Courses

Jennifer Ramm, a local bluegrass musician and bluegrass radio show host, invites you to an afternoon gathering of acoustic musicians playing bluegrass music together. All members of the community and all levels of musical ability are welcomed! All eras and styles of bluegrass are welcome, from Ralph Stanley to Alison Krauss to Billy Strings. So - bring a voice, bring an instrument, bring a desire to sit and listen to the wonderful comradery that is a group of bluegrass musicians playing live together.

---

Sunday, December 6, 2026, Trutter Center Room 1105
Sunday, February 7, 2027, Trutter Center Room 1105
Sunday, April 4, 2027, Trutter Center Room 1105

Design a cheerful winter or holiday plate featuring your very own fused glass snowman scene to serve from or display. In this creative, hands-on class, you'll learn how to cut, layer, and arrange glass to build a charming seasonal design that's uniquely yours. A $44 supply fee is payable to the instructor at the start of class.

---

Saturday, October 24, 2026, Trutter Center Room 1116

Discover how to create professional-quality graphics with Canva's powerful, free design tools. Whether you're crafting eye-catching marketing materials, polished resumes, social media posts, flyers, brochures, or invitations, Canva makes it easy to bring your ideas to life. In this hands-on class you'll explore customizable templates, the extensive elements library, text and branding features, and built-in AI tools all accessible without a paid subscription. Learn practical tips and design techniques to confidently create visuals for personal, academic, or professional use. No design experience needed, just bring your creativity! Please bring a notebook, pen, and flash drive.

---

November 2-5, 2026, Sangamon Hall Room 1101 (Sold Out. For waitlist, add to cart and check out.)

Explore the foundations of realistic shading in this hands-on drawing class designed for all skill levels. Whether you're continuing from Drawing for Beginners or starting fresh, this course will guide you through the core techniques needed to bring portraits to life. Students will learn how to transfer a line drawing from a reference photo and then build depth and dimension using both graphite and charcoal. Instruction will focus on blending each medium individually and combining them effectively to create smooth transitions, strong contrasts, and lifelike features. By the end of the class, students will have a solid understanding of shading fundamentals and the confidence to apply them to their own portrait work. Students must bring the following supplies to class: transfer paper (not tracing paper) in 8.5�11 or larger, a drawing paper pad (not sketch paper) such as Strathmore or Canson Drawing or Bristol Smooth, graphite pencils in 2H, HB, 2B, and 6B-preferably Kimberly brand-General's charcoal pencils in HB, 2B, 4B, and 6B, a kneaded eraser, a charcoal eraser, and blending stumps, all of which can be purchased at Michaels, Hobby Lobby, or Amazon.

---

November 2-30, 2026, Kreher Agriculture Center Room K1123

Design and create a festive set of four fused glass Christmas ornaments perfect for decorating your tree or gifting to someone special. This joyful, hands-on class guides you through cutting, arranging, and layering glass to craft unique holiday designs that sparkle with personality. Whether you're brand new to glasswork or already familiar with the process, you'll enjoy a relaxed, creative experience and leave with four kiln fired ornaments ready to hang. A $44 supply fee is payable to the instructor at the start of class.

---

Saturday, November 14, 2026, Trutter Center Room 1116 (Sold Out. For waitlist, add to cart and check out.)

Join local artist Carolyn Owen Sommer for a two week Collage series class. Using papers or lightweight fibers, you'll create your own composition. Please bring a canvas in the size of your choice. Bring any special items you want to include, plus reliable scissors, two empty containers about the size of a yogurt for example, any cheap brush you don't treasure, and imagination. Do not wear your favorite clothes because this is a messy class.

---

February 24, 2027 to March 3, 2027, Trutter Center Room 1114

This basket is a great size to use for anything! It would look great on top of your fridge, dryer, coffee table - and of course for bagels! Techniques include setting up a woven, filled base, twining, triple twining with an arrow weave, the use of leather handles and an overlay. Beads and copper wire are the accent on this basket. Students will have a choice of beads and design their own during class. Accent colors are moss green and smoked. All supplies are provided. Please bring a sack lunch.

---

Saturday, November 21, 2026, Trutter Center Room 1116

All Hearts Come Home for Christmas was designed especially for the West Tennessee Basket Guild for their Christmas Weave in 2024. This large basket starts by weaving a woven, filled base. Techniques include setting up a base, twining, paired triple twining, filling the base using the "chicken feet" method, the use of overlays and shaping! The handle is an oak 8" - 9" push in. The accent colors are Moss green and Christmas red. There will be a variety of floral embellishments to choose from during class and state of Illinois embellishments. All supplies are provided. Please bring a sack lunch.

