For more information, please contact Tatiana.Barankova@gmail.com.

Russian Language Program

Our program concentrates on developing and implementing new methods of teaching the Russian language to native as well as heritage speakers, which combine traditional curriculum and musical activities. In our lessons we employ such activities as reading fairy tales and poetry, playing games with letters and words, and singing Russian songs. Using this approach we teach four core language courses:

1.   Russian for Beginners that includes learning the alphabet, developing speech and reading skills
   

2.   Intermediate Russian for children with basic reading skills
   

3.   Advanced Russian focusing on mastering speaking, writing, and reading skills
   

4.   Russian as a Foreign Language
   

Musical Program

1.   Music/Choral Classes
   

Our goal is development of the basic music skills. Our students learn ear-training, rhythm, music theory, and take part in chamber performances. Every lesson consists of three parts: theory of music, exercises for development of rhythm and ear-training, and choral singing. In the first part, students learn the basic rules of pitch and rhythm notation. The second part consists of sol-fa, rhythm and ear-training that help children in recognizing and memorizing music compositions. For development of these skills, we employ various musical activities such as Rhythmic exercises, Finger-plays, Musical games. The last part of the lesson concentrates on Choral singing for development of vocal skills (breathing technique, diction, articulation). In our classes, children learn to sing solo and in ensemble by using the rhythm and ear-training skills.

1.   Musical Theater
   

Musical Theater is a class where children learn how to sing, perform and express themselves telling a music story. Students do ear-training, play rhythmic and musical games for working out artistic skills necessary in musical theater. Our students successfully take part in performances and musical projects. This class helps children in developing their imagination and creativity, emphasizing singing, dancing and music.

1.   Music Theory and Solfeggio
   

Music theory and Solfeggio is a combined course for children who learn playing musical instruments. This class includes but is not limited to basic music literacy, studying solmization technique for sight-singing (in which each note is sung to a special syllable), musical dictations and musical analysis. The combination of these activities provides the best way for your child to develop ability to sing, play and enjoy music. The program includes time-proved Russian and American methodologies of teaching Music history, Theory and Solfeggio.

All courses within this program are designed to enhance and complement each other and can be taken either together, in one block, or independently.

Ancient Studies Program

1.   Archaeology for Kids (ages 5-8)
   

If your child enjoys digging in your backyard on a hot breezeless day, accumulates in its pockets all sorts of funny-looking things, and never ever wants to part with old useless belongings—he or she is a natural! Bring your child to our class, and we will teach her or him how to be a real archaeologist! For those ambitious parents who are looking for a more refined education: your child will also learn to write hieroglyphs like an Egyptian scribe, to wear a toga like a Roman nobleman, and to recite mythological stories like a Greek poet. You will never be bored again! And neither will be your child.

1.   Ancient Civilizations (ages 9-12)
   

This class is designed to introduce children of all ages to the ancient civilizations of the Graeco-Roman world and of the Near East. For our younger students (ages 9-10), the main focus will be on mythology, various aspects of every-day life, interesting facts, and historical trivia. They will also become acquainted with some elements of ancient languages and work on several hands-on projects. Older students (ages 10-12) will have a more rigorous program, which will not only take them through major events in ancient history, but also expose them to the basics of ancient philosophy and literature and help them work on a research topic of their choice.

1.   Greek  (ages 11-12) and Latin (ages 8-12)
   

These courses are intended for students who are interested in learning elementary Greek and Latin. We will start with basic grammar and vocabulary and subsequently proceed to reading texts and developing an overall understanding of the language structure. Latin is being offered both to younger (ages 8-10) and older (ages 11-12) students, and Greek only to the latter. In this course, younger students will go through the adventures of their favorite children’s book characters, Minimus the Mouse and Olivia the Pig, while older students will read passages from Greek and Roman authors and learn about Greek and Roman roots in modern languages.

All courses are designed to enhance and complement each other and can be taken either together, in one block, or independently.

Art Program

1.   Batik
   

Batik is a textile dyeing technique, used to make clothes with beautiful patterns. The general method of Batik is the dyeing of fabric to which a dye-resistant substance was applied. During the dying process only some parts of the cloth absorb colors, which results in formation of elaborate patterns. Batik accumulates peculiarities and artistic techniques of watercolor, pastel, graphics, stained-glass window, mosaic etc.

1.   Introduction into materials and tools for painting on a fabric.
   

2.   Study of basic techniques: painting on a silk, batik, shibori, etc.
   

3.   Design and hand-crafting of Batik patterns on T-shirts, scarves, pillows, etc.
   

1.   Art for Children
   

We offer art classes for children over 3 years old. Our students will use oils, acrylic, watercolor paints as well as pencils and crayons.

1.   Ages 3 – 6: youngest students develop tactile and motor skills.
   

2.   Ages 7 – 11: children learn how to use imagination in making art works.
   

3.   Ages 12 – 16: students concentrate attention on structure and 3-D models.
   

In our art classes, your children will transform their emotions into artistic forms, develop attention to details, and get familiar with famous painters and their masterpieces.

Clay Animation Workshops

Workshops cover one of the most engaging animation arts - the clay animation. In the course of a workshop, participants learn techniques of frame by frame animation, where cartoons are created by bringing the illusion of life to inanimate objects. The students also acquire the skills necessary for creation of their first stop-motion film: explore the software needed to facilitate the animation process, learn techniques for creating characters and adding dialogues to the movie, and try on varies roles involved in the film-making process. The students will complete the course creating their own animated short films. 

This class will be taught by animators Mikhael Zolotnitski and Jacob Zolotovsky from 3Z Animation studio, www.3zanimation.com

Speech Therapy for Children (2-12 year olds)

1.   Early intervention for kids with a delayed onset of speech
   

2.   Remediation of articulation (sound mispronouncement), concepts (distinguishing size, color, texture, opposites, etc.), and grammar for preschoolers & kindergarteners
   

3.   Intervention for elementary school children with difficulties in areas of auditory comprehension, phonology, articulation, grammar, and syntax in both spoken and written languages
   

4.   Bilingual help (English, Russian)