Classes help kids tap into their creative side

Between all the holiday sugar and being trapped inside thanks to the cold and snow, lots of local kids are bouncing off the walls in the new year. Parents faced with cabin fever themselves might be asking what to do with young ones this time of year.

Luckily, numerous art studios, museums and music schools across the valley offer the perfect solution for you and your rowdy household.

The Hockaday Museum of Art hosts weekly classes for students of all ages.

“We have a great diversity of art media, different styles and rotating exhibits on display, and that just gives great inspiration to kids,” said Brian Eklund, communications director for the Hockaday.

Each class concentrates on a specific style, and teaches a variety of skills and history. Several of the classes are inspired by certain artists, such as Frank Hagel and Winold Reiss, who are displayed around the museum, which teach students to think and work in the artists’ famous styles.

Classes are also offered for preschool students, ages 2 to 5 years old, which help young children with coordination and stability. Using paper, paint, markers, crayons, and glue, pre-school artists and their adult helpers will share fun art projects that encourage creativity and develop basic art skills. In addition, Eklund said the classes help to open children’s minds to art at an early age, which allows for a greater appreciation as they grow and develop.

Hockaday also offers classes for homeschool students from first to eighth grade. These classes allow students to view contemporary and historic art on display at the museum, while learning to speak the “language of art” as well as use their creativity to produce a piece inspired by the art or artist of the day. Art projects are designed with multiple levels of complexity in order to accommodate individual abilities.

“The great thing about most of these classes is that they can be a family affair,” Eklund said. “Art is fantastic for children of all ages, so all the siblings in a family can attend classes together.”

Classes range from $3 to $7 per class, and members of the Hockaday Museum receive a 10 percent off prices.

For more information on the Hockaday Museum of Art, visit their website at www.hockadaymuseum.org.

Stumptown Art Studio in Whitefish also hosts children’s classes, both in the studio and at local schools.

“It’s messy and creative, but it’s always a great environment,” said instructor Souheir Rawlings.

The studio offers group lessons each week to teach students about a variety of techniques and styles, such as painting and sculpting.

The classes cover different styles each time, from different cultural styles to a variety of techniques and artists, so classes are never repetitive. The classes are open to children as young as 1 year old, up to middle school students.

In light of the recent “canvas and cocktails” trend, where adults attend painting classes with beverage in hand, Stumptown has introduced “Canvas and Cookies.” The classes teach children ages 7 to 12 years old how to creatively paint in the style of a famous artist, all while enjoying tasty (age appropriate) treats.

Rawlings said Stumptown actively participates outside the studio as well, with programs such as their Art from the Heart program, which provides a therapeutic art outlet for children with disabilities, or those who have been through trauma.

“[Art] is just a great way for kids to have the ability to explore and create,” Rawlings said.

For more information on class schedules or prices, visit www.stumptownartstudio.com.

Many places around the valley offer a plethora of musical classes as well.

The Resound! School of Music and Theatre, a new studio on Main Street in Kalispell, teaches a variety of music and theater classes, including piano, stringed instruments, guitar, voice and acting classes, both individually and in groups.

The three owners, Sarah Burdick, Amy Zoltek and Sally Jerde, hope the studio will compliment the music and theater programs found in local schools. Their intention was not to replace the established school programs, but instead, help students who wanted extra guidance, or wanted to pursue an instrument that wasn’t offered in their school’s program.

“The programs in our local schools are great,” said Burdick. “We’re looking to supplement those programs for kids who don’t have access to these programs, whether they’re homeschooled or they’re elementary-school level and want to start early.”

The school, which is located at 213 Main St. on the second floor, is currently accepting students for all of their classes and lessons.

For a list of classes or for more information, contact the Resound! School of Music and Theatre at 257-7082.

North Valley Music School in Whitefish, a nonprofit community music school, is offering a winter session of group programs that run through the next two months.

The music school aims to influence children from birth, helping them to understand rhythm and sound, and encourage expression through music.

Their Music Together class joins up to 10 children from birth to age five, and their parents or caregivers, for 45 minutes weekly to experience songs, chants, movement activities and instrumental jam sessions. Music Together classes are based on the idea that “all children are musical and can learn to sing in tune and keep a beat,” according to the class list. The classes also provide an excellent preparation for private instruction down the road.

The school also host basic guitar and ukulele classes for ages 9 to 12, which teach students how to read music notation, strum patterns for a variety of styles, how to restring an instrument and some simple melodies, as well as multi-part songs in a fun group setting.

Both music schools encourage children to be involved in music throughout their lives, saying that children who study a musical instrument are more likely to excel in all of their studies, work better in teams, have enhanced critical thinking skills, stay in school, have larger vocabularies, more advanced reading skills and pursue further education.

“It’s important to balance out what kids are doing,” said Zoltek. “There are so many options for sports in the valley, which is great, but doing music and the arts is really going to expand kids’ intelligence in a lot of different ways.”

All class types help to spark interest in visual art and music from a young age. With more budget cuts in schools each year, art- and music-based classes are continually reduced, which can stunt a student’s creative growth.

“These classes fill that hole,” Eklund said. “Because we have so very many years of experience at this institution, the breadth of the items studied at classes like these is incredible, and will benefit children, no matter their age or skill level.”

Reporter Brianna Loper can be reached at 758-4441 or bloper@dailyinterlake.com.