---

Saturday, December 12, 2026, Trutter Center Room 1116

Open to all concert band instrumentalists. Students must have a working instrument and/or accessories. This is an instrumental ensemble intended to provide an opportunity for students to continue their instrumental pursuits through rehearsal/performance utilizing repertoire of the highest quality. The ensemble performs concerts several times during the semester.

---

August 25, 2026 to December 10, 2026, Menard Hall Room 2250

The college choir is open to anyone with some singing ability. Emphasis is placed upon improving musicianship as well as the quality of performance. Many varied styles of choral literature are studied and performed at the end of each semester. This course may be repeated for a maximum of four semesters.

---

January 11, 2027 to May 7, 2027, Menard Hall Room 2250

This is a select instrumental ensemble. The ensemble rehearses and performs a variety of big band arrangements, both jazz and rock. The jazz band performs several times a year at various public venues. Open to all performers on trumpet, trombone and saxophone, rhythm performers (piano, guitar, bass, drum). Students are required to have a working instrument and accessories.

---

January 12, 2027 to May 6, 2027, Menard Hall Room 2250

"Straight to the Heart" starts by weaving a woven, filled base and tucking the filler spokes using the "chicken feet" method. Techniques include setting up a base, twining, triple twining with a step up, and the use of overlays. The accent color is Quartz Pink, and a beaded heart embellishment adorns the front of this cutie!

---

Saturday, January 23, 2027, Kreher Agriculture Center Room K1121

Learn how to create a beautiful 4x6 fused glass panel, with textures and colors using different products and techniques all on one project. Can be left flat or shaped into a plate of dish. A $45 supply fee is payable to the instructor at the start of class.

---

Saturday, February 13, 2027, Trutter Center Room 1105

Join in this class for step by step instructions and create a beautiful and functional ceramic platter adorned with strawberries. Perfect to use or display as strawberry season approaches! End result will be food safe! A $45 supply fee is payable to the instructor at the start of class.

---

Thursday, March 4, 2027, Trutter Center Room 1116

Matilda starts by using a custom made "Quick Weave" handle. You just slide in the spokes, bend and weave! So much fun and great for the newer weaver. Techniques include start/stop weaving, the use of overlays and lashing with fabric. There will be a variety of embellishments and fabric to choose from at class time, just in case goats are not your thing! This is an adorable basket to hang on a wall or door.

---

Saturday, March 20, 2027, Trutter Center Room 1105

Whimsy starts by weaving a woven, filled base tucking the filler spokes using the "chicken feet" method. Techniques in this basket include setting up a woven base, twining, start/stop weaving, triple twining with a step up and the use of overlays. There will be a variety of pip berries to choose from to adorn the front of the basket.

---

Saturday, April 17, 2027, Trutter Center Room 1105

Join local artis Carolyn Owen Sommer in creating a candy bar watercolor. Bring watercolors, brushes, water container and watercolor paper. This is an abstract design class. We will work in any size you prefer, using the constraints of a candy bar for our pattern and study repetition with variation. Chocolate bars will be provided. Come prepared to think and laugh.

---

April 21-22, 2027, Trutter Center Room 1114

Geometric stained glass sun catcher. Assorted color choices. Learn stained glass or polish off your skills! Any level of experience welcome. All supplies and instructions are included. Approximate finished size 6x6. A $45 supply fee is payable to the instructor at the start of class.

---

Thursday, April 29, 2027, Trutter Center Room 1116

Watercolor Relaxation. This class for adults involves gentle stretching, breathing, imagining, and painting. Please bring watercolors, water container, brushes, and good watercolor paper. Bring a sack lunch and a beverage. Some other supplies will be available for your use. This is a good chance for a peaceful uninhibited composition. Wear comfy clothing.

---

Saturday, May 1, 2027, Trutter Center Room 1105

"The Porch Basket" starts by weaving a woven, filled base. Techniques include setting up a woven base, tucking the spokes using the "chicken feet" method, twining, and shaping! The basket is woven with a 7" x 17" D handle. An adorable embellishment with squirrels playing on a fence adorns the front of the basket. The basket in the picture is stained. You will leave with your basket unstained, but staining techniques will be discussed in class.

---

Saturday, May 8, 2027, Trutter Center Room 1116

The Country Catch All is a great basket to learn the basics of weaving. Not only that, you will also leave with a very useful basket! The basket starts by laying out a woven, filled base and tucking the filler spokes with the "chicken feet" technique. Other techniques include start/stop weaving, using a flat locking row, using braided sea grass as a rim and the use of an overlay. The accent color is Walnut. Two buttons adorn the front. It may be called the Country Catch All but it will fit into any d�cor!

---

Saturday, June 5, 2027, Kreher Agriculture Center Room K1121