Education & Classes in Gaithersburg

Mintons Academy of Music immerses budding virtuosos in fun, intensive lessons taught by university-trained teachers. Private lessons explore all the main instrumental families, including strings, percussion, piano, woodwinds, and brass. Guitar lessons prep prospective pop stars to churn out blistering licks, and vocal coaching strengthens pipes for lucrative futures crooning or quickly subduing mobs of glassware. Group lessons surround kids with melodious coconspirators, making the learning process more enjoyable. Art classes unlock the wonders of painting, with students learning from the masters by imitating famous works.

A nonprofit community arts center, VisArts fills its studios with amateur artists learning techniques of creative expression, and acts as an exhibition opportunity for seasoned creators. Classes span a wide artistic spectrum, including concentrations such as ceramics and glass, many of which can be specifically tailored for the educational needs of children or resurrected Renaissance men in need of a new hobby. VisArts also enriches the community with a trifecta of galleries—the Kaplan, Gibbs Street, and Common Ground—and a thriving resident-artist program.

The Intro to Photography class is produced by Monte Zucker Photographic Education (MZPE), which provides quality professional photographic instruction. More than 30,000 enthusiastic students of all levels have attended their photographic tours on three continents over the past seven years to learn how to combine the power of technical expertise and artistic vision to create beautiful photos and films. In addition to offering the tours, MZPE produces instructional books and DVDs, as well as teaching in-depth photo-master classes around the world. The 2002 United Nations Photographer of the Year, celebrated photographer and mentor Monte Zucker once stated, "I don’t photograph the world as it is. I photograph the world as I would like it to be." Continuing on in his memory, current instructor Bob Ray teaches with an entertaining, passionate presentation that focuses on learning immediately in class. The experience provides an aspiring photographer a comprehensive set of tools to reach his or her artistic potential.