Registration for Spring Classes Ends Friday

Release Date: 1/13/2005. Expired: 1/14/2005

The Renaissance Center’s spring semester of classes in art, music and theatre begins Jan. 17 with courses for all ages and skill levels. Registration for classes continues through Friday, Jan. 14.

The spring semester offers more than 100 choices for classes and workshops, from private music lessons in a variety of instruments to art classes for children and adults, from acting classes to yoga.

“We continue to develop new curriculums for classes and workshops to increase the wide variety of offerings found at The Renaissance Center,” said Bob Kucher, senior director of Visual Arts and Theatre. “Many of our most popular classes from past semesters are back again this spring while we've also added new classes, especially in our Theatre Arts selections.”

The enhanced schedule of classes and workshops in Theatre Arts includes new creative writing classes for students and adults, film and television acting classes for kids and adults, sewing and theatre makeup workshops and more. Returning for the spring semester are the popular Skit-A-Week Theatre classes and weekly yoga sessions.

The Art Department has expanded its offerings with new digital photography, alternative photography, calligraphy, Native American art, textile art and children’s pottery classes. The wide variety of classes continues to include popular selections as Just the Two of Us in Art, Palette Playhouse, Art Through Literature, Art from Around the Globe, Explorers and more classes for children of all ages. Popular adult classes in pottery, stained glass, painting, illustration, photography and darkroom continued to be offered.

Spring art workshops include the return of popular previous offerings such as Pysanky Ukrainian Eggs, egg decorating for kids, calligraphy, raku and millinery, as well as new workshops in woodturning, carving in concrete and two weeklong art camps for children ages 6-14.

The Music Department continues to have a wide selection of classes in private music instruction as well as group classes. Private instruction offerings have been expanded this spring to include bagpipes and dulcimer along with classes in banjo, bass, brass, cello, composition, drums, guitar, harmonica, harp, mandolin, piano, sound recording, studio singing, music theory, viola, violin, voice and woodwinds.

The popular Kindermusik curriculum is offered in four sections while the Harmony Road keyboard curriculum returns with four age-specific classes. The Renaissance Center also continues to offer its Community Concert Band, Community Jazz Band, Training Choir, Children’s Choir, Community Chorus and Chamber Choir with weekly rehearsals and performances scheduled at the conclusion of the semester.

Music workshops slated for spring include hammer dulcimer, bluegrass banjo, mountain dulcimer, rhythm guitar, harmonica, songwriting, bluegrass fiddle, studio singing and more.

“We are thrilled to have several professional musicians joining us for special workshops this spring, including members of the Tennessee HeartStrings Band, dulcimer champion Larry Conger, harmonica champion Glenn Woodland, master musician Scott Miller and others,” said Elaine Sherrill, senior director of Music at The Renaissance Center. “We’ve also added several instructors to our faculty and are continuing to expand the variety of classes we have available for children and adults.”

For more information on art, music and theatre classes offered at The Renaissance Center this spring pick up a copy of the Spring 2005 Program Guide at the center or visit the center’s Web site at www.rcenter.org. To register for classes or workshops, call (615)740-5533. To register or learn more information on private music instruction, call (615)740-5545.

The Renaissance Center is an arts and technology education center at 855 Highway 46 South in Dickson, just 35 miles west of Nashville on Interstate 40 at exit 172.