› Arts Education Classes

Suzuki Lessons
Ages: 4-18
Winter/Spring Term (17 week session)
15mins: $295
30mins: $545
45mins: $740
Instructor: Gaye Detzer
Location: TBD-  contact Gaye to schedule lessons

The Suzuki approach is based on the philosophy that young children learn music just as they learn to speak their native language—through regular listening, developmentally appropriate instruction and frequent opportunities to play alone and with others. Contact Gaye directly to schedule lessons at GayeD@vashoncenterforthearts.org

**Brand new students, please contact Gaye first

Online registration closes Feb 1st!

Drawing Manga
Ages: 8-13
Thursdays, Feb 4-Mar 11 | 4-5 pm (skip Feb 18)
Tuition: $55
Instructor: Robyn Smith
Location: Online via Zoom

Manga are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Learn how to draw different styles of Manga, including developing characters and sequential story lines. This is a beginning class, but if you have already developed some characters or have a start on your own graphic novel, please feel free to bring these! Robyn Smith has an MA in painting from University of Iowa. A long-time professor at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges, she has also taught extensively at museums, community art centers, colleges and high schools in the Pacific Northwest and Midwest.

Writing Your Own Story
Ages: 16-Adult
Session 1: Tuesdays, Feb 23-March 16 | 6:30-8 pm
Session 2: Thursdays, Feb 25-March 18 | 1-2:30 pm
Tuition: $75
Instructor: Shauna Ahern
Location: Online via Zoom

This hard time — enduring a pandemic — leads us to ask questions about what truly matters, and the process of writing essays about the stories we are holding helps us to let them go. Let’s gather in a community to do the work of telling our stories together. We will focus on free writing, allowing ourselves to write lousy first drafts, editing, working with structure, and revising until we are satisfied. You will receive writing prompts via email each day as well, to inspire your writing. Shauna M. Ahern has published 5 award-winning books. Her latest, ENOUGH: Notes from a Woman Who Has Finally Found It, was published last October. She loves teaching writing and living on Vashon. 

Box Full of Art! 3D Projects
Ages: 7 to 12
Fridays, Feb 26-Mar 19 | 1:30-3 pm
Tuition: $80 (includes $10 materials fee)
Instructor: Carolina Silva
Location: Online via Zoom

Dive into a box full of materials to spark your creativity! Explore sculptural techniques inspired by the work of different famous artists and get inspired to create your own 3D projects. Create mobiles, assemblage, sculptures, dioramas and more!

Antiracism in Education: A Primer Workshop
Ages: 15 to Adult
Saturday, Feb 27, 3-4:30 pm
Tuition: FREE (must register to reserve spot)
Instructor: Joana Chacon
Location: Online, via Zoom

Join us for an interactive workshop to learn more about the history of antiracism movements in education, where antiracism in education stands now, an overview of the work that still needs to be done, and review models of how to engage in the work as leaders, organizers, educators, parents, and community members.

Intermediate Filmmaking: The Language of Cinema          
Ages: 10-15
Sundays, Feb 28-March 28 | 3:30-5 pm (skip Feb 16)
Tuition: $100
Instructor: Emalia Hinden
Location: Online via zoom

Deepen your understanding of visual storytelling. Learn different types of shots and camera angles and their applications within the language of cinema. Students will leave class with an increased understanding of camera techniques and an introductory knowledge of film history and uses of techniques over time. Assignments will be shot weekly from copying classic film shots to creating an original short film. Emalia Hinden is a graduate of Hofstra University’s film studies and production program, with a concentration in film directing. A lifelong member of the Vashon film community, she showed her first film at the Vashon Theatre in 2009 when she was 11 years old and has been working on films ever since.

Celebration Cakes with the Fun Baker
Ages: 16-Adult
Saturdays, March 6-27 | 9:30 am-noon
Tuition: $110
Instructor: Amy Broomhall
Location: Online via Zoom

Learn to build a celebration cake from the ground up, with a focus on easy techniques to make a professional-looking cake. Start with baking in session one and then move to filling, stacking, crumb coating and final coating. Learn piping techniques and easy decorating options including ganache, fondant and candy. Impress your family and friends with the delicious and beautiful results! Students will be expected to provide their own cakes, frosting and tools. It is helpful to have a basic command of baking. Amy Broomhall has been baking since she can remember. In 3rd grade, she won a cupcake decorating contest and her cake obsession has only escalated from there. She is mainly self-taught and thinks that mistakes are the very best teachers. In her kitchen, she has a sprinkle wall!

VCA Musical Theatre: Wizard of Vashon
Ages: 10-18
Online: Mondays & Wednesdays, March 8-May 19 | 3:30-5 pm (skip Apr 5, 7, May 31) AND
In-person: Thursdays, March 18-May 20 | 3:30-5 pm (skip Apr 8)
Tuition: $355 (includes $25 materials fee)
Instructors: Elise Ericksen, Marita Ericksen, Christopher Dawson
Location: Online via Zoom (M & W)
and in-person outside at VCA or on location for filming in small groups (Th)

Students in Wizard of Vashon will join the ranks of performers around the world who are finding new ways to create art in safe, digitally enabled ways. Our original reinterpretation of this popular classic will include music, movement, costumes, scene development, and class sessions on video auditioning and self-tapes. Classes will take place via Zoom (with breakouts for scene writing and rehearsal) and outside at VCA. We will also be filming scenes on location at iconic spots around the island. All scenes have been adapted to respect social distancing and masking guidelines with careful in-person rotations. The course will culminate with a streamed video of the project for family, friends, and community to enjoy.