Family Music Class presented by Blue House Music and Art Camp 504 is an immersive music experience for infant, toddler and Pre-K age children along with their caregivers. The infant and toddler class focuses on early language development, especially phonemic sound, and gross motor development  from crawling and first steps to finger-walking and motoring around. The class teaches eye tracking, attention, and connection with the caregiver. Through singing, movement and instrument play children will experience rich learning in key developmental domains while caregivers gain powerful tools to communicate with their little ones. Blue House Music is an early learning program for children under five that empowers caregivers to actively participate in music making.

MEET THE TEACHER:

CHRISTOPHER “MR. CHRIS” SHEARD (he/him) is a music teacher and teaching artist with over fifteen years in the field of early childhood music. He has been certified in Music Together, Wolf Trap Early Learning Through the Arts and the Young Audiences National Teaching Artist Credential. He is the founder of Blue House Music, a direct-to-family early learning music program that serves children under five and their caregivers. He currently works as the lower school music teacher at The McGehee School for Girls and Little Gate. He is a Bywater resident, father of two, and is so excited to join the Art Camp 504 team!

Family Music Class presented by Blue House Music and Art Camp 504 is an immersive music experience for infant, toddler and Pre-K age children along with their caregivers. The infant and toddler class focuses on early language development, especially phonemic sound, and gross motor development  from crawling and first steps to finger-walking and motoring around. The class teaches eye tracking, attention, and connection with the caregiver. Through singing, movement and instrument play children will experience rich learning in key developmental domains while caregivers gain powerful tools to communicate with their little ones. Blue House Music is an early learning program for children under five that empowers caregivers to actively participate in music making.

MEET THE TEACHER:

CHRISTOPHER “MR. CHRIS” SHEARD (he/him) is a music teacher and teaching artist with over fifteen years in the field of early childhood music. He has been certified in Music Together, Wolf Trap Early Learning Through the Arts and the Young Audiences National Teaching Artist Credential. He is the founder of Blue House Music, a direct-to-family early learning music program that serves children under five and their caregivers. He currently works as the lower school music teacher at The McGehee School for Girls and Little Gate. He is a Bywater resident, father of two, and is so excited to join the Art Camp 504 team!

Family Music Class presented by Blue House Music and Art Camp 504 is an immersive music experience for infant, toddler and Pre-K age children along with their caregivers. The infant and toddler class focuses on early language development, especially phonemic sound, and gross motor development  from crawling and first steps to finger-walking and motoring around. The class teaches eye tracking, attention, and connection with the caregiver. Through singing, movement and instrument play children will experience rich learning in key developmental domains while caregivers gain powerful tools to communicate with their little ones. Blue House Music is an early learning program for children under five that empowers caregivers to actively participate in music making.

MEET THE TEACHER:

CHRISTOPHER “MR. CHRIS” SHEARD (he/him) is a music teacher and teaching artist with over fifteen years in the field of early childhood music. He has been certified in Music Together, Wolf Trap Early Learning Through the Arts and the Young Audiences National Teaching Artist Credential. He is the founder of Blue House Music, a direct-to-family early learning music program that serves children under five and their caregivers. He currently works as the lower school music teacher at The McGehee School for Girls and Little Gate. He is a Bywater resident, father of two, and is so excited to join the Art Camp 504 team!

Are you ready to dive into the world of digital art and unleash your creativity? Join us for an exciting and fun-filled Procreate Class led by the talented artist Akshita Monga. This class is designed especially for young learners who are eager to explore the endless possibilities of creating art on their iPads. Procreate is a powerful and user-friendly digital drawing app available on the iPad. It offers a wide range of tools and features that allow artists of all levels to create stunning artworks, from simple sketches to detailed illustrations. Whether you're a beginner or have some experience, this class will help you enhance your skills and unlock your creative potential. We can't wait to see what amazing artworks are created with Procreate!

What Will You Learn?

1. Getting Started: Introduction to the Procreate interface and basic tools.
2. Drawing Basics: How to use brushes, colors, and layers.
3. Creating Your First Artwork: Step-by-step guidance to complete your first digital masterpiece.
4. Advanced Techniques: Tips and tricks for adding depth, texture, and special effects.
5. Project Showcase: Share your creations and receive feedback from Akshita and your peers.

Why Join This Class?

• Interactive Learning: Engage in live demonstrations, Q&A sessions, and interactive exercises.
• Creative Freedom: Explore different styles and techniques to find your unique artistic voice.
• Supportive Community: Connect with fellow young artists and be inspired by each other's work.
• Expert Guidance: Learn from a professional artist who understands how to nurture young talent.

Materials Needed: iPad with Procreate installed, Apple Pencil or a stylus, Enthusiasm and imagination!

