Education & Classes in Prairie Village

The instructors at Music House School of Music understand that music is a language and that languages should be used to express yourself. That’s why they’ve abandoned prescriptive instruction in favor of collaborative learning in a community setting, placing the music that their students want to hear at the center of their teaching programs. During private lessons, students forge a path through the genres of their choice, from rock to jazz to classical to birdsong. They show off their progress during monthly club meetings, working with a tight-knit group of like-minded musicians until they feel confident enough for public performance. In group classes, kids as young as 6 get to tickle ivory, strum steel, and set their uvulas abuzz with their burgeoning baritones.

On May 4 from 12–4 p.m., Music House School of Music celebrates the grand opening of its Lenexa location, which will feature live music, free classes and lessons for ages 6+, surprise goody bags, and refreshments. All attendees will be entered in a raffle for a chance to win six months of free music instruction.

The professional instructors of the Kansas City School of Music pass along musical torches to students learning the basics of strumming strings or tickling ivories during private and group lessons. Private studios insulated with soundproof walls ensure maximum concentration for students sight reading on acoustic pianos or turning the pages of sheet music with their minds. No more than six pupils attend each group session, which takes place in spacious, temperature-controlled rooms. Each instructor follows a comprehensive curricula and encourages students to participate in recitals.

The crew at Air Associates of Kansas helps pilots conquer gravity and take to the skies with maintenance and charter services and trains new flyers within its Cessna Pilot Center. Certified flight instructors put students behind the controls of Cessna aircraft and introduce them to the joys of soaring among clouds and nature's most persistent penguins. A computer-based curriculum assists the instructors as they help their pupils work through programs for attaining private, instrument, and commercial licenses.

In addition to their instructional services, Air Associates of Kansas' maintenance technicians can look after single-engine aircraft for already-certified pilots. The techs fuel up planes and make repairs while their clients relax in the lounge and wait to sprout feathers.

Louis Bar and Laura Cantu have made a habit of competing on the world stage. As six-time French National champions and five-time World Finalists in Argentine tango and swing, they're more than capable of helming the educators at Louis & Company Ballroom Dance Studio. Along with the rest of the instructors, they teach three main dance styles and the various permutations contained within each. Latin classes cover the upbeat tempo and swinging hips of samba, cha-cha, and bolero, and the studio's ballroom classes celebrate slow and smooth elegance. Louis and Laura also lead protégés in the seductive duel that is tango, named for the tangerines that you typically hurl at dancers instead of applause.