Starts January 11. 9-10 am, Baby Signing Time, play and sign class for ages 0-3 with parent or caregiver; 10:30-ll:30 am, children 3-5 with parent or caregiver. Come sing, play, and sign with your preschoolers! Face-to-face communication through signing improves children's self-esteem and confidence, and includes songs, games and stories.

Cost: 4 weeks $60, or 8 weeks $120. Instructor: Margot Holmes, 802-299-9172, www.uppervalleysupersigners.com.

3 sessions, Jan.25, February 1 & 8.

7:00 pm Texas Two-Step, Beginner/advanced beginner

7:45 pm beginner swing dance.

No partner necessary. Come learn the basic dance steps for country western music, and an easy, casual form of swing dance; Faye's classes are fun and entertaining, and make learning to dance possible for even the most hesitant and reluctant.

Cost: $25 per person one class, $45 for both classes, cash or check at first class.

Contact Instructor Faye Grearson, 603-369-2936, www.FayesDanceStudio.com.

Mondays and/or Thursdays:

A variety of stretches, breathing exercises, and yoga poses increase balance and flexibility, decrease stress and promote a sense of tranquility and well-being. All levels welcome. Please bring a blanket.

Session I : 4 weeks / Starts January 4 / 9:00-10:30am

$96.00 for session (8 classes) / $14drop-in

Contact Instructor Rose Loving, 802-763-7434, Loving@sover.net

Wednesdays:

Japanese calligraphy with an emphasis on individual style and choice of words. Scrolls and plaques will be available for students to present their work.

Cost: $60 for 6 weeks plus $5 per session for materials. Ages 10 and older. Classes meet Wednesdays at 3:30.

Contact Instructor Ginger Armstrong, 617-686-6433, ginger_armstrong@hotmail.com .

Thursdays:

Come Join Us! Vermont's largest steel band is always looking for new members. Start learning Caribbean Steel Pan Drum now.

Beginners start by taking private or semi private lessons with Scott and start joining with the Panhandlers as they learn the tunes.

Contact Scott at visavt@aol.com or 802-234-6987 and get started today!

Beginner lessons can be started at any time!

Saturdays:

Tai Chi uses fluid movements to improve balance, increase circulation, strengthen the body, reduce tension and promote peace of mind.

Cost: $66 for 6 week session, or $13 drop-in. Meets Saturday mornings 9:00-10:00.

Contact Instructor Catherine Freese, 802-889-9140, freese@valley.net.

Private instruction at VTISA!

Enroll in private music lessons with one of our talented teachers.

Instructors can be reached at their private numbers listed below.

Scott Paulson - Steel Drums - Visavt@aol.com - 802-234-6987

Paul Rivers - Electric and Acoustic Guitar - 802-889-5693

Barbara C. Smith - Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, 802-234-6987 or Mscwinds@aol.com

Beth Telford - Cape Breton Fiddling - 802-728-6351

Lindsey Warren - Voice and Piano - 802-649-1737 or classicsinger@juno.com

VTISA Teachers

Lindsey Warren has enjoyed teaching voice and piano to students of all ages for the past decade. She received a M. M. from McGill University in Montreal and a B.M. Degree from Furman University in Greenville, SC, both in Vocal Performance. She has also attended Oberlin Conservatory's Baroque Performance Institute. Lindsey enjoys singing a variety of styles. With regards to teaching, she believes that good technique and musicianship can be applied to any style of music (folk, jazz, classical, Broadway, etc) and her lessons focus on relaxation, breathing, fun and creativity. In addition to piano and voice lessons at VTISA, Lindsey teaches at Johnson State College, conducts the Randolph Singers and assistant directs Revels North.

Lindsey Warren--Voice and Piano--802-649-1737 or classicsinger@juno.com

Rose Loving has been a passionate Yoga student, taking classes and keeping a home practice for 15 years. Her practice is a blend of various forms of yoga and she is a Kripalu certified teacher. Rose brings a focus of compassion and self-awareness to her classes and encourages students to integrate this into their lives.

