Classes

Click Here to see our class schedule.
St. John School of the Arts aim is to reach out to our youth, intervening through arts education during these impressionable formative years. Immersion in creativity, self-discipline and self-expression infuses the intellectual, social and psychological well being of our children. Numerous studies reveal arts education increases attention span, focus and cooperative learning, enhances creative intelligence, and augments scholastic learning.

Please click on the “+” to see more detail or Click Here for the descriptions.
*These classes are offered based on availability of the instructors and are subject to change; please contact us if you have any questions regarding scheduling.

Click Here for Scholarship page to see our financial assistance information.

Drama Classes
Acting for Theater
Students will engage in fun drama exercises, story-telling, improvisation and scene study. Classes are designed to focus on team building for ensemble performance, with individual concentration on confidence in public speaking and physical presence on stage. Students will perform a one act play at the end of the school year.
Movement Classes
Ballet
Grace in motion, strength, balance, coordination, muscular control and endurance come with solid technique and skills of the first noted dance form.
Hip Hop
Learn the dance craze that is taking this street dance into its own noted art form.
Jazz Dance I & II
Learn Broadway style dance techniques and movement as well as popular street influenced.
Mixed Bag of Movement
Lots of different movement experiences all in one class! Some improvisation, tumbling, creative movement and expression games. These classes will be set up into sessions and tuition payments will set accordingly. This program is not year-round. Please check for dates.
Tae Kwon Do
Discover your inner strength/tiger! We’ll cover basic kicks and hand strikes, blocks, combination techniques, formal patterns, board breaking, light (no-contact) sparring, and meditation practice
Beginning Tap
Rhythm, coordination and tempo – part of tap techniques learned through structured exercises and improvisation
Acro St John
Incorporating agility, balance, coordination, strength and flexibility through structured routines.
Music Classes
Individual Lessons
Individual Lessons in Saxophone, Voice, Piano, Guitar, Violin (Times to be determined)
A Cappella Ensemble
This ensemble will sing in the collegiate a cappella style songs from contemporary genres such as Pop, Rock, Indie/Folk, R&B, Soul. Ability to sing harmony is developed partly through the repertoire itself, but also through improvisation games. This is a performing group of up to 13 students that will sing out in the community many times throughout the year.
Ethnic Drumming
Using historical folklore as a medium of expression, students will be introduced to basic/intermediate Afro–Caribbean drumming and dance forms
Guitar Class
Introducing the new student to the guitar, basic chords, picking and finger-picking techniques…making the learning process more enjoyable by using familiar songs to learn and also encouraging the individual to begin composing his or her own original songs. This course will be divided into 4 10-week courses with performance possibilities and other jam session opportunities.
Steel Pan
The steel pan originated in Trinidad and is widely recognized as true Caribbean music. This course introduces students to the rudimentary skills of steel pan playing while exploring the four basic voices of music, and learning and applying the elements of music theory. The students will learn and practice appropriate techniques such as rolls, right and left hand flams, and right and left hand double and triple sticking. At the end of the program the orchestra should be able to perform a full simple composition in one key.
Music Technology
Learning how to employ the main components of song, various media formats and software instruments, as well as automation and effects using the software Logic Pro 10. Which culminates into the art of creating medleys, pre-recorded songs, film, animation and radio.
Drumming I & II
Using historical folklore as a medium of Expression, students will be introduced to basic/intermediate Afro–Caribbean drumming and dance forms.
Little Fingers
This class is designed to introduce the fingering skills needed to play piano, but a keyboard is used. The student learns in a classroom setting, not a private/individual lesson, thereby making the cost feasible while evaluating a student’s desire and skill readiness for private, resolute study of piano.
Music Production and Electronic Composition
The class will teach the essentials of Music Production and Composition with Industry standard software (Abelton Live, Logic Pro 9) and project based work. Students will explore modern DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations), MIDI, synthesizers, sampling, recording techniques, studio etiquette, mixing consoles, and sound design. Final projects will be fully produced, original songs.
SJSA Youth Ensemble
The ensemble is an opportunity for students to apply their musical talents in live performance. Students will learn how to cooperate in rehearsal and performance settings using their principle instrument. The Ensemble will explore subjects of Ear Training, Popular Genres, Instrumental Styles, Performance Etiquette, Improvisation, and Group Composition.
Visual Arts Classes
Clay Making
Try your skill at molding Polymer clay into sea creatures, animals or any shapes for earrings, necklaces or just table top trinkets while using textures and paint which adds shading and depth to the final project
Create A Cartoon
Learn basic drawing skills while developing characters in your own story
Mermaids & Pirates & Turtles! Oh My!
Explore a variety of mediums through fun crafts centered around mermaids, pirates and Caribbean sea life!
Modern Day Artists
Develop an understanding of modern art history movements by creating beautiful and fun artworks with multiple drawing and painting mediums. Students will highlight specific artists and styles through the creation of their own unique works of art.

Individual Lessons

Individual Lessons in Saxophone, Voice, Piano, Guitar, Bass, Brass and Woodwinds, Steel Pan, Violin and Drums (Times to be determined and other days may be an option). Students will be given a set of rules which governs the success of each student.

Mondays: Eddie Bruce, Kristin Carmichael-Bowers
Tuesdays: Cora Reuter, Haile Israel
Wednesdays: Luba Dolgopolsky
Thursdays: Luba Dolgopolsky
Fridays: Dennison Blackett
Saturdays: Howard Peters
Lessons to be determined with Les Burnside and Brian Falatko