Education & Classes in Matthews

Sisters and native Charlotteans Neha Negandhi and Monika Shah didn’t let respective stints in Seattle and Alaska keep them away from their hometown arts scene. Inspired by similar BYOB painting sessions seen during their travels, they harnessed their diverse experiences with event management and Alaskan train tours to open their own studio, where they encourage students of all artistic levels to tap into their inimitable creativity just as they did. Joined by an impressive cast of local artists, the sisters unfurl a calendar stocked with a barrage of painting options, allowing students to portray a sailboat with an impressionistic mast or a seahorse wearing a gilded saddle.

An accomplished ceramics artist and painter—who also enjoys restoring old photographs and playing the bagpipes—Timmy Hord shares her vast artistic expertise in her studio and classroom, located inside Art in the Dairy. Furnished with pottery wheels, Timmy’s studio hosts both wheel-throwing and hand-building personalized classes, during which students are guided through the process of making their own beautiful and functional decorative clay works.

The Academic Advantage's academic-enrichment center specializes in foreign-language tutoring, standardized-test preparation, and credit-earning courses. Tutors who matriculated from the country’s most prestigious universities help students grapple with coursework tailored to their unique academic struggles, such as the struggle to do algebra without unscrewing calculator lids to read the answers written on the circuit board. Meticulously trained tutors shepherd students through challenging subject matter, writing progress reports for parents at the end of each session.

Assurance Firearms, LLC. molds its students into more responsible gun owners with safety classes and practice sessions on its range. The staff teaches beginners the basics of handgun safety and shooting fundamentals during Basic Pistol Shooting courses. During NC Concealed Carry courses, they teach an understanding of the law, and help students hone the skills needed to obtain their concealed carry licenses. The range also offers Lady Lion self-defense courses, which teach women constant vigilance against aggression and how to defend themselves from an attacker.

Started in January of 2010, what began as a mere hobby for friends Emmy Preiss and Harriet Mills has grown into a flourishing business with 16 branches in three states. The duo corrals together local artists that lead students of all abilities through hands-on painting classes. Pupils sit side by side at painting stations equipped with easels, vivid pallets of paint, and water to clean off brushes. Finished pieces blanket the walls to both inspire students and hide the studio's multitude of personal safes. Youngsters can join in on the self-expression as well through Art Buzz Kids' programs, which rolls out birthday parties, summer-camp sessions, and Mommy N' Me classes.

The FAA-certified flight instructors that represent Alpha One Air Service impart winged wisdom to their students, whether the goal includes a casual discovery flight or full pilot certification. Before taking off on their own to play chicken with a gaggle of geese, students learn about safety regulations and procedures in a safe environment. Novices hoping for a glimpse of flight training before diving into a full certification regimen can sign up for the Discovery flight program, which allows students to take the controls of a light aircraft while an instructor watches closely. On-ground training and in-flight piloting sessions can be scheduled for different days.