2008-09 Kindergarten through Fourth Grade
Educational Offerings

CLASS SIZES ARE LIMITED! REGISTER NOW TO SAVE YOUR SPACE!

Beginning Improv (Grades 5 - 7)
Mon 5 – 6:30 pm (1.5 hr/week)
First Semester, 9/15 – 12/15 (14 weeks)
Instructor: BJ Ellis
Class #1STS-BI-57-M; $199

Class Description: Explore the wacky world of improvisation and comedy where students will enjoy creating diverse characters, learning improvisation games, thinking “on their feet”, performing with confidence, and working as a team. This class is appropriate for students who are new to learning improv techniques and for those who are returning for multiple sessions to enhance their emerging skills. Students are encouraged to enroll for both the First and Second Semester in order to get the most out of this class; however, students may choose to enroll for just one semester or both. Students will create a short example of their work which will be presented on the last class of each semester.

Acting I (Grades 5 – 7)
Mon 6:30 – 7:30 pm (1 hr/week)
Fall Session, 9/15 – 11/17 (10 weeks)
Instructor: Scott Minor
Class # FS-A1-57-M; Tuition: $95

Class Description: Acting I concentrates on basic acting skills such as stage presence, sensory understanding, communication, and focus skills (listening, relaxation, observation, and vocalization). In addition, the class encompasses teamwork, character development and authenticity, blocking, creative movement, and pacing, using a variety of fun approaches and themes. Students will create a short example of their work, which will be presented on the last class of the session. This class is appropriate for students who are new to theater as well as those with experience or returning for multiple sessions of Acting I to continue enhancing their skills.

British and American Traditional Dancing (Grades 5 – Adult)
2nd Tues of Every Month: 7 – 8:30 pm (1.5 hrs/class)
First Semester – 10/14, 11/11, 12/9 (3 classes)
Second Semester – 1/13, 2/10, 3/10, 5/12, 6/9 (5 classes)
Instructor: Mary Lee Slemmer
Class #1STS-BATD-TU; Total Tuition (First/Second Semester): $89

Course Description: Join the fun, creating beautiful community dances without being a trained dancer. History provides us with many examples of community dancing that range from the high style performed by the Victorian English (used in the B.B.C. production of Pride and Prejudice), to the rollicking folk styles used in Appalachia. These dances are both fun to watch and to perform. They were invented by communities as a form of celebration, socialization, a diversion from hardship, and as a way to free one's body and spirit in a safe, ritualized manner. Performing traditional community dances serves the same function today! Join an energetic evening of walking or skipping in formations of Longways Set, a Sicilian Circle or Contra lines with partners. No dancing skill is required; just a love of movement, music, and good society.

Tri-County Youth Chorus (Grades 4 - 12)
Wed 6:30 – 7:45 pm (Grades 4 – 6); 6:30 - 8:30 pm (Grades 7 - 12)
First Semester, 9/17 – 12/17 (14 weeks)
Second Semester, 1/7 – 5/20 (19 weeks)
Director: Deborah Stimson-Snow
Class #1STS-TCYC-412-W; Tuition: Grades 4 – 6: $250/yr; Grades 7 through 12: $396/yr (payable in installments)
Materials Fee: $15; Music Deposit: $30

Program Description: The Tri-County Youth Chorus is an opportunity for young people to develop their musicianship, vocal artistry and ensemble skills. The Director will teach vocal technique, ear training (musical intervals), sight singing, part singing, artistic interpretation, and performance skills. Rehearsals are designed with an understanding that musical expression is a physical, intellectual, and spiritual process and is tied to the healthy development of analytical and cognitive abilities. The Chorus will cover a variety of repertoire which may include classics, pop tunes, Broadway, as well as cross-cultural and multi-lingual materials. Chorus members should join the Chorus with the intention of a long-term commitment to being part of the ensemble from year to year. Students will have an opportunity to enroll in this class for the First Semester (Fall) and again for the Second Semester (Spring), each year. Performances for 2008-09 will include a Winter and Spring concert with tickets available for purchase by family, friends and the public.

Dress Code: All Chorus members must provide their own white collared shirt, black dress pants, and black shoes for performances.

Materials: Upon joining the Chorus, each singer will receive a site-reading book that they will keep. Each singer will also receive music and a music folder which must be turned in at the end of each semester.

Prerequisites: Scheduled assessment to determine readiness for the Chorus.

Intermission Players Youth Theater Troupe (Grades 5 - 7)
Thurs 6:30 – 8:30 pm AND Sat 10 am – 12 pm (4 hrs/week)
Fall Session, 9/18 – 11/22 (10 weeks)
Director: Scott Minor
Play: A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare
Class # FS-IP-712-THSA; Tuition: $290; Materials Fe $15

Program Description: The Intermission Players is a project-based performance troupe for our young thespians in Grades 5 through 7, and is appropriate for those who are new to theater as well as those with experience. No audition is required to join the Intermission Players. Members are encouraged to return for multiple  essions which will be scheduled throughout the year. Members will have the opportunity to appear on-stage by participating in the casting process, or may work backstage as part of the production crew (e.g., stage manager, stage crew, props, scenery, costumes, etc.), or both. At the end of the 10-week session, the  ntermission Youth Theater Troupe will perform their show for their friends and family. The performance is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, November 15th. Tickets to the performance are $3 for children (through age 17) and $5 for adults.

Guitar Calisthenics (Age 10 through Adult)
Sat 10 am – 12 pm (2 hours/week)
Fall Session 9/20 – 11/22 (10 weeks)
Instructor: Russ Ferrara
Class # FS-GC-5A-SA; Tuition: $190

Class Description: Guitar Calisthenics is a group based, style neutral, technique building course which introduces and reinforces basic left and right hand technique, tuning the guitar, the elements of rhythmic single line and chordal playing, ensemble playing and sight reading all in the style of an aerobics class. Guitar Calisthenics is an excellent way to begin the study of the guitar but is also beneficial for experienced players, intermediate students taking private lessons and anyone wanting to improve their technical and musical skills. Russell Ferrara developed the course over a period of twenty years of teaching guitar classes at the college level. It was developed as a solution to the problem of presenting what had been historically a lesson-based style-oriented curriculum to a group of students with varied skill levels and style interests. The class begins with a warm-up and proceeds to execute the material at hand together. Because it is completely neutral in terms of musical style, pick style, and finger style, classical, jazz, rock and folk players will benefit and all can participate in the same class. At the end of the course, students will have a thorough understanding of rhythmic fingering/picking, and will be able to sight read and execute scales and chords in eighth note patterns in first position. A second and third level course would progress toward scales/chords in all the keys and playing in all of the positions.