How to Be Creative in One Simple Step
Embrace a New Experience in a Different Environment
Our classes at Austin Arts Academy allow you to explore your natural abilities in Music, Art, & Dance
Course Catalog
Have you heard Carnival of the Animals, a composition by Camille Saint-Saëns?
My first time learning about the composition was during a classical yoga class, where Carnival of the Animals was used to sequence the flow of movements.
Following the class, I learned how Saint-Saëns created one of his best works while on a trip to a small Austrian town, taking a break from composing and the project he was working on.
Yeah, that’s right. He wasn’t even working. He was on vacation. And he created something he will be remembered for throughout history.
The animals sparked his creativity and he shared their story through music.
The musical interpretation of these animals, as well as other animals he encountered during his world adventures, lead to this creative endeavor that is now one of his most famous compositions.
The orchestral piece features 14 movements that depict different animals or animal groups through creative instrumental voicing.
In other words, he captured the essence and energy of specific animal types and expressed these qualities through music.
Creativity doesn’t have to be as complicated as we make it.
It could be just as simple as taking a break from the norm. Letting go of the pressure to “create” something and doing something different.
Embrace a new experience in a different environment.
Often times we focus too hard on “being creative” instead of just allowing ourselves to nurture our creativity naturally, without focusing on the final outcome or how perfect we imagine it to be.
So to answer the question “how to be creative”… all it simply takes is leaving the house and trying something new to spark your creativity.
And you probably guessed it… that new experience in a new environment is a class at Austin Arts Academy.
Whether its a Music, Art, or Dance class, we have various offerings for ages preschool to adult, including individual classes and class combos.
Course Catalog
Keep reading to find out more.
Our classes at Austin Arts Academy offer guidance with the freedom to explore creativity.
In the Top 5 Benefits of Fun and Engaging Classes and Lessons with Austin Arts Academy, we share that open mindedness, an exploration of the world, and an engagement of the senses are the foundations of our Music, Art, & Dance classes, which leads to creativity and innovation.
All of our classes at Austin Arts Academy start at each student’s skill level and progress at a comfortable natural pace, offering guidance with the freedom to explore your natural creative abilities.
Preschoolers’ engage their senses and develop fine and gross motor skills, as well as social skills and impulse control.
Our studio classes for kids and teens provide the opportunity to discover new talents, build conversational skills, and improve academic skills.
Adults rediscover old talents, experience new skills, and enjoy a calming distraction in our classes for adults.
Keep reading to learn about the class options and descriptions.
Music Class Options:
Preschool Music Class
Austin Arts Academy offers exclusive music classes for preschool aged students. Choose individual classes or a combo Music, Art, & Dance.
Class options include Piano and Ukulele
Private lesson options are available if our current class offerings don’t fit your schedule.
Piano
Our preschool music classes and private lesson options use Kiddy Keys, KeyNotes and Prodigies curriculum and young students learn new songs weekly!
During piano classes, students will:
Each have a full-sized Roland digital piano. We teach students to sing with correct pitch using solfege names and hand signs (do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, and ti).
Rhythms of quarter, half, eighth, and sixteenth notes will be mastered using fun call and response times while singing and clapping to a steady beat. Students will play the following instruments: Prodigies deskbells, resonator bells, Boomwhackers, glockenspiel, and piano.
Ukelele
Students work together, learning different strumming patterns while singing new as well as familiar tunes.
Student must bring their own instrument on a weekly basis. If you need to rent a studio ukulele from us, please let us know!
Kids and Teens Music Class
Kids and Teens Learn rhythm, note reading, sight reading, improvisation, composition, collaboration, music theory, and technique in a variety of formats. Choose individual classes or a combo Music & Art
Class options include Piano, Guitar, Ukulele, Voice/Musical Theater, and Songwriting.
Private lesson options are available if our current class offerings don’t fit your schedule.
We also offer Holiday Camps for LISD School Holidays.
Piano
Our Accelerated Piano classes for students ages 8+ follow this general structure:
Technique & Scales
Theory Instruction
New Ensemble Piece
Individual Practice
Ensemble Practice
Music Theory Game
Here is just a glimpse of the concepts often covered in just one class using the Piano Pyramid curriculum:
Keyboard geography: Learning Patterns
Scale & Chords: Finger Dexterity, Hand-Eye Coordination
Numbering Measures: Learning To Follow Instructions
Keeping a Steady Beat: Focusing in Groups
Listening to Teacher Demonstrations: Ear-Training
Music Theory: Analytical Skills
“Flat Warm-Up”: Keeping Up With The Group
Sight-Reading: Analytical Skills
Singing Music: Ear Training
Guided Practice: Endurance, Patience, Accomplishment
Legato/Staccato: Coordination
Guitar
Students ages 8+ learn new and familiar songs together while exploring different strumming and picking patterns.
During Guitar classes, students will:
Participate in fun note reading challenges and music theory quizzes throughout the class make it fun and exciting to find the right answer with your classmates.
Note: Student must bring their own instrument on a weekly basis. If you need to rent a studio guitar from us, please let us know!
Ukulele
Students aged 5+ work together, learning different strumming patterns while singing new as well as familiar tunes.
During Ukulele classes, students will:
Participate in fun note reading challenges and music theory quizzes throughout the class make it fun and exciting to find the right answer with your classmates
Note: Student must bring their own instrument on a weekly basis. If you need to rent a studio ukulele from us, please let us know!
Voice/Musical Theater
Students ages 8+ will practice their songs and speaking parts weekly in preparation for their performance at the Austin Arts Academy Spring or Winter Recital.
During Voice/Musical Theater classes, students will:
Learn to be confident on stage as they remember lyrics and sing with emotion.
Sing songs they love by learning the trending styles like belting, whisperpop, and fast spoken word.
Learn singing secrets related to singing notes in tune, holding long notes and singing with power.
Songwriting
Students ages 8+ will work on a specific concept of songwriting weekly and finish the semester with several original songs!
A premiere of their favorite songs created during each semester will be performed at the Austin Arts Academy Spring or Winter Recital.
During the Songwriting classes, students will:
CREATE: Tell your story in lyric writing workshops
PERFORM: Level up music theory and vocal skills, virtual MIDI instruments.
RECORD: Make multi-track recordings on IPads with fun and easy project based learning!
COLLABORATE: Be part of a songwriting team as a singer, lyricist, instrumentalist or engineer.
Off-Campus Credit
Ask your school counselor / apply at your school for off-campus fine arts credit through Austin Arts Academy.
We will provide necessary documentation to your school once you have been approved for off-campus credit
Every grading period, attendance is taken and pass/fail grade is recorded, or an alpha-numeric grade is recorded, depending on school requirements.
An hour lesson is held each week with an instructor. Lessons can be held virtually or in-person.
Required performance in Christmas and Spring recitals (virtual recording submission or in-person performance for musicians; art gallery submissions for artists). Student will perform a minimum of two songs or display four major pieces of art at recital/showcase.
Students must log daily practice minutes to fulfill school requirements
Music Class for Adults
We love teaching adult beginners and more advanced adults who might be returning to an instrument they love and used to play. Choose individual classes or a combo Music & Art.
Class Options include piano, guitar, and ukulele
Private lesson options are available if our current class offerings don’t fit your schedule.
Art Class Options:
Preschool Art Class
Our preschool classes or private lesson options use our Austin Arts Academy curriculum.
During our preschool art classes, painting (acrylics, watercolor), drawing, and paper/sticker crafts are just some of the mediums students will explore.
A carefully selected children’s book that highlight’s a famous artist, artistic medium or style, is often read during the class to help inspire original art and peaceful creations.
Kids and Teens Art Class
Our ART classes follow the Austin Arts Academy curriculum for students ages 8–17.
During our kids and teens art classes, students will learn perspective, painting, drawing, design and illustration skills, and more
Each week, students will start practicing their drawing skills with a fun group warmup (15 min), then they’ll jump into the class’s main project using various mediums (60 min), and end with digital art challenges as a group (15 min).
We also offer Holiday Camps for LISD School Holidays
Art Class for Adults
We love teaching adult beginners and more advanced adults who might be wanting to expand their artistic skills.
During our art classes for adults, we offer drawing, painting, basic & advanced illustration, color theory, portfolio, arts & crafts, digital illustration, graphic design, vector illustration, typography, photography, film history, video editing, animation, video game design, fashion illustration, architecture, interior design, and more.
Step-by-Step Painting Class for All Levels
Adults 21+
B.Y.O.B. (Bring Your Own Beverage)
7-9pm
$48/class All Supplies Included
Austin Arts Academy
Steiner Ranch Studio
10801 Rush Road, Unit B (downstairs)
Austin, Texas
We pour the paint and demonstrate…
You mix the drink and create!
Please join us for these low-pressure, fun and engaging classes!
Dance Class Options:
Preschool Dance Class
Don't settle when it comes to your child's dance education. Leap ‘N Learn classes teach creative movement and ballet.
Our dance class environment is welcoming and encourages creativity and effort, bringing out the most fun and exciting positive sides of dance.
Across all early childhood developments, Leap 'N Learn helps build strong foundations through dance.
Leap ‘N Learn benefits the whole child by instilling physical, cognitive, social and emotional skills into each and every class.
Leap 'N Learn helps children learn the basics of classroom behavior and manners, which include learning how to take turns, following another dancers or leading the way, waiting patiently, working together with others, and having a positive attitude.
Concepts are explored throughout the year such as classroom etiquette, musical awareness, relationships to the working space and stage, expressing emotion through movement, and pantomime.
We are proud to be the first Leap ‘N Learn studio in Austin, TX!
>>> Read More: Austin Arts Academy: A Leap ‘N Learn Dance Studio
At this time, we only offer preschool dance classes.
Class Combo Options:
Preschool:
Music & Dance
Dance & Art
Kids & Teens:
Piano & Art, ages 8+
Voice/Musical Theater & Art
Adults:
Piano & Art
Check out our Course Catalog for current Class and Class Combo dates and times.
We Change the Way You Learn Music, Art, & Dance
Our fun and engaging classes at Austin Arts Academy are the right place for you or your child to experience something new in an environment that allows you to freely explore your natural talents and creativity.
We have spots available and would love for you and your child to join our classes, or take private lessons if our classes don't fit your schedule.
Written by Melissa Wolken
Contributing Writer, Culture Curator, and Admin Team Member
At Austin Arts Academy, we change the way you learn Music, Art, & Dance from rigid or boring to fun and engaging-an experience students will love at any age.
Course Catalog
Don't Know Where to Start? CLICK HERE
Watch our Spring May 2022 Virtual Recital HERE
We invite you to stay connected with us on social media where we share videos and posts every week showing what our students are learning, both in private lessons and in our group classes.
