Creative Arts
Explore the expressive world of abstract painting in this hands-on course using acrylics. Learn foundational techniques like pouring, splatter painting, and broken brushwork to create dynamic small works. Discover how to begin, apply paint, and know when a piece is complete. Open to all skill levels, no experience necessary. No class Nov 4, 11, & 25
Select patterns you have made before to manipulate and personalize. Bring your own fabric. Discussion options for adjusting fit, shape and materials. Cut out your garment(s). Sew them at home. Wear for a photoshoot.
Measure your own body shape in the key areas for garment making and make your chart. Make your own basic sleeveless tunic pattern including darts at the bust. Using your own fabric, cut your tunic and sew it at home. All pattern making materials provided.
Using only pencils, explore drawing the human head focusing on shape and proportions. Pencils are dry media of varying softness that assist with the representation of shadows that help to build forms. Open to all skill levels, no experience necessary. The estimated cost of basic materials is $22. Instructor: Pat Flaherty. (S)
Use folk-art decorative stitches, yarns and metallic threads, appliques, laces and beads on your own jeans or jean jacket to create a legacy artwork. Supply fee includes fabric markers, needles, appliques, yarns, laces, threads and beads plus the use of the photo transfer printer, heat press and toaster oven microwave.
This class is part of the Fashion Design Studio series and is held at the Fashion Design Studio, located at 8775 Cloudleap Court, Center Suite 1, Columbia, MD 21045.
Students who complete all three classes in the series—Practical Mending and Decorating, Hand Sewing Techniques, and Decorating Jeans—will receive a digital badge to recognize their achievement.
Start from the very beginning! Students will gain hands-on experience with their cameras as they learn digital camera operation and photographic principles. Class includes a discussion of basic composition principles. Bring a digital camera (charged or with fresh batteries), and its manual to class. Instructor: Walter Calahan. Enroll early; class size limited to 12.
Learn to embellish clothing and household items with beautiful hand embroidery. This course covers foundational stitches including the stem stitch, French knots, leaf stitch, and lazy daisy stitch-perfect for adding a personal, creative touch to everyday fabric items. Instructor: June Piper-Brandon
Learn to draw in fashion proportions. Create your own croque to design on. Develop your brand identity, label, and signature. Design garments using three different media. All materials provided.
Get hands-on with the craft of leatherworking in this beginner-friendly class where you’ll create two everyday essentials: a hand-stitched wallet and a custom-fitted belt. Along the way, you’ll learn the fundamentals of working with full-grain leather-cutting, punching, stitching, burnishing, and finishing. No experience necessary; all tools and materials provided. Walk away with leather goods you made from scratch and the skills to keep creating. Instructor: Darsh Khanna.
An intensive study of realistic watercolor focuses on the entire painting process. Learn how to render a detailed line drawing, transfer it to watercolor paper, and practice flat washes with round and flat brushes to create a monochromatic painting. Work on numerous color exercises to learn color theory and begin a colored painting. The first class (via Zoom) is devoted to detailed lecture, with examples of the entire painting process from development to review. Instructor: Jennifer Littleton. (S)
Optimize the use of your smart phone camera. Move beyond a quick snapshot to create memorable images as you learn various aspects of digital photography: exposure, focus, panorama, and high dynamic range. Experiment with composition and editing to enhance images. Bring a smart phone (Apple or Android). Instructor: Walter Calahan.
Discover the rich history of Hawaiian quilt design, where traditional patterns meet introduced fabrics. Learn how native Hawaiian women transformed American quilting into a unique art form with bold, symmetrical motifs. In this class, you’ll draft original patterns and bring them to life through fabric. (S) Instructor: Cynthia Gossage.
Hats, scarves, gloves, toys...the possibilities are endless when you learn to knit! This class covers the basics. Students will learn five foundational stitches (knit, purl, garter, stockinette, and ribbing), be able to cast on and bind off their projects, and become familiar with the tools, terms, and yarns that go into knitting. Projects include a choice of scarf or hat. Estimated cost of supplies is $30. Instructor: Dashielle Horn (S)
This course builds on basic skills; students should be able to knit, purl, cast on, and bind off. Explore different stitch patterns made with knit and purl stitches, and learn three methods of increasing stitches and two methods for decreasing that are the foundations of 3D shaping and lace patterns. Students will learn to source knitting patterns, as well as how to identify patterns appropriate to their skill levels. Estimated cost of supplies is $30. Instructor: Dashielle Horn (S). No class Nov 1.
Explore the Japanese traditions of boro and sashiko – historic stitching techniques rooted in mending and reuse. Using simple running stitches, create textured patterns inspired by nature and tradition. Perfect for beginners and experienced stitchers alike, this class blends sustainability with creativity through visible mending and decorative design. (S) Instructor: Cynthia Gossage.
Students explore fundamental principles of improvisation through exercises in agreement, commitment, spontaneity, and listening. No prior performance or improv experience necessary. Classes build upon one another, allowing novice improvisers to grow and be challenged at a comfortable rate. Sessions are designed so students will build a strong foundation as a confident performer. Amaze yourself with your newfound skills at the last class performance in front of your friends and family! Instructor: Heather Moyer. No class Sep 22.
Discover the richness of oil painting in this all-levels course. Beginners learn essential techniques–canvas prep, color mixing, brushwork, and composition–while experienced painters receive tailored guidance to refine style and meaning. Explore a range of approaches and develop your skills using this timeless, versatile medium to express depth and detail. Instructor: Kara LaRose (S)
Pottery courses are offered at two levels. Monday class is for beginners. Discover new techniques to shape beautiful creations. Learn about glazing, hand building and advanced decorating methods. This is not a wheel class. Materials fee covers clay, paints, tools, and glazes. Students are responsible for purchasing additional materials, if desired. Class is nine weeks. Enrollment limited, please register early. (S). No class Sep 22, Oct 1 & Oct 13.
In this hands-on class, students will develop quilting skills by learning to construct traditional blocks such as Five Square Knots, Log Cabin, Bow Tie, North Star, Flying Geese, Monkey Wrench, and Bear's Paw. Emphasis will be on cutting, piecing, and assembling quilt blocks with precision. While building technical skills, students will also explore the historical significance of each design in the context of the Underground Railroad. Bring your portable sewing machine. Instructor: June Piper-Brandon.
For students with basic sewing experience, this course focuses on constructing a button-up shirt with sleeves and a collar. Learn how to take body measurements, select the right pattern size, and build essential garment-making skills through hands-on practice. Students need to bring their own sewing machine. Instructor: June Piper-Brandon
Learn how to identify and use 50 different types of fabrics and fibers. Create a reference book