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 January 29th and run each Monday through March 16th, skipping Presidents’ Day (February 19th). 

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.

IMPROV “FUN”-DAMENTALS – This fast-paced and exciting class introduces the student actor to various skills through theater games to create fantastic performances. Jump into some seriously hilarious improvisational work—learn to build exciting stories and create fascinating characters and present them in the most awe-inspiring way.  Students have fun, play hard, work together and find their individual voices while learning the rules and strategies for taking risks, playing for truth and thinking on their feet.

MASK FOR CHARACTERIZATION –This class uses character (expressive) masks as a tool to explore character development through the technique by Libby Appel. The course describes, defines and discusses the mask characterization process, providing the theory behind the exercise’s step-by-step procedure in the organic development of character from the mask. The class adds an exciting and fun new dimension to actor training and learning, allowing the student actor new and diverse tools in order to create organic and honest dramatic characterizations.

MUSICAL THEATER VOICE – This class 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.  Appropriate song repertoire is be chosen by the instructors and practice outside of class is required for success.  Additionally, each week students are exposed to the synopsis of a Broadway musical or an introduction to a legendary Broadway performer.

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 January 29th and run each Monday through March 16th, skipping Presidents’ Day (February 19th). 

MUSICAL THEATER VOICE This class 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.  Appropriate song repertoire is be chosen by the instructors and practice outside of class is required for success.  Additionally, each week students are exposed to the synopsis of a Broadway musical or an introduction to a legendary Broadway performer.

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 ENSEMBLE – Percussion Ensemble offers an introduction to and continuation of the study of percussion performance.  Students study the basics of rhythm and music reading as well as percussion technique while learning various styles of music and 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. 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 and ACOUSTIC 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.  In addition to guitars, amps may be rented for electric guitars. Regular practice outside of class is required for success in this class.

Students explore their creative sides while encouraged to work realistically and abstractly expressing themselves through mixed media creation.  With guidance, the students explore different materials and open their minds to endless ideas, allowing discoveries of their own unique styles.

Students learn to apply the techniques of planned drawing and direct watercolor painting to desert landscape art.  Using photo reference, the freedom and expression of watercolor painting inspires painters to see the landscape with new eyes.

Photography has never been more accessible and almost everyone now has the ability to capture images with the built-in camera on their mobile phone.  During this course, students gain the skills and knowledge to produce creative, artistic images. We cover the basic history and fundamentals of photography and students explore the many features that their smartphones have to offer — taking their photographs to a whole new level.

Following the Brockus Project Dance Concert the night before, and in a continuing effort to bring the finest educational opportunities to the area, the Hi-Desert Cultural Center is presenting Deborah Brockus and her amazing company in a modern and jazz dance masterclass open to the community.  Individuals with all levels of dance training (from none to advanced) are welcome to participate in this great event.