Winter Classes on the North Shore:

Dormouse getting dunked. Illustration by John Tenniel

Actually, the Dormouse never says “feed you head”  in Alice in Wonderland. Jefferson Airplane made that up. But we believe in it anyway.

Now can there be any doubt? Winter is here. That cycle of weather report, anxiety, snow (or just missed us) and then back again. Now is the time get on top of winter doldrums before they get on top of you.

We have selected several spots that we can recommend. Trust us. We’re bloggers. Who knows maybe one of these classes will spark a RESOLUTION? (and you just want to enter our New Year’s Resolution Contest?)

If you have a favorite school, workshop, class or other worthy (or fun) place to learn, let us know!

The Art Center in Highland Park

The Art Center

We have been touting The Art Center for their Friday night opening and event hosting. Now, it’s time for you to get into the action yourself. Sign up for a class by Saturday, December 12 and get a $10 Early Bird Discount. The 10-week Winter Class Session runs from January 11th – March 20th, 2010.

Are you hip to NIA? Get this ! Nia is a dynamic blend of dance arts, martial arts and healing arts which brings the body, mind, emotions and spirit to optimum health through music, movement, and self-expression. Nia is designed for everybody; it is ageless and limitless, transformational and effective for every person.

And the first lesson is FREE!

Click here for the online catalog. In addition to 10-week classes in many media (metalsmithing, ceramics, painting & drawing, photography and more) the Art Center offers workshops that last from a single day to 6 weeks.
1957 Sheridan Road, Highland Park; (847) 432-1888, info@theartcenterhp.org

"Bird’s Nest" by Decker and Andersson at EAC

Evanston Art Center has a variety of classes and workshops, and registration is going on right now. You can find a different selection of offerings at EAC, such as their “non-toxic” printmaking studio.
The winter term begins January 4 – March 14.

This class sounds pretty cool for all you internet types. You can create your own coffee table book:

Photobook Publishing(9811) Publish a book of your own photography using “Blurb.” The workshop will take you step by step through layout and design using the intuitive BookSmart software. Bring at least 60 high resolution digital images on CD or flash drive to the first class. Sunday, January 31 and February 7, 1 – 4 pm

Evanston Art Center 2603 Sheridan Rd , Evanston, 847-475-5300

North Shore Art League sponsored Art on The Plaza last summer. Ah, last summer! Now it’s back to the studio or basement or den and time to create. This one seems made to order:

“Exploring Creative Visions”
This course uncovers the meaning of artistic creativity through discussion, studying pictorial examples, and sketching. It will
help you connect with your greater creative self and understand the choices necessary to move forward so that your inner visions can come alive!

When: 1/12-2/16 (6 classes), Tuesdays, 7:00-9:00pM
For more information about classes, workshops, programs and special events, contact the NSAL office at (847) 446-2870 or visit www.northshoreartleague.org.

Or would you rather “play a tune on the fiddle” or  “tickle the ivories” or  “start jammin”?

The Music Institute of Chicago offers a wide variety of individual and group instruction for adults; both instrumental and vocal at their locations through the North Shore.

Is this the year you finally learn to play the piano?

Doesn’t this sound doable?

“Groups of up to six students explore the piano in a friendly atmosphere at a digital keyboard. Students will learn to play elementary pieces and will be introduced to keyboard orientation, introductory note-reading skills, finger technique, and simple chords.”

Click here or call 847.905.1500

We like what Highland Park Music Gallery has to say about music lessons.

Adults can start any instrument at any time. Their success is based on how willing they are to practice. We like to say that you are never too old to reinvent yourself.

“The Music Gallery offers instruction on guitar, bass, mandolin, classical guitar and drums. There are no registration or sign up fees. Students sign up for a weekly time slot, which belongs to them until they are notified otherwise. Lessons may be stopped at any time and any unused money will be refunded.” (from their web site)

Pull out that axe that’s been gathering dust in the closet or treat yourself to a new one at the Highland Park Music Gallery showroom on 558 Green Bay Rd, Highland Park. 847- 432-6350

“Let’s put on a show!”

Maybe it’s time for you to stop watching and start acting. How hard can it be?

Don took classes at The Piven Theatre. The class taught by Mikalina Rabinsky was the highlight of his week. The students ranged from 18 to even older than Don. His best piece placed Adam and Eve in the Club Med Garden of Eden. An apt comparison perhaps. Adult classes and workshops begin February 18 and range from beginning classes in Games, Story & Scene to a more advanced Stage Combat Weekend Workshop and many stops in between.
Contact: Piven Theatre Workshop, 927 Noyes Street, Evanston, 847.866.6597

Not a beginner and want to hone those acting chops? How about the Actor’s Training Center at the Wilmette Training Center.

I say this is not for beginners, because in one of their classes there was a term I’d never heard of. For the class called “Commercial.”

“Learn the fundamentals of audition skills, from interviewing and MOS to one-liners and two-person copy.” If you know what MOS to one-liners and two-person copy means, this is the place for you.