Art & Music

Upcoming Courses

Courses

The term 'seven cities of Delhi' refers to the historical evolution of Delhi, from the 10th Century onwards, where successive rulers built new cities, each adding to the location's rich past. These cities, though distinct, are considered to have merged into modern-day Delhi. The seven cities are Lao Kot (Quila Rai Pithora), Siri, Tughlaqabad, Jahanpanah, Firozabad, Shergarh (Purana Quila) and Shahjahanabad. To this was added British New Delhi, followed by modern day post-Independence construction.


Monday, 11/24, Special Programs Building, Classroom 156
Birds have captured the imagination of artists for centuries. Their beautiful songs, their seemingly effortless flight, and their colorful plumage make them ideal subjects to study and enjoy. Using artworks from the collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the VMFA, we will examine the beauty of birds and discuss why artists have long used them for their artistic expression.


Monday, 11/24, Synchronous Online
Last year's biopic about Dylan's early career ('A Complete Unknown') rekindled an interest in how his songwriting and performance style evolved so rapidly in the little more than four years in which his first seven albums were released: from his eponymous debut in March 1962 through 'Blonde on Blonde' in June 1966. This course will examine each album in depth looking at the songs as well as the production values and critical response.


Monday, Oct 20, 27, Nov 3, BUS, Ukrop Auditorium Q162 (3 seats (3%) remaining)
This class will take you on a musical tour of the history of the cello, featuring both lecture and musical examples played live. We will begin with a brief history of bowed string instruments, we'll toss in a little non-classical music, and end with a few holiday favorites in the Christian and Jewish traditions.


Friday, 12/12, NRCT, Room 124 (Choir Room) ( No seats currently available )
Join us for a fun-filled class making sterling silver chain maille jewelry. This pattern is a mix of the three-in-three pattern and the Half Byzantine pattern and is suitable for Beginners. All materials (sterling silver jumprings and clasps) will be provided and the instructor will bring tools to use during class. Your choice of bracelet or necklace (20' long).


Wednesdays, 11/12 & 11/19, Special Programs Building, Room 160
Chopin's waltzes are special because they are more than just dance music: they are refined, emotionally rich works that showcase the piano's expressive potential and stand as some of the most beloved pieces in Romantic piano literature. Alan will perform the 14 waltzes that are the most commonly recognized as a set (including both those released during his lifetime and those published posthumously) interwoven with his usual commentary.


Wednesday, Dec 17, NRCT, Room 124 (Choir Room) ( No seats currently available )
Come to this class to learn about the long-term health benefits of just moving! BeMovedŽ embraces the joy of dance with people of all movement abilities. Movement expressed through dance and music has a transformative power that enriches a person's well-being above and beyond the well-known physical fitness benefits. BeMovedŽ is a dance fitness experience that begins with easy-to-follow therapeutic movements that flow into dance styles inspired by a wide variety of musical genres.


Tues, Sept 30, then all the rest on Mon, Oct 6, 13, 20, 27, Nov 3, 10, 17 (skip 24), Dec 1, 8, 15, THC, Alice Haynes Room (5 seats (12%) remaining)
This is an introductory class for those who do not know how to crochet. You will learn the basic crochet stitches, yarn weights, and hook sizes. Yarn and crochet hooks will be provided for the first class as well as patterns for simple projects.


No session is currently available for registration

This class is for individuals who have basic knitting skills and want to take those skills to the next level. We will cover cables, knitting in the round, finishing techniques, and reading a pattern. If you want to upgrade your knitting ability or just need help with a project you have started, this class is for you.


Tuesdays; 12/2, 12/9 & 12/16, TBD - UR Campus (2 seats (13%) remaining)
This course will examine the life and work of singer/actor/activist Frank Sinatra. From humble beginnings, Sinatra emerged as a Big Band singing sensation prior to World War II. He was also a controversial figure: a friend of presidents who was also tied to underworld figures.


Thursday, 11/13 & Friday, 11/14, TBD - UR Campus ( No seats currently available )
Celebrate Halloween by viewing and discussing art that makes us uneasy. The artist may have intended to frighten the viewer, or viewers may react to this unusual art because it touches a dissonant cord in themselves. Come join us in examining scary art to discover why certain artists want to shock and disturb us with their works. Costumes and masks optional!


Friday, 10/31, Synchronous Online
Learn how to make your very own live evergreen wreath from instructor and local farmer Conner Parrish. We will work with grape vine wreaths and live greens from the farm. All materials will be included with the course.


Friday, 11/21, Special Programs Building, Classroom 156
Friday, 11/21, Special Programs Building, Classroom 156
Mughal Architecture in India refers to the distinctive Indo-Islamic style that flourished under the Mughal emperors from the 16th to 19th Centuries. This style is characterized by its use of arches, domes, and minarets, blending Persian, Turkish, and Indian architectural traditions. Key features include bulbous domes, slender minarets, large gateways and intricate ornamentation. Notable examples include the TajMahal, Red Fort in Delhi and Agra, Humayuns Tomb, Fatehpur Sikri, Jama Masjid, and Shalimar Gardens.


Monday, 11/17, Special Programs Building, Classroom 156
We will examine the works of Monet, Renoir, Degas, Cassatt, and Morisot from the 1860s to the 1910s, exploring their stylistic and technical innovations, personal lives, and the cultural forces shaping their artistry.


No session is currently available for registration

Join this deep dive into the 2025-2026 Richmond Symphony Series concerts. Each class in this course will focus on the repertoire of the upcoming Symphony Series concert and feature a special guest with a critical role in the performance. Guests will include Music Director Valentina Peleggi, guest artists, and composers. Through recordings, images, scholarship, biographies, backstage stories, and discussion we will engage more deeply with the music and the artists who bring it to life.


Mondays; 9/15, 10/20 & 11/3, Synchronous Online
Through playful writing games inspired by Surrealist artists, we'll surprise ourselves with strange and delightful stories. No writing experience needed, just a willingness to have fun and see where your imagination goes.


No session is currently available for registration

This course offers an exploration of the Christmas story through works of art. The story has inspired artists to produce some of the most tender images created. Images have evolved over time along with changes in society and shifts in religious attitudes. Depictions of the Nativity moved from the mother and child to a scene with a cast of hundreds. Images depicting events preceding and following the Nativity are also examined.


Wednesday, 12/10, Synchronous Online
Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, known as Raphael, was a young contemporary of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. When critics speak of Raphael, they tend to come up with the same word to describe the genius in his work: grace. It is said that his works reflect his character. He was charming, handsome, and insanely talented. It's thought he might have been the happiest, most successful, and best-loved artist in history.


Wednesdays, Oct 15, 22, 29, Nov 5, 12, 19, Synchronous Online
The proliferation of skyscrapers in the early 20th Century gave artists new inspiration for rendering landscapes. Rather than the lush vista of greenery, steel and concrete became their passion. In this session, we will explore the many ways our urban landscapes have been used to communicate both the beauty and the challenge of urban life.


Monday, 12/1, Synchronous Online
Come and enjoy this survey of music from the Baroque era and the people who composed it. During the course, the structure of new forms that emerged will be studied through musical examples taken from concerti, dance suites, fugues, and operas. Students will come away with a clearer understanding of this music and its position in the development of larger forms in the Classical era.


Thursday, 10/30, Special Programs Building, Classroom 156 ( No seats currently available )