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McDonogh Community Arts (MCA) is a unique program providing McDonogh families and the greater Baltimore community with high-quality extracurricular arts classes right here on our campus! MCA includes classes for children and adults, and each offering is designed to spark creativity, self-expression, and artistic abilities. The courses feature McDonogh faculty as well as teachers from the Johns Hopkins Peabody Preparatory Institute and The Moving Company Dance Center.
Questions? Email communityarts@mcdonogh.org.
Winter sessions begin the week of January 20 and end the week of February 24.
Age: (Second-Fourth Grade)
Time: Wednesday, 4:00-5:00 p.m.
Instructor: Patty Welch
Cost: $170
You know that Eagles can fly, but did you also know they can dance? Come join the Lower School Dance Troupe on Wednesdays after school with Ms. Welch! We will learn different dance routines together to popular songs. Let’s get our Eagle wings flapping and toes tapping!
Age: (Prekindergarten-First Grade)
Time: Wednesday, 4:00-5:00 p.m.
Instructor: Maya Richard
Cost: $170
Step into the magical world of dance with our Introduction to Dance class designed specifically for energetic and creative minds! In this engaging program, students will embark on a journey of self-expression and movement exploration and be led through the basics of dance, fostering coordination, rhythm, and a love for creative expression. Through imaginative play and age-appropriate choreography, your child will develop confidence and grace in a supportive and fun-filled environment. Join us as we twirl, leap, and dance our way into a world of creativity and joy!
Age: Second-Sixth Grade
Time: Tuesday, 4:00-5:30 p.m.
Instructor: Holly Thompson
Cost: $205
Are you ready to get dirty? The ceramic process has been around for thousands of years and is one of the oldest art forms known to humankind, but ceramics is more popular today than it has ever been! In this course, students will learn hand-building techniques in order to create unique sculptural and functional artwork. From creative animal sculptures to their very own ice cream bowl, students will pinch, pull, press, and squeeze their ideas into existence! This class includes all materials and firings. No prior experience is required. All functional pieces are microwave and dishwasher-safe.
Ages: Second-Fourth Grade
Day: Thursday, 4:00-5:00 p.m.
Instructor: Common Tone
Cost: $180
Dive into group music-making using authentic instruments! Students will continue to refine music skills, techniques, and knowledge through the joy and excitement of group music-making. Together they will experience learning and playing music in an ensemble setting. Students will learn a collection of songs on different instrumental parts (guitar, piano, and percussion). At the end of the session, students will play an assortment of songs together for an end-of-session performance. Join us and Try-Out for the band!
Ages: Prekindergarten-First Grade
Day: Thursday, 4:00-5:00 p.m.
Instructor: Common Tone
Cost: $180
Try-Tones is a community of students who celebrate confidence and build essential skills through singing, movement, and playing authentic musical instruments in an ensemble setting. Every student will have the opportunity to explore engaging musical concepts on the guitar, piano, and various percussion instruments. These concepts will be applied in class as students learn how to play a collection of captivating songs for a culminating performance at the end of the session.
Ages: (Zero-three years)
Day: Thursday, 10:00-10:45 a.m.
Instructor: Common Tone
Cost: $180
Commonplay provides interactive moments for caregivers to sing, play instruments, dance, and connect with their child. Children will develop confidence and music appreciation through playful exploration. In every class, you will experience live music that is dynamic and imaginative and will encourage everyone to move, sing, and create together. Grab a scarf and play with us!
Age: (18+)
Day: Monday, 4:00-4:45 p.m., Thursday 6:00-6:45 p.m.
Instructor: Nina Pongratz (Monday), Laura King (Thursday)
Cost: $75 (6-weeks), $15/Drop-In Class
Location: McDonogh Dance Studio, Edward St. John Student Center
Join MCA Adult Yoga to enhance your focus, reduce stress, and begin or end your workday with renewed energy and balance. Whether your goals are to cultivate a clear mind, boost physical activity, or set a positive intention for the week ahead, yoga is the perfect way to find balance and wellness within our community. This is an adult-only class, no previous experience is necessary. Sign up now to experience the transformative benefits of yoga!
Age: 5-6
Time: Saturday, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Instructor: Peabody Preparatory
Cost: $968 (yearlong)
Our 5-6-year-old students are introduced to performing the fundamentals of beginner ballet training (placement, port de bras, footwork, and simple vocabulary) in an integrative and creative learning environment — practicing body alignment, non-verbal storytelling, studio etiquette, and team-building skills.; memorizing choreographed combinations through ensemble work; and utilizing ballet technique and training as a vehicle of imagination, creativity, and mindfulness.
