Literary & Performing Arts   

Intended for beginners, this class will guide students through the fundamentals of piano, from reading music to playing engaging melodies and simple chords with proper technique and fingerings. With personalized attention and the encouragement of a small group, students will build confidence while developing essential skills.

Ready to make music, share a laugh (or several), and strum your way to happiness? This beginner-friendly ukulele class is designed especially for adults looking to try something new, have fun, and perhaps even unleash their inner rock star — or at least a very enthusiastic campfire singer. In this class you’ll learn to strum, play basic chords, keep a steady rhythm, and sing songs that speak to you. The only prerequisites: a fun-loving spirit and a song you can physically sing (yes, that one you belt out in the shower counts). Bring one song idea to class, and we’ll take care of the rest. This class is structured for beginners and will go at a relaxed pace with plenty of musical “aha!” moments and good-natured laughs along the way. Come as you are, leave with a smile, and maybe even a few new friends. Warning: Spontaneous humming and toe-tapping may occur. Ukuleles will be provided for class use.

Take a look at some pictures from Ginger Lai Kokoszka's past classes here. 

Designed for emerging pianists, this class introduces students to the essential foundations of piano playing—from reading music to performing engaging melodies and basic chord progressions with proper technique and confident fingerings. With personalized guidance and the support of a small group setting, students gain skills, confidence, and musical fluency as they progress.

Designed for anyone who wants to “take the stage” – in acting or public speaking! The art of acting is not just about being the next famous actor, but it explores life skills that everyone can utilize in any profession. Explore the elements of acting while freeing your creativity, increasing your confidence, and learning how to work effectively in a group. The tools and techniques of the actor’s craft are introduced through a wide variety of exercises, games, improvisations, short-scripted material, monologues, and scenes. Use these tools and techniques to forward your career and improve your listening and communication skills. No experience necessary.

This class will help bring back the lost art of letter writing. Letter writing, snail mail campaigns, sending cards, postcards, and even writing as a famous author are all back in style. With a big boom on social media, letter writing has come back into the spotlight as a way to connect with family and friends, to make new friends, and even to create a family history. In this class, we will begin your letter-writing journey from the first “Hello” to the closing line. A great way to start the new year and recount your holiday stories, share your plans for the new year, or craft the perfect missive to your Valentine's Day sweetheart.

Take a cinematic journey through the lives and legacies of three unforgettable Hollywood greats: Robert Redford, Diane Keaton, and Gene Hackman. With curated film clips, behind-the-scenes insights, and lively guided discussions, the classes will explore how each of these icons shaped American film and culture through their groundbreaking performances, creative vision, and lasting influence on the industry.

Sign up for the series and receive a 10% discount. To sign up individually, follow links below:

• Legends of the Silver Screen: Robert Redford, Thursday, 1/29
• Legends of the Silver Screen: Diane Keaton, Thursday, 2/12
• Legends of the Silver Screen: Gene Hackman, Thursday, 3/19

This class explores the all-American icon, Robert Redford. From his golden-era stardom in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Sting to his deeply personal directing work on Ordinary People, to his portrayal of Bob Woodward in All the President’s Men, Redford helped define an entire generation’s idea of authenticity, charisma, and political consciousness. In this two-hour seminar, we’ll trace Redford’s evolution as an actor, director, activist, and founder of the Sundance Institute. Through curated film clips, historical context, and guided class discussion, we’ll explore how Redford’s onscreen image shaped American masculinity and how his behind-the-camera vision reshaped independent filmmaking.

If you have always wanted to learn to sing but have never had the opportunity to do so, this is the class for you. Join people who have the same love for singing that you do. You'll learn the essential tools of vocal technique (breathing, support, focus) in a supportive group setting so you can understand how to sing your favorite songs with ease. Singing both in a group setting and with some individualized instruction, we will also spend several weeks exploring the singing styles of the repertoire of Classic Broadway, the Great American Songbook, and Pop/Rock from the 70s, 80s, and 90s.

