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Art

Oil Painting Class for Adults this Spring

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Pablo Picasso famously stated “Every child is an artist. The problem is to remain an artist once they grow up.” This quote is painted on the wall of one of Potomac’s classrooms. In this spirit, we offer oil painting classes for adults during our Fall and Spring sessions. We invite you to partake in the benefits of painting!

 

Art Teacher teaching adult painting class

 

In a 2013 blogpost, Costa Rican artist and educator Jeannina Blanco discussed 11 great benefits of painting in the following categories:

  1. Communication
  2. Therapy
  3. Self-esteem
  4. Mobility
  5. Concentration and healing
  6. Mental health
  7. Brain activity
  8. Emotional intelligence
  9. Art appreciation
  10. Culture
  11. Fun

READ MS. BLANCO’S FULL ARTICLE

 

adult painting class

 

Starting in February 2017, a new session of oil painting classes taught by Mason School of Art alum Nathan Loda will begin. Intro to Oil Painting for beginners and Landscape Painting for those with some experience will be offered on Saturdays in the School of Art on the Mason Fairfax campus. Come and join us! You will appreciate the relaxing and supportive atmosphere that Mr. Loda brings to the classroom.

 

SEE ALL VISUAL ART CLASSES

 

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Music

Music Classes for Adults of All Ages

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It’s never too late to take a piano class or learn guitar! Confirmed by a recent article in The Washington Post (see blogpost for more), adults – especially older adults ages 55 and up – are discovering the joy and fulfilment of music lessons later on in life.

On November 10th, Washington Post staff writer Tara Bahrampour posted an article titled “More older adults learn it’s never too late to pick up a musical instrument”. The article explains the growing national trend for adults to engage in music learning and making.

 

Guitar Teacher teaching adult guitar class

 

“Mastering a new musical instrument has a reputation as a young person’s game. Like learning a foreign language, it is commonly seen as something that must be embedded during the formative years, otherwise the learner will be hopelessly behind, if not simply hopeless,” writes Ms. Bahrampour. “But increasingly, adults are embracing musicianship late in life. Some finally have time after their wage-earning and child-raising years have ended. Some are spurred on by studies showing the health benefits of playing music. Many describe it as scratching an itch they’ve had all their lives. And while some are happy to get to the point of playing ‘Happy Birthday’ for their grandchildren, others achieve a level of competence that allows them to join ensembles and even earn money playing.”

READ FULL WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE HERE

 

Voice Teacher teaching adult voice class

 

Potomac Arts Academy offers several music classes for adults, with the next session (Spring 2017 Semester) starting in February. Piano Teaching Artists Ina Mirtcheva Blevins and David Norfrey present piano classes for adults, including specialized classes for older adults 55 and up. Mason professor and Grammy educator nominee Glen McCarthy teaches guitar classes for adults, and Voice Teaching Artist Seon Gyu Park instructs voice class for adults. Through a collaboration with Encore Chorale, we also offer a vocal ensemble for older adults.

 

Registration for Spring 2017 is open – sign up now and start making music in February!

SEE ALL CLASSES

 

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Announcements Art Music

Spring 2017 Class Daily Schedule

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UPDATED DECEMBER 2, 2016

Spring 2017 group classes will begin in February, and registration for Music, Visual Art, and Creative Writing classes is open now (Acting classes for kids will open soon!). Check out this daily list of classes to help with your schedule planning.

MONDAYS
Piano Level 1 for Kids Ages 6-9 | 4:30pm – 5:15pm
Piano Level 1 for Kids Ages 6-9 | 5:30pm – 6:15pm
Violin Level 2 for Kids Ages 4-7 | 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Guitar Level 1 for Adults | 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Piano Level 2 for Kids Ages 6-9 | 6:30pm – 7:15pm
Guitar Level 2 for Adults | 7:15pm – 8:15pm
Piano level 1 for Adults | 7:30pm – 8:30pm

TUESDAYS
Piano Level 2 for Kids Ages 6-9 | 4:45pm – 5:30pm
First Steps in Music for Kids ages 4-7 | 5:00pm – 5:45pm
Voice for Kids Ages 5-8 | 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Piano Level 1 for Kids Ages 6-9 | 5:45pm – 6:30pm
Voice for Kids Ages 9-12 | 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Creative Writing for Teens | 7:00pm – 8:00pm

WEDNESDAYS
Piano Intermediate Level 2 for Adults 55+ | 10:15am – 11:15am
Piano Level 1 for Adults 55+ | 11:30am – 12:30pm
Piano Intermediate Level 1 for Adults 55+ | 2:30pm – 3:30pm
Piano Intermediate Level 2 for Adults 55+ | 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Acting for Adults | 7:00pm – 8:00pm

