never studied piano as well as those who have had previous training.  Students taking class for the first time concentrate on reading music and learning the keyboard, hand position, posture, basic theory and their first pieces of piano music.  More advanced pianists review these basics, expand their knowledge and develop proficiency.  Class placement is at the discretion of the instruction and class offerings are based upon enrollment.  Students enrolled in any level of instruction must have a piano or keyboard at home or access to a place to practice regularly.

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT PIANO & KEYBOARD INSTRUMENTS:

• Instruments in the Piano Lab will be provided to all students for use during class.
• ALL students must have access to their own piano or full-88 key keyboard instrument (weighted action preferred) for home practice.

This series of classes (Beginning Piano, Intermediate Piano, and Advanced Piano) offers instruction to students who have never studied piano as well as those who have had previous training.  Students taking class for the first time concentrate on reading music and learning the keyboard, hand position, posture, basic theory and their first pieces of piano music.  More advanced pianists review these basics, expand their knowledge and develop proficiency.  Class placement is at the discretion of the instruction and class offerings are based upon enrollment.  Students enrolled in any level of instruction must have a piano or keyboard at home or access to a place to practice regularly.

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT PIANO & KEYBOARD INSTRUMENTS:

• Instruments in the Piano Lab will be provided to all students for use during class.
• ALL students must have access to their own piano or full-88 key keyboard instrument (weighted action preferred) for home practice.

BRASS FUNDAMENTALS offers instruction to students who have never studied an orchestral brass instrument before. The Fundamentals course introduces breath support, embouchure, intonation and other tools of orchestral brass playing in a class setting.  Instruments available for study include, but may not be limited to: B-flat trumpet, French horn, trombone and tuba.  Placement is at the discretion of the instructor and course offerings are dependent upon enrollment.  Regular practice outside of class is required for success in these courses

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT BRASS INSTRUMENTS:

• All students must provide their own instrument. The Cultural Center may have highly-subsidized rental instruments based on availability.
  
• ALL students are responsible for providing their own. . .
  • For Trumpets, Baritones, Euphoniums, Tubas: valve oil, tuning slide grease
  • For French Horns: rotary oil, tuning slide grease
  • For Trombones: small spray bottle filled with water, slide cream, tuning slide grease
• The Cultural Center maintains a stock of the above items for purchase in the Blak Box Theater’s Box Office.
  

This course offers instruction to students who have studied an orchestral brass instrument previously.  The course reviews the elements of breath support, embouchure, intonation and other tools of orchestral brass playing in a class setting and applies them to more advanced repertoire.  Instruments available for study include, but may not be limited to: B-flat trumpet, French horn, trombone and tuba.  Placement is at the discretion of the instructor and course offerings are dependent upon enrollment.  Regular practice outside of class is required for success in these courses

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT BRASS INSTRUMENTS:

• All students must provide their own instrument. The Cultural Center may have highly-subsidized rental instruments based on availability.
  
• ALL students are responsible for providing their own. . .
  • For Trumpets, Baritones, Euphoniums, Tubas: valve oil, tuning slide grease
  • For French Horns: rotary oil, tuning slide grease
  • For Trombones: small spray bottle filled with water, slide cream, tuning slide grease
• The Cultural Center maintains a stock of the above items for purchase in the Blak Box Theater’s new Box Office.

DRUM and PERCUSSION FUNDAMENTALS course offers an introduction to the study of percussion performance.  Beginning students in the Fundamentals class study the basics of rhythm and music reading as well as percussion technique.  Continuing students in the Ensemble class also study and perform various styles of music, learning to mix the rhythmic heritage of various cultures with jazz improvisation to produce music that draws from all styles.  Orchestral percussion instruments, drum sets, timpani and many tuned and hand instruments are available for study.  Class placement is at the discretion of the instructor and class offerings are based upon enrollment.  Regular practice outside of class is required for success in these classes.

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT DRUM & PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS:

• Drum and percussion instruments will be provided during class. Students will have a practice pad provided for them for home practice.
• The Cultural Center maintains a stock of the above items for purchase in the Blak Box Theater’s Box Office.

DRUM and PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE course offers a continuation of the study of percussion performance.  Beginning students in the Fundamentals class study the basics of rhythm and music reading as well as percussion technique.  Continuing students in the Ensemble class also study and perform various styles of music, learning to mix the rhythmic heritage of various cultures with jazz improvisation to produce music that draws from all styles.  Orchestral percussion instruments, drum sets, timpani and many tuned and hand instruments are available for study.  Class placement is at the discretion of the instructor and class offerings are based upon enrollment.  Regular practice outside of class is required for success in these classes.

