WINTER CLASSES 2010
The Black Mountain Center for the Arts, located in the old City Hall at 225 W. State Street, announces its summer class schedule. For questions, or to register, call 828/669-0930 or the appropriate number for the teacher, if listed.

Slight variations in the schedule may occur, and classes will be canceled if sufficient registrants are not received. Please check the Events page and the Calendar pages of this website for additional information.

DANCE AND CREATIVE MOVEMENT

For a fun class, try Ballroom Dance with Instructor Micaela Scobie on Mondays, from January 25  - February 15 from 6-7:30 pm.  In this 4-week Ballroom dance workshop we will cover the basics, as well as some spicy flair with the Tango and Night-Club Merengue. Ballroom is a two-person dance, but coming with a partner is not required.  Scobie, accomplished in American style Ballroom dance, has been dancing for over 6 years and has won awards in numerous regional competitions. She believes dancing is for everyone.  Come prepared to have fun!  Fee: $70 per couple or $40 per individual.

A Beginning Hip-Hop Dance Class for ages 8 – 15 will start Monday, January 11 – March 29, 4-5 pm, taught by Carolyn Greenan.  Tuition is $90 for 10 classes, with a 10% discount for siblings. This will be a fun introduction to hip-hop dance with basic steps, beats, and choreography.  Students will learn a hip-hop dance to present to family/friends at an informal showing on the last class day. Greenan, a senior honor student at Charles D. Owen High School, has been studying dance and performing for over ten years, with plans to pursue a professional dance career. 

Viniyoga Instructor Renate Rikkers has been teaching the popular Yoga in Motion classes for several years.  Two ongoing classes for adults are offered on both Tuesday evenings 6:00-7:30 pm, and Friday mornings 9-10:30 am, beginning January 8 & 12. Cost is $55 for 6 weeks.  Improve posture, balance, and strength through the practice of yoga postures. Some yoga experience is necessary. With questions and to register, call Renate at 298-9988

VISUAL ARTS

Drawing & Painting classes. Instructor: Bob Travers. Tuesdays or Wednesdays, ongoing, depending on openings; fee is $60 for 4 lessons. Six different weekly class sessions available for kids (age 8+), teens, & adults. Each class is appropriate for beginner through advanced. Students work at their own pace, with their choice of medium & subject. Bob Travers is an award-winning wildlife artist who teaches in oil, acrylic, pastel, watercolor and more. For more information call Bob at 828-776-6376 or visit http://www.bobtraversart.com.

Pottery Classes: 4- and 8-week sessions of 2-hour classes are available at various times Mon.-Thurs. Fee is $90 for 4-weeks, or $180 for an 8-week session, which includes Open Studio practice times, plus a $35 Lab fee that covers 25 lbs. of clay, glazing and firing. Instructors: AJ Reisman (M,T,W) and Geoff Bird (Th), along with Guest Teachers for Workshops. Studio Assistant: Maureen Joyce. Class and Open Studio Schedule and more available at the Events page of blackmountainarts.org or blackmountainartsclay.blogspot.com.

MUSIC

BMCA is in its third exciting year as the host of the Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM) program for Buncombe County. JAM is designed to teach 4th-8th graders traditional banjo, guitar, fiddle and bass of the styles of western NC mountain regions.  Master musicians Natalya Weinstein, Matt Smith and Doug Sharkey offer instruction, along with guest musicians. Students learn to play traditional tunes by ear and to perform together in small groups. Registration begins at the first class on Wednesday, January 6, from 3:30 – 5 pm. Tuition of $55 for a 7-week session, or $100 for 14 weeks is charged.  Students often provide their own instruments, but some instruments are available for rent.  There is limited space available, so students must commit to attending classes and practicing to keep up with the group. 

For 4th-8th graders who love to sing, the Black Mountain Youth Chorale is just the thing. Students learn how to sing in parts, create a beautiful sound, read choral music and perform music from a variety of styles, eras and traditions, as well as make friends with peers in area schools or home schools. No choral experience is necessary, but singers should be able to match pitch. Rehearsals are on Tuesday afternoons starting January 12 at the Center immediately after school from 3:15 – 4:30. Students can take the bus or carpool with other singers. There is a required family meeting for all chorale members immediately after the first rehearsal at 4:30. Two professional music educators lead The Black Mountain Youth Chorale: Director Aline Carillon, music teacher at the Learning Community School, and Penny Rose, professional pianist and accompanist. The 15-week session, culminating in a concert on Sunday, May 2, has a small fee for the semester. For more information, call 628-1320.

Voice Class for Adults. Instructor: Dr. David Starkey. Ongoing on Wednesdays and Fridays from 11-noon. Fee: $10 per lesson. For beginner or trained vocalists. Professor Starkey, a graduate of Indiana University, is Voice Professor Emeritus of the Dana School of Music, Youngstown (OH) State.  A fun class, and a good opportunity for vocalists who wish to improve their skills, or prepare for auditions for local choirs or chorales, music schools, or roles in musical theater. Private lessons also available.

Suzuki Violin. Instructor: Keithie Knowles. Tuesdays, 2:30-6:30 pm. Fee: $28 per ½ hour (includes 1 monthly group lesson). Age 4-6 with parent. Organizational meeting will be Mon., Sept. 21 at 7 pm. Suzuki violin is a method and educational philosophy used in teaching instrumental music to young children, using the principles of language development. Initially, learning is by hearing or rote, with many repetitions. Reading comes later. This is a long-term commitment. Suzuki students listen daily to recordings of music to be performed, beginning with simple folksongs. A parent must attend weekly private lessons with the student, acting as the "home teacher" and supervising daily practice. Skills are mastered in small steps, always with the support and encouragement of the parents and teacher. Violins can be rented locally from Acoustic Corner. Knowles, a graduate of Oberlin College, has been teaching Suzuki violin since 1984, and has served on the faculty of the Furman University Suzuki Institute for many years.

Piano Lessons. Instructor: Barbara Gibson. Dates: Ongoing on Mondays from 12:30-6:30 pm.  Fee: Varies depending on length of lesson. Lessons are for beginning and intermediate students, children through adults. Barbara Gibson began studying piano at the age of 5, and had classical piano training for 13 years.  In junior high school, she studied piano with both Dr. and Mrs. Hugh McGarity, music professors at Clemson University. She has performed as a professional accompanist from theater musicals to soloists.  Before moving to Black Mountain, she taught piano in Winston-Salem, NC.

Violin/viola Lessons. Instructor: Sal Venittelli. Dates: Ongoing lessons.  Fee: Varies depending on length of lesson. Lessons are for beginning and intermediate students. Venittelli, whose professional career was with symphonies and string ensembles across the United States before moving to Black Mountain, is a graduate of the Juilliard School.

Other workshops that are scheduled will be posted closer to the individual dates at blackmountainarts.org on the Events and Calendar pages, and in the Black Mountain News.