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Mt. Desert Island Adult & Community Education



General Enrichment

in Lifelong Learning

How To Play Piano by Ear

$59

with Craig Coffman

Calendar Feb 15, 2025 at 11 am, runs for 1 week

This is a live, online class via Zoom. 

Learn one of music’s deepest mysteries: how to play songs without relying on music.  A very practical presentation of music theory that includes predicting chord progressions, learning from recordings, and transposing-all expressed in everyday language.  This is an ideal follow-up to the “Instant Piano” class and is open to anyone who has a basic understanding of chords on any instrument.  Expand your musical horizons, and free yourself from sheet-music dependence, and be the life of the party!  Prior experience with chords recommended.  Fee includes the online book, online follow-up lessons, a recording of the class and an optional monthly question and answer session.   Class is held online using zoom. 

 

Craig Coffman is an experienced piano and guitar instructor, professional pianist and music director.  He has over 30 years’ experience teaching piano privately. His piano and guitar seminars, offered through Community Colleges and Community Education Programs, have been attended by over 30,000 students throughout Arizona, Minnesota and the United States over the last 27 years.   He has a degree in Sociology from Illinois Wesleyan University in Illinois (where he also studied piano) and a Master of Divinity degree from Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon.   

 

 

Portrait and Pet Photography

$35

with Steve McGrath

Calendar Feb 19, 2025 at 5:30 pm, runs for 2 weeks

This is a live, online course.

This Portrait and Pet photography course is designed to teach you everything you need to know to take professional-quality portraits. You will learn how to work with all different types of subjects, from individuals and groups to children and pets. Steve will explain the nuances of lighting and posing, how to shoot in studio or on location, and how to master the gear you will need to create inspiring work!

Digital, film or smartphone will all work for this class.

Steve McGrath is a professional freelance Photographer and Photography Teacher who has been creating images for 30 years. Steve began his career by shooting sports photography for local high schools before adding weddings and stock agencies to his repertoire. His love of the outdoors has since led him to focus more on his true passion — nature photography. Many of his images have been published in school text books. His favorite places to shoot are Acadia National Park in Maine, the Green Mountains of Vermont, and the Cape Cod National Seashore.

Digital Photography 2 - Intermediate

$75

with Steve McGrath

Calendar Feb 19, 2025 at 7:30 pm, runs for 5 weeks

This is a live, online course.

This class is for you if you are comfortable with your camera and you want more! In this class we will explore the use of intermediate camera controls such as metering (spot, matrix, center weight), exposure and exposure compensation, ISO, aperture and shutter priority. We will take an in-depth look at manual focus and its use, fill flash and flash modes, as well as controlling motion, composition, and many other intermediate and advanced photography techniques.

Steve McGrath is a professional freelance Photographer and Photography Teacher who has been creating images for 30 years. Steve began his career by shooting sports photography for local high schools before adding weddings and stock agencies to his repertoire. His love of the outdoors has since led him to focus more on his true passion — nature photography. Many of his images have been published in school text books. His favorite places to shoot are Acadia National Park in Maine, the Green Mountains of Vermont, and the Cape Cod National Seashore.

3-D Printing Primer

$70

with Michael Brzezowski

Calendar Feb 24, 2025 at 5:30 pm

CLASSES ARE 2/24, 2/26, 3/3, and 3/5

Get ready to dive into the exciting world of 3D printing! In this hands-on class, you’ll start by uncovering the magic behind 3D printing technology, learning how it works, and exploring the cutting-edge printers that are transforming industries. 

Next, you’ll get to roll up your sleeves and jump straight into the action—searching for, slicing, and printing your very own ready-to-go design.

And finally, you’ll unleash your creativity with TinkerCAD, where you'll design a one-of-a-kind object to bring to life on a 3D printer. Your custom creation will be printed and ready to take home during the final class!

By the end of the course, you’ll have the skills to turn your ideas into tangible, 3D masterpieces—whether you’re interested in art, engineering, or simply making something cool! Get ready to bring your imagination to life in ways you never thought possible. 

Included in the price of the class is a $20 materials fee.

American Sign Language I

$130

with SarahJoy Chaples

Calendar Feb 26, 2025 at 6 pm, runs for 8 weeks

This is an in-person, classroom-based course at Mount Desert Island High School.

ASL 1 will be an introductory course for students interested in learning ASL. Topics covered will include: the alphabet; vocabulary for greetings, basic conversations, colors, time, and family; as well as an introduction to Deaf Culture.  

SarahJoy Chaples has been teaching classes and workshops for over 10 years. She holds an MA from UMaine in Human Development and is fluent in American Sign Language. SarahJoy has been involved in the Deaf Communities here in Maine and in Massachusetts for over 20 years.

Full Course

Fiddlehead Basket

$100

with Jessica Steele

Calendar Mar 2, 2025 at 11 am, runs for 1 week

This is an in-person, classroom-based course at Mount Desert Island High School.

If you are hiking in the forest or wandering in your garden, this will be a nice basket to make for fiddleheads, mushrooms, or herbs. Size is approximately 4” Width x 8" Height x 10" Length.

Wood Thrush Wilderness is an outdoor guiding and educational business that helps people connect more deeply with themselves and the natural world. As Licensed Recreation Maine Guides, we offer guided canoe expeditions throughout the state of Maine. We also offer classes and training in outdoor education, wilderness medicine, and traditional crafts such as basketry. 

Digital Photography for Newbies

$75

with Steve McGrath

Calendar Mar 4, 2025 at 5:30 pm, runs for 5 weeks

This is a live, online course.

Are you still getting to know your digital camera and its features? Here’s an opportunity to learn from an expert in this seminar for beginners! Have your camera ready and learn when and how to use its special features - such as program mode, manual mode, aperture priority and shutter priority. Also covered will be basic composition and best use of light for different situations, such as plant, people, macro, and landscape photography.

Steve McGrath is a professional freelance Photographer and Photography Teacher who has been creating images for 30 years. Steve began his career by shooting sports photography for local high schools before adding weddings and stock agencies to his repertoire. His love of the outdoors has since led him to focus more on his true passion — nature photography. Many of his images have been published in school text books. His favorite places to shoot are Acadia National Park in Maine, the Green Mountains of Vermont, and the Cape Cod National Seashore.

Ukulele for Beginners

$79

with Duncan Perry

Calendar Mar 4, 2025 at 6 pm, runs for 4 weeks

This is a live, online class.

Learn to play the ukulele! It has never been more popular and you don't even need to know how to read music! On the uke you can knock out folk music, rock, blues, jazz, pop, country, tunes old and new -- even classical music. Duncan Perry, who has taught more than 700 students of all ages, will introduce you to essential chords and playing skills using familiar songs. There are lots of laughs along the way and learning to play an instrument is good for your brain!

You will need a playable ukulele and an electronic tuner or a tuner app. And when folks hear you play this happy instrument, well, they just have to smile! If you don’t own a ukulele, please contact us (uketime24@gmail.com) for information. What are you waiting for? Grab a uke and get ready for a musical adventure, then spread the joy!

Biography

Duncan is an experienced multi-instrumentalist who has been performing and teaching folks how to play the ukulele for the last 14 years. Having served as a volunteer music therapist in medical and hospice settings, he quickly came to understand that music is medicine and that learning to play an instrument not only sharpens the brain but helps reduce stress. It also brings joy to those who play the uke and to their audiences. Duncan has taught in a variety of Maine communities and did not let the COVID-19 epidemic stop him. He simply moved from teaching in person to an online format and now reaches students all over Maine, New Hampshire and beyond.





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