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT DRUM & PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS:

• Drum and percussion instruments will be provided during class. Students will have a practice pad provided for them for home practice.
• The Cultural Center maintains a stock of the above items for purchase in the Blak Box Theater’s Box Office.

These newly designed courses are designed specifically for serious students of violin and viola who wish to learn a basic history of their instrument, proper positioning and posture, a well-rounded technique, good intonation and other requirements for skillful playing.  Class members play favorite pop and alternative music and discover the beauty of classical orchestral music and performance practices.   The Introductory course is appropriate for students with no prior instruction and the Intermediate course is designed for those who have studied previously.  Violins and violas are available for rental.  Placement is at the discretion of the instructor and course offerings are dependent upon enrollment.  Regular practice outside of class is required for success in these courses.

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT STRING INSTRUMENTS:

• All students must provide their own instrument. The Cultural Center may have highly-subsidized rental instruments based on availability.
  
• ALL students are responsible for providing their own. . .
  • Rosin
  • Replacement strings
    
• The Cultural Center maintains a stock of the above items for purchase in the Blak Box Theater’s Box Office.

These newly designed courses are designed specifically for serious students of violin and viola who wish to learn a basic history of their instrument, proper positioning and posture, a well-rounded technique, good intonation and other requirements for skillful playing.  Class members play favorite pop and alternative music and discover the beauty of classical orchestral music and performance practices.   The Introductory course is appropriate for students with no prior instruction and the Intermediate course is designed for those who have studied previously.  Violins and violas are available for rental.  Placement is at the discretion of the instructor and course offerings are dependent upon enrollment.  Regular practice outside of class is required for success in these courses.

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT STRING INSTRUMENTS:

• All students must provide their own instrument. The Cultural Center may have highly-subsidized rental instruments based on availability.
  
• ALL students are responsible for providing their own. . .
  • Rosin
  • Replacement strings
    
• The Cultural Center maintains a stock of the above items for purchase in the Blak Box Theater’s Box Office.

The WOODWINDS FUNDAMENTALS courses offers instruction to students who have never studied an orchestral woodwind instrument previously.  The Fundamentals class introduces breath support, voicing, embouchure, articulation, and finger technique in a class setting.   Instruments available for study include, but may not be limited to: flute, B-flat clarinet, alto and tenor saxophone.  Class placement is at the discretion of the instructor and class offerings are based upon enrollment.  Regular practice outside of class is required for success in these classes.

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT WOODWIND INSTRUMENTS:

• All students must provide their own instrument. The Cultural Center may have highly-subsidized rental instruments based on availability.
  
• ALL students are responsible for providing their own. . .
  • For Clarinets / Saxes: cork grease, reed case (Vandoren case), size 2 or higher reeds
  • For Oboes: reeds, reed case
  • For Flutes: soft cleaning cloth for polishing
• The Cultural Center maintains a stock of the above items for purchase in the Blak Box Theater’s Box Office.

The WOODWINDS ENSEMBLE course offers instruction to students who have studied previously.  The course continues the study of breath support, voicing, embouchure, articulation, and finger technique  and applies them to more advanced repertoire.  Instruments available for study include, but may not be limited to: flute, B-flat clarinet, alto and tenor saxophone.  Class placement is at the discretion of the instructor and class offerings are based upon enrollment.  Regular practice outside of class is required for success in these classes.

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT WOODWIND INSTRUMENTS:

• All students must provide their own instrument. The Cultural Center may have highly-subsidized rental instruments based on availability.
  
• ALL students are responsible for providing their own. . .
  • For Clarinets / Saxes: cork grease, reed case (Vandoren case), size 2 or higher reeds
  • For Oboes: reeds, reed case
  • For Flutes: soft cleaning cloth for polishing
• The Cultural Center maintains a stock of the above items for purchase in the Blak Box Theater’s Box Office.

The ELECTRIC GUITAR FUNDAMENTALS covers the basics of the instrument and study of essential music fundamentals.  Students learn how to read music notation and chord symbols and gain an understanding of different musical genres including blues, jazz, rock and pop music.  Regular practice outside of class is required for success in this class.

ART 4 KIDS is a focused and fun introductory class for beginning elementary school students who want to learn how to express themselves and their world through visual art. Classes begin October 16th and run each Monday through December 4th, skipping Thanksgiving week.   All materials are included in the course cost.  

For students of any skill or study level. Younger visual art student explore several genres, different media and multiple painting techniques to open their creative minds and begin understanding and caring about art.  The final project of this class is a three-dimensional wire sculpture.   Materials are included in the $110 cost of the course.

This course gives more advanced students an opportunity to express their thoughts and perceptions with a camera.  Additionally, students explore their creativity by assembling images, words, collage papers and paint to create individual works of art.  Class placement is at the discretion of the instructor.