Pursue a passion or discover a new talent in the arts with new classes this fall at ArtPlay, Birmingham’s home for arts education. Registration is open for a new roster of classes for all ages.
ArtPlay is the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center’s (ASC) home for arts education and outreach. With classes for every age group, plus educational events for the whole family to enjoy, ArtPlay aims to connect the community to the arts with classes, workshops and performances. Most classes begin in September and end in December. Fees range from $50-$300, plus supplies.
Brand-new this session is the ArtPlay Elementary Choir for children in elementary and middle school. Teaching Artist Mary Elizabeth Neal will teach students a repertoire of 15-20 works, including patriotic, sacred, secular and educational, and focus on: tone production, rhythmic reading and performance, basic vocal technique, knowledge of composers and music history. The class will culminate in a choral concert.
Highlights of the fall session are Visual Arts Alive! for ages 3.5 to 6 years, and Me & You & Paint & Glue for children ages 18 months to 3 years with a guardian. Both classes encourage children to explore their creativity with Teaching Artist Alley Bulka.
The Acting Studio for Young Adults, ages 14-18, taught by Teaching Artist Susan McCain, will follow the legendary Lee Strasberg’s design, beginning with sensory work – the heart of “The Method” – followed by scene and character development to empower the actor. The Acting Studio class is also available for adults.
Improvisational Comedy for adults, with ArtPlay Teaching Artist Brian Barrett, will teach the fundamentals of long-form improv, including how to create strong characters, play at the top of one’s intelligence and build strong comedic scenes together out of thin air. African Drumming with John Scalici is also available for adults. Learn the language of the djembe drum from an internationally recognized artist; reduce stress, quiet the mind, have fun and get energized.
Adults may also enjoy classes in Acting Take One and Take Two, as well as Playwriting, all with David Roby; Beginning Bookbinding and Mixed Media for the 21st Century, both with Trent Thomas; Beginning and Advanced Knitting with Mary Kaiser; Intro to Drawing with John Lytle Wilson; Visual Art Appreciation with Sarah Heath; and Motion Picture Appreciation with T. Marie King.
A Yarn and Fabric Dyeing Workshop with Kaiser will take place 1-5 p.m. on Oct. 5, 2013. The workshop will include immersion dyeing, dip-dyeing for a graduated color range and hand-painting with dye for variegated effects.
Returning this fall are classes in Creative Movement and First Steps in Music for pre-K; Acting Out Theatre Workshop, Hip-Hop Dance and Intro to Musical Theatre for elementary schoolchildren; and Adventures in Visual Art, Modern Dance and Ballet for children, young teens and adults.
ArtPlay also offers private instruction in a variety of instruments and artistic disciplines, including guitar, piano, voice, acting, drums and percussion, ballet and modern dance. Through a partnership with the UAB Department of Music, students can receive private music instruction for trumpet, trombone, clarinet, flute, saxophone, euphonium, French horn, piano, guitar and voice from UAB Music faculty.