Education & Classes in Raleigh

Bob Meyer, who has spent many a tour alongside bands such as Metallica, The Rolling Stones, Phish, and The Allman Brothers, helms Give To Live Guitar Studios, which provides music lessons with a focus on community outreach. He and his staff of experienced, enthusiastic instructors welcome students for lesson in stringed instruments such as guitar or mandolin, as well as percussion, vocals, and keyboards. They teach in all styles, from Bach to rock and roll, and help their students move from basics to live performance, hosting benefit concerts for local charities.

The pintsize artist considers her canvas, pintsize fingers encircling stocky pastel sticks and paintbrushes' lanky handles as she unleashes a deft slash of color. This isn’t a description of Georgia O’Keefe’s 10th birthday party—it’s just another day at Time For Art Kids' bustling studio. Attached to the home of founder Dina, the studio welcomes children aged 6–11 for eight-week art classes, wherein kids are encouraged to express their thoughts and feelings through creative visual images. Year-round art camps combine arts and crafts with show-and-tell and games. Time For Art Kids also sets up face-painting stations at birthday parties and other celebrations, and welcomes large groups for children's birthday parties and ladies' and parents' nights out.

The team at Artistic Abandon subscribes to the notion that creating art, in any capacity and with any level of skill, can be a way to better oneself. Host and professional artist Emily Page envisions the studio's events as more like a lively get together than a class and encourages each intimate group of students to get to know each other over snacks and beverages of choice. Brushes flick softly across canvas at the long banquet halls in the studio, and pupils slip happily from the room, carrying new paintings to hang over embarrassingly bad paintings of safes.

When not teaching visitors how to ride, Christina Hutton lavishes care upon her horses, including feedings, cleanings, and basic medical treatments. She lives on the farm, and rises early to watch over its expanse, which includes a seven-stall barn, large pastures surrounded by pillowy trees, and a jumping area with white fence hurdles rather than the sleeping serfs in old-timey jumping facilities. During the day, she and her team of instructors train novice and experienced equestrians in hunter and jumper techniques during private and group lessons. In addition to more studious pursuits, Christina and her staff also guide saddle-mounted pony rides, and coordinate arts, crafts, and games during children's birthday parties.