THURSDAYS
Violin Level 1 for Kids Ages 4-7 | 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Voice for Teens | 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Piano Level 1 for Adults 55+ | 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Piano Level 2 for Adults | 7:00pm –  8:00pm
Voice for Adults | 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Piano level 1 for Adults | 8:00pm – 9:00pm

FRIDAYS
Violin Level 1 for Kids Ages 4-7 | 5:30pm – 6:30pm

SATURDAYS
Violin Level 2 for Kids Ages 4-7 | 9:15am – 10:15am
Intro to Oil Painting for Adults | 9:30am – 12:00n
Art Adventures for Kids Ages 4-7 | 10:00am – 11:15am
Art Foundations for Kids Ages 8-11 | 10:00am – 11:15am
Violin Adventures Level 2 for Kids Ages 6-12 | 10:30am – 11:30am
Violin Adventures Level 1 for Kids Ages 4-8 | 11:30am – 12:30pm
Art Explorations for Teens | 1:00pm – 2:15pm
Landscape Painting for Adults | 1:00pm – 3:30pm
Acting Classes for Kids Ages 5-18 (available soon!)

 

Register today to reserve your spot – take advantage of the “Split Payment” option during checkout. You can also add a “Gift Card” to your cart during checkout, if you would like to give the gift of the arts!

SEE FULL LIST OF CLASSES

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Community Outreach Events Music

“Veterans And The Arts” Event Nov. 11th

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WRITTEN BY CLAIRE ALLEN

Mason will be honoring our veterans and military families with special events during Veteran’s Day weekend, including “Veterans and the Arts” at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas – a full day of interactive visual and performing arts activities.

Veterans and the Arts
FREE EVENT
Friday, November 11, 2016
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Hylton Performing Arts Center
10960 George Mason Circle
Manassas, VA 20110
Get Directions

The Hylton Performing Arts Center will host “Veterans and the Arts”, an event that honors the veterans in our community and engages with them through the arts. Open to military veterans, their families, and the public, the event will include several interactive arts activities, dance and chamber music performances by community ensembles, movement classes including yoga, a visual art exhibit of works by veterans, and a knowledge center of the resources available to veterans in the area.

GlenMcCarthy_headshot
Potomac Arts Academy
is excited to be a part of this special event. Our own Guitar Teaching Artist, Glen McCarthy, will be teaching a beginning guitar class as part of the festivities. No previous experience is required, and all are welcome to participate! Glen has taught adult guitar classes at Potomac Arts Academy since 2015 and has inspired guitar students of all ages during his time in the Fairfax County Public School system and at George Mason University. Guitars will be provided for participants through Potomac Arts Academy’s outreach program Instruments in the Attic, which collects donated instruments from the community, repairs them, and then puts them into the hands of musicians in need.

Additionally, Mason professors Darden Purcell and James Carroll will present a lecture on jazz music titled “Music of the Greatest Generation”. The lecture will preview the 8PM performance (ticketed) of Jazz 4 Justice: Tribute to the Greatest Generation”.

VISIT HYLTON WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO

Opportunities for veterans to engage with the arts will not end on Friday – in the spring, additional guitar workshops with Glen McCarthy, a quilt exhibit, and a Sing-Along with the Manassas Chorale will be offered at the Hylton!

 

PopsOrchestraImage

 

“A Salute to Our Veterans” Concert
Sunday, November 13th, 2PM
GMU Center for the Arts
Mason Fairfax Campus
4400 University Drive
Fairfax, VA 22030
Get Directions

The George Mason University Center for the Arts will also host a Veterans’ Day concert, featuring Anthony Maiello conducting the American Festival Pops Orchestra in a program of patriotic music and classical favorites by American composers.

SEE EVENT DETAILS

 

We hope you will be able to join the Mason community to honor our veterans through the arts next weekend!

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Announcements

Find Us On Instragram

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Mason’s Potomac Arts Academy is now on instagram! They say “a picture is worth a thousand words”, so as we add to our board we hope to visually tell the story of our wonderful community of artists and creators.

 

FirstStepsParachute

 

Potomac’s Instragram account will add to our social media channels, which also include Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

 

GO TO OUR INSTAGRAM PAGE

The Academy will be closed for Spring Break beginning Monday, March 25 and will re-open on Monday, April 1. We will be operating with limited hours. For any urgent requests, please call 703-993-9889.

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