In this class, we will explore and pay homage to one of the pioneering actresses of New Hollywood, Diane Keaton. From her Oscar-winning performance in Annie Hall to her portrayal of Kay Adams in The Godfather, Keaton has spent decades reinventing herself across drama, comedy, and romance. This course celebrates her as an actress, cultural trendsetter (those scarves!), and creative force, examining her collaborations with Woody Allen, Francis Ford Coppola, and Nancy Meyers, as well as her work as a director, author, and photographer. Through curated film clips, historical context, and guided class discussion, we’ll explore how Keaton’s singular blend of vulnerability, eccentricity, and strength made her a legend of the silver screen.

This hands-on workshop introduces the essentials of screenwriting in a friendly, supportive environment for students who are beginning their screenwriting journey or looking to build upon the fundamentals. Over five weeks, you’ll develop your own original work from pitching your idea and crafting a synopsis to writing engaging scenes. Weekly writing exercises will strengthen your grasp of story structure, compelling character development, authentic dialogue, and writing action and imagery. In class, we’ll share work, exchange constructive feedback, and watch and analyze film clips that highlight key elements of powerful visual storytelling. Whether crafting a feature-length screenplay, TV pilot, or a two-minute short, you’ll explore the core mechanics of strong screenwriting, learn proper script formatting, and begin building your own screenwriting portfolio. This course is ideal for those who are seeking structure, accountability, and community in their screenwriting practice.

Do you have bits and pieces of stories or ideas written on napkins, sticky notes, index cards, and journals--or even a book in the works? This class will help you put all of your ideas together and shape them into a well-written piece. In a writing workshop style, we will gather each week, share stories, and find ways to improve and move them along. So bring in your work(s) and let's start to shape and bring to life the story you have been envisioning.

Everyone has a story worth telling—and the power to tell it well. In this dynamic, in-person, four-part workshop, you’ll learn to bring your personal stories to life with clarity and confidence and to find your authentic voice.

In a warm, encouraging environment, participants will practice simple relaxation and grounding techniques to ease anxiety and share personal stories. Using storytelling prompts, you'll get help bringing forth the best of your own tale. You'll receive a creative critique from "the Hudson Valley's master storyteller." Further, there will be supportive peer feedback to strengthen your delivery skills and help you become more comfortable speaking in front of others.

By the end of the course, you’ll know how to shape a compelling personal tale, overcome common fears, stay focused, and adapt with ease. Most importantly, you’ll leave truly connected to your voice—and ready to share your stories with joy.

By the end of 1966, the world of music was undergoing a dramatic transformation. What had once been known as "rock and roll" was now simply called "rock," and the genre was branching out in exciting new directions. Bands were experimenting with sound, giving rise to subgenres like folk-rock, psychedelic rock, blues-rock, and hard rock. Supergroups such as Cream, Led Zeppelin, and Crosby, Stills & Nash began to dominate the scene, captivating audiences with their innovative styles. The years that followed, from 1967 to 1971, marked an era of extraordinary creativity. Artists like The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, and Bob Dylan pushed the boundaries of what rock music could be, introducing listeners to progressive rock, funk rock, and country rock. Each new sound reflected the spirit of the times—restless, imaginative, and eager to break free from tradition. This class invites you to step into the pivotal year of 1967, a turning point in rock history. Together, we’ll explore how the innovations and experiments of these years set the stage for what many consider to be the greatest moment in rock: the legendary year of 1971.

This class will explore the complexity and genius of Gene Hackman. Whether playing morally gray policemen, quiet outsiders, or explosive villains, he brought an unmatched intensity to every role. This session explores Hackman’s extraordinary body of work, from The French Connection and The Conversation to Hoosiers, Unforgiven, and even his unexpected comedic roles. Through curated film clips, historical context, and guided class discussion, we’ll unpack how Hackman broke leading-man conventions, how his performances reflect the anxieties of 1970s American cinema, and why he remains one of the industry’s most respected actors.