Ginger Armstrong began studying Japanese Calligraphy over ten years ago in Vermont with a woman from Hokkaido, Japan. Later she moved to Japan, where she furthered her studies with two teachers. Her final teacher, Ooba Sensei, taught in the Chinese tradition and presented calligraphy as an expression of spirit and not just form. He also stressed the carving history of calligraphy which gives it its great strength and movement. Ginger's work involves practicing a Kanji (Japanese word) by working on the dictionary form (Kaisho) and understanding the shape and stroke of the Japanese word and how these two elements give meaning to its definition. After confidence in the Kaisho she introduces writing the Kanji in a cursive manner. "I do have dictionaries to guide me, but my own heart is the final judge." This comment from Ginger follows from her teachers wisdom. 'He would always say "Do the spirit, not just strokes."

Catherine Freese first fell in love with tai chi while taking an undergraduate class in Chinese philosophy. Fifteen years ago she began studying it in earnest, learning a Yang form, a Chen form and eventually studying the sword and staff. One of the things she loves most is how this ancient art remains relevant today in cultivating energy and balancing relaxation and strength.

Scott Paulson earned his B.A. in Music from Johnson State College, Vermont. Scott has taught instrumental music programs, jazz bands, steel bands and percussion groups in area private and public schools since 1996. He has done Steel Drum workshops for such entities as The Vermont Alliance for Arts Education and for The Killington Music Festival Suzuki School. He currently plays lead pan with several professional groups and with the widely acclaimed "Panhandlers," and has also played bass guitar with folk artist/ instrumentalist "Spencer Lewis and the Thrufters," Latin and New Orleans music with GUSANO, and Highland Bagpipes with The Catamount Pipe Band.

Paul Rivers - Electric and Acoustic Guitar Paul has over 40 years performing and teaching experience and is versed in a wide variety of playing styles. He was a deans list student at Berklee College of Music, and has recording credits in Boston and New York recording studios. Paul has shared concert stages with various recording artists including the Animals, Buddy Miles, The Turtles, Canned Heat, The Critters, Bad Finger, The Kingsmen and many others. Currently he is appearing locally in solo performances.

Barbara Smith attended Bard College as a Liberace Scholar, where she received her Bachelor of Arts with a focus in Music Performance. While at Bard, she worked with Joan Tower, Luis Garcia-Renart, flutist Patricia Spencer, saxophonists Erika Lindsay and Howard Johnson, composer Kyle Gann, and performed as a solo flutist with the American Symphony Orchestra. Barbara performs in the area with The East Bay Jazz Ensemble, various Steel Pan groups, and at a variety of functions as a solo flutist.

Beth Telford has been playing fiddle for more than 20 years at festivals, dances, coffeehouses, and backyards in New England and beyond. Since 1996, she has concentrated on learning the tunes and stylings of Cape Breton music. For the past 3 years, she has organized and taught week-long Cape Breton fiddle camps with her mentor, master Cape Breton fiddler Jerry Holland. Beth teaches aspiring fiddlers of any age or ability. She believes that it is important to be able to learn music both by ear and from music, and incorporates both methods into her teaching.

Our Annual Campaign Fundraising!

The Vermont Independent School of the Arts needs your help more this year than in years past. We count on the generosity of all in our community to keep our school running, those enrolled in our new and ongoing programs and those taking private instruction. No donation is too small, or too large!! from paying for a roll of paper towels to our larger visions for the building and administrative help. Your donation is testament to our place in your lives and says that you value the Vermont Independent School of the Arts. Please consider making a donation when you register for a class. You can also make a pledge towards a gift given in stages over the coming months, i.e. a monthly donation of /$10 or $20 for the next five months.

Thanks for your help!!

Refund Policy for Workshops: For cancellations made more than three weeks before the beginning of the particular program, the school will refund all fees less a $25.00 handling fee. Within three weeks, no refund will be made unless that spot can be filled.

To sign up call us at 802-763-2334 or E-mail us at visavt@aol.com

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