Classes & Programs / Outreach
HomeschoolersSpring 2023 Health & Safety Guidelines
Learn MoreThe Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts offers a daytime classes specifically designed for homeschool students.
With a special focus on collaboration and artistry, homeschool classes and daytime performances are the perfect addition to any homeschool curriculum.
Families can take advantage of our family discount and enjoy free Wi-Fi in the lobby if they decide to wait while classes are in session. Our Homeschool Enrichment Program is featured in this Winona Daily News article.
The annual Homeschool Art Exhibit in Galleria Valencia is a perfect way to showcase and motivate your young visual artists. MCA is also able to create customized classes and workshops in dance, theatre, music and visual art for homeschooled students to suit your groups needs. Please contact Jamie at 507-453-5501 or jschwaba@smumn.edu for more information.
COVID-19 Update: We realize that the world has turned upside down over the past few months and that many more families will be homeschooling or virtual schooling during 2020. As always we will be here to help provide arts education to the community, including daytime options for homeschoolers. Thank you to everyone who filled out our online surveys in August. We hope that you are excited about the daytime, self-paced and evening offerings that we are offering this Fall that can help you meet your learning at home needs. On August 22 we hosted a Homeschool Q & A session via Zoom, please click here to view the recording. If you have ideas for desired programs please feel free to email them to: mca@smumn.edu.
Live Performances
Each year MCA offers a variety of live performances including Dance Concerts, Music Division and Jazz Combos Concerts, Theatrical performances and more. Many of these performances are free and open to the public. Other performances including our annual Spring Dance Concert and biennial production of classic ballet, The Nutcracker (Dec. 2018 will be our next Nutcracker production) hold special abridged daytime matinees at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota’s Page Theatre, designed for groups of young audience members and are offered at the discounted rate of only $5 per performance. For information about matinee performances please visit the Page Theatre. Visit our Events page for information about our other events.
Fall 2020 Programs
Nutcracker Adventure Kit
You can still celebrate Nutcracker Season through dance and art this year with our at-home Nutcracker Adventure Kit. This fun kit comes complete with a 5” wood nutcracker for you to paint, 6 colors of paint, a paint brush, dancing scarf, MCA nutcracker activity book, and access to a pre-recorded MCA Nutcracker Storytime.
Day & Dates: Kit’s available Dec. 1- 20
Ages: Recommended 4+
Instructor: Self-Paced
Fees: $12 (includes at-home Nutcracker themed art kit, dancing scarf & on-demand access to pre-recorded MCA Nutcracker Storytime with pick-up or delivery in Winona or for an additional $12 kits can be mailed anywhere in the US)
Everything Art Kit
This inclusive kit has everything you need to get started creating on your own. If you want a want to dive a little deeper you can access previously recorded MCA art lessons to learn about blending and creating with oil pastels, perspective drawing, colored pencil techniques, doodling word art and more. This kit is perfect for all ages, but is a perfect addition to a homeschooling curriculum.
What's included (colors or brands may vary): 24 oil pastels, 12 colored pencils, masking tape, washi tape, pencil sharpener, ebony pencil, tortillion (blending stub), eraser, black fineliner pen, 2 gel pens, 12 piece watercolor pan, paint brush, 10 pieces of paper of different textured and colored paper (including a blank postcard and bookmarks), tip sheets and link for access to pre-recorded MCA classes
Instructors: access to recordings of previously recorded MCA Art Classes
Fees: $29 (at-home art kit with pick-up or delivery in Winona or for an additional $12per order, kits can be mailed anywhere in the US)
Beginning Hip Hop
Get ready to move to the beat in this fun introduction into the world of hip hop dance with music and moves just right for your age. These classes are a perfect way to add a little cardio into your week in a fun and safe way from the comfort of your own home. No experience necessary.
Students and parents should review MCA's updated Health & Safety Code of Conduct.
Day/Dates: Tuesdays, Jan. 26- Apr. 20
Time: 2:15-3:00 PM
Ages: 6+ years
Cost: $78 (13 weeks, 9.75 hours)
Location: In-person at the Valencia Arts Center
Instructor: Carter Full
Tap On-Demand
These pre-recorded tap classes for Beginning (MCA Tap for Kids/ Beg. Tap/Tap I), Intermediate (MCA Tap II Level), and Advanced (MCA Tap Levels III-V) provide challenging and fun warm-ups, technique instruction and combinations that can be executed at home.*
Dates: On-Demand/ Self-Paced
Instructors: Nathan Graff, Carter Full, Christine Martin, and Justine Meinke
Fees & Levels:
Tap for Kids/ Tap I Unit: $24 (4 classes including warm-ups, tap technique and combos, plus bonus content)- Available around Dec. 1, 2020
Tap II Unit: $24 (4 classes including warm-ups, tap technique and combos, plus bonus content)
Tap III-V Unit: $49 (8 classes including warm-ups, tap technique and combos, plus bonus content)
*MCA has tap shoes and tap boards that can be checked out to local students, as well as both boards and shoes for purchase. Contact the MCA office at mca@smumn.edu for more information.
Private Lessons
MCA offers private lessons for all ages and abilities! Our experienced teaching artists prepare students for a lifetime enjoyment of music.
Private lessons are offered year-round. Instruction available in flute, clarinet, oboe, saxophone, trumpet, french horn, trombone, baritone, tuba, violin, cello, guitar, bass. piano, percussion, and voice. Students will be expected to purchase method books the instructor feels best address the student’s needs. Students have the opportunity to perform during MCA’s annual fall, winter and summer concerts and other performance opportunities based upon instructor recommendations. Some instruments such as the violin, guitar and piano are better suited for young students, if you have a young child who is interested in learning an instrument please contact us at 507-453-5500 for more information or by filling out a registration form indicating an instrument of interest. Virtual and in-person lessons are available.
- 4, 30 minute lessons- $80
- 8, 30 minute lessons- $160
- 12, 30 minute lessons- $240
45 minute and 1 hour lessons may be arranged for more advanced students.
Lesson dates and times: Arranged between MCA instructor and student/family.
2022 PTA Reflections
Since 1969, the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Reflections program has encouraged students across the nation to explore their artistic talents. The PTA Reflections program is designed to promote cultural arts in schools, encouraging students to create works of art in visual arts, photography, literature, music, dance, film and special artist categories. Every March since 2016 the walls of Galleria Valéncia have been adorned with all of the Minnesota state winners visual arts division of the Minnesota State PTA Reflections program. For the fourth consecutive year MCA is now a registered Northstar Minnesota PTA unit in good standing and any area youth in Preschool-Twelfth Grade is able to submit a work into the Reflections program now- Jan. 15, 2022 through MCA. The program is open to any area youth that has been an MCA student within the past year, as long as the student’s school does not have a PTA unit regardless if they attend a public, private, charter school or are home educated. In 2020 MCA has two students state winners and one national winner.
Submission Deadline: Now through Jan. 15, 2021
Ages: Preschool- 12th grade
Categories: Visual Arts, Photography, Literature, Music, Dance, Film & Special Artist
Price: Free
Homeschool Visual Art Show
The 6th annual Winona Area Homeschool Art show was to take place May 2020, however we hope to reschedule for late 2020 or sometime in 2021. It is free to participate in this show and it is open to homeschool students of all ages, announcements will be made through the Winona Area Homeschoolers, but others may contact Megan at: 507-453-5500 or mca@smumn.edu for details. Items for the show may be dropped off starting April 1st. Students are encouraged to submit more than one piece of art (only 2-D pieces that are can be tapped or pinned on the wall, framed pieces with hanging hardware attached can also be submitted.) and as space permits extra pieces will be hung. View the current Galleria Valencia Schedule.
Mystery Art Kit
Sick of hearing “I’m Bored”? We have just the cure… our MCA Mystery Art Kits will inspire and provide hours of unplugged entertainment. No two kits are the same and they are designed with the student’s age in mind. Order yours today and let the adventure begin! Each unique kit will contain:
- One set of coloring supplies such as oil pastels, colored pencils, paint, watercolor pencils, crayons or markers
- One binding material such as elmer’s glue, mod podge, glue stick, or masking tape
- A variety of surfaces to create on such as a postcard, book mark, artist paper, exclusive coloring pages created by MCA staff, and or construction paper.
- An art challenge guide created by MCA art faculty to help spark the artist within
- Other surprise items such as model magic, stickers, DIY masks, or props
- Links to previously recorded MCA visual art classes (if you have purchased a kit, here is the link to the password protected special access site.)
- Invitation to share photos of your creations to be featured on MCA’s social media
Dates: Available Aug. 1- Dec. 15 (self-paced)
Instructors: Self-paced booklet with 8 creative challenges created by Brianna Haupt and access to recordings of previously recorded MCA Art Classes.
Fees: In-person $24 (at-home art kit with pick-up or delivery in Winona or for an additional $12 kits can be mailed anywhere in the US)
I like our piano teacher’s enthusiasm. I appreciate that you offer dance classes which do not require girls to dress in immodest clothing.
I love the atmosphere and environment. I think MCA and the community within it exudes positivity, and that is something that I haven’t experienced in the past. I feel at home at MCA.
LOCATION & CONTACT
Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts
1164 West Howard (10th) Street
Winona, MN 55987
Phone: 507-453-5500
Fax: 507-453-5507
E-Mail: mca@smumn.edu
OFFICE HOURS
Monday - Thursday- 9:00am-3:00pm and 3:45-8:00pm
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday- Closed
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
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