Age: 6
Time: Thursday, 4:00-5:00 p.m.
Instructor: Peabody Preparatory
Cost: $968 (yearlong)
Our 5-6-year-old students are introduced to performing the fundamentals of beginner ballet training (placement, port de bras, footwork, and simple vocabulary) in an integrative and creative learning environment — practicing body alignment, non-verbal storytelling, studio etiquette, and team-building skills.; memorizing choreographed combinations through ensemble work; and utilizing ballet technique and training as a vehicle of imagination, creativity, and mindfulness.
Ages: 7-12
Day: Thursday, 5:00-6:00 p.m. and Saturday, 12;00-1:00 p.m.
Instructor: Peabody Preparatory
Cost: $968 (yearlong)
Level 1 is the introductory level to the Primary Ballet Program and provides an important foundation for students who wish to progress to higher levels. All students are required to take two 60-minute Level 1 ballet classes per week for at least one year before moving forward in the program, even those with previous training as a young child. To maintain classroom consistency and build a cohort of students who are working on the same concepts, the student must attend both of their classes at the same campus. Students work on fundamental vocabulary at the barre and begin to concentrate on body alignment, rotation from the hip sockets, traveling across the floor with coordination, and expressive port de bras with the arms. They continue to build on exercises and activities designed to increase flexibility, develop core strength, and improve rhythmic awareness.
Ages: 5+
Day: Varies
Session: 6-, or 12-week sessions offered; lessons begin the week of 9/16/24
Instructor: MCA Dance Faculty
Cost: $732 (12 weeks, $61/lesson), $366 (6 weeks, $61/lesson)
McDonogh proudly offers individual dance lessons for students of all ages, experience levels, and dance interests. MCA Dance Lessons emphasize the development of skills in creating and performing dance in various genres. The lessons are 30 minutes. If lessons are missed due to sickness or other school-imposed conflicts, efforts will be made to make up the lesson at a separate time; one make-up lesson is built into the fall session to accommodate these conflicts. Please note: 24-hour advance notice is required for missed lessons, and no credits are given due to unexcused student absences. If you choose to withdraw your child from the program, no credit will be given for any remaining lessons.
Ages: 5+
Day: Varies
Session: 6-, or 12-week sessions offered; lessons begin the week of 9/16/24
Instructor: MCA Visual Art Faculty
Cost: $732 (12 weeks, $61/lesson), $366 (6 weeks, $61/lesson)
McDonogh proudly offers individual art lessons for students of all ages, experience levels, and art interests. MCA Art Lessons emphasize developing skills in creating visual art in various mediums. The lessons are 30 minutes. If lessons are missed due to sickness or other school-imposed conflicts, efforts will be made to make up the lesson at a separate time; one make-up lesson is built into the fall session to accommodate for these conflicts. Please note: 24-hour advance notice is required for missed lessons and no credits are given due to unexcused student absence. If you choose to withdraw your child from the program, no credit will be given for any remaining lessons.
Ages: Five and up
Day/Time: Lesson times to be determined by teacher and student availability
Session: 6-, 12-, or 30-week sessions offered, lessons begin the week of September 16
Instructor: MCA Music Faculty
Cost: $1770 (30 weeks, $59/lesson); $732 (12 weeks, $61/lesson); $366 (6 weeks, $61/lesson)
McDonogh proudly offers individual music lessons for students of all ages, experience levels, and musical interests. MCA Music Lessons emphasize the development of skills in creating and performing music on a specific instrument. Middle and Upper School lessons are 30 minutes and Lower School lessons are 25 minutes. Lessons are offered after school and in the evening. Lessons are also offered to McDonogh students during the school day; lessons scheduled during the day do not interfere with academic programs.
This year, lessons will be offered in 30-, 12-, or 6-week blocks of time. Students who sign up for the full 30-week block will receive a discounted lesson rate and will be given priority for daytime lessons. Daytime lessons cannot be guaranteed for those students who sign up for 12 or 6 weeks of lessons.
Music instruction is offered on the following instruments:
If lessons are missed due to sickness or other school-mandated conflicts, efforts will be made to make up the lesson at a separate time; three make-up lessons are built into the 30-week session to accommodate for these conflicts. One make-up lesson is built into the 6- and 12-week lessons for this same reason.
Please note: 24-hour advance notice is required for missed lessons and no credits are given due to unexcused student absence. If you choose to withdraw your child from the program, no credit will be given for any remaining lessons.