About Your Instructor: Akshita Monga

Akshita Monga is a distinguished artist with over a decade of experience in creating captivating works of art across various mediums, including oil, charcoal, and digital art. A graduate of the renowned Barcelona Academy of Art, Akshita has honed her skills and developed a unique artistic voice that resonates through her diverse portfolio. Her education at the Barcelona Academy of Art, known for its classical training and emphasis on technical excellence, provided her with a strong foundation in the fundamentals of drawing and painting. This background is evident in the meticulous attention to detail and refined craftsmanship that characterize her work. Akshita’s artistry spans a broad spectrum of subjects, from evocative still life compositions to dynamic figurative pieces and innovative digital creations. In her charcoal works, Akshita excels in creating depth and contrast, bringing her subjects to life with striking realism and emotional intensity. Her digital art showcases her versatility and adaptability, merging traditional techniques with contemporary technology to produce visually stunning and conceptually intriguing pieces. 

Visit Akshita’s website!

This introductory class is designed for young artists that want to explore and build their technical drawing skills. The structured curriculum explores fine art techniques such as line work, perspective, shading, and composition. Students will develop their observational skills and artistic vocabulary, from line and form to understanding light, shadow and color theory. We explore a variety of mediums including graphite, charcoal, oil pastels, watercolor paint and ink. With a focus on fostering creativity and confidence, this class provides a supportive environment where each child can discover their unique artistic voice and cultivate a lifelong passion for drawing. We introduce students to portfolio development by encouraging the practice of keeping a sketchbook. At the end of the semester, students will display their work in the “Earth Gallery Wall” inside our Spaceship House Float!

MEET THE TEACHER:

MICAYLA PRICE (she/her) is a native New Orleanian illustrator and printmaker. She is a NOCCA Visual Arts Alumni and Tulane Grad focused in drawing and relief printing. Her work is heavily influenced by the ever-evolving local coastal wetlands, and is an advocate for conservation and restoration. One of her current projects is a graphic novel set in an island chain of a Caribbean hue, that harbors countless oddities to explore. When she’s not filling up her sketchbook, you’d likely find her tending a garden of okra and citrus.

This class is for students that want to build their visual arts skills across a variety of mediums. Students will work with Art Camp 504 teachers over the course of the semester, exploring creative writing and illustration, drawing fundamentals, watercolor paint techniques, mixed media collage, sculpture and more. Students will keep a sketch book and practice the techniques they learned in class with weekly creative assignments to complete at home. Our goal is to foster a love of art and creativity in our youngest campers! This is a small group class and we will take feedback from students, designing projects based around student interest.

MEET THE TEACHER:

FINLEY JANES (he/they) is a filmmaker, artist and musician and has been teaching creative filmmaking for 10 years. He is originally from Gloucester, Ma. Before he moved to New Orleans he was the Director of a film program for elementary school students called See-Hear-Feel-Film. He was lucky to be able to teach and make art with students in the program for four years! He makes both fiction and non-fiction movies but his favorite genre to make is fantasy! He lives in the Bywater with his gentle old dog, Mama, and a cat named Ding. He is currently making his first full-length movie! This will be Mr. Fin's second year teaching a variety of mediums with Art Camp 504, and he is very excited to share his passion for mixed media art with our youngest students!

This class is for young artists who are interested in developing a portfolio and furthering skills in observational drawing. Students will begin with simple still lives and self portraits in black and white. We will begin with contour drawing and shading to successfully render form and eventually move on to colored pencil with a focus on color theory. Students will take home and draw in their own personal sketchbooks to develop a regular drawing practice. This class will aim to teach the patience and discipline it takes to start and finish a well rounded drawing. We work with each student to assist in documentation and help them gain confidence in their art skills. By the end of the semester students will have several completed pieces that they can use in their portfolio!

MEET THE TEACHER:

BLAIR PRICE (she/her) is a New Orleans native interior designer, freelance artist, and NOCCA culinary alum. She earned her BA in Graphic Design from Loyola University New Orleans, before moving on to an AA in Interior Design, and Kitchen and Bath Design, at Delgado. She has spent the last decade cultivating her skills in the decorative arts, working under several notable designers and artists in the city, before opening her own residential design firm in 2020. Blair has also traveled twice to Reggio Emilia, Italy, to attend the Reggio Children's conference, where she observed children who were given the instruction that they needed to learn and discover holistically through art. She believes that students must be able to see themselves as unique contributors to our culture and society. This level of autonomy breeds incredible artists. Visit Blair’s website!

Open to new and advanced players. Dungeons and Dragons presents endless possibilities and allows you to roleplay as a hero in your own story. Players work together as a team to decide how to respond to problems and solve them. D&D is not only fun-- it's a group social activity that teaches teamwork, cooperation, storytelling, problem-solving, and even math. D&D has become one of our most popular classes, we are so excited to introduce a new generation to this timeless and unique game!

MEET THE TEACHER:

DANE SCHINDLER (he/him) is a native New Orleanian with over a decade of experience as an Adapted Physical Education (A.P.E.) teacher, and over two decades as a seasoned musician. He has dedicated his career to helping students of all abilities thrive through movement and play. He has performed with many stage bands and marching bands across the New Orleans' music scene, and has gone on tours across the country and even abroad. As a lover of games and being creative, Dane particularly enjoys the collaborative and imaginative aspects of tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons. He is passionate about fostering a welcoming space for shared gameplay, where creativity and camaraderie can flourish. The sense of belonging and connection that games create among friends is what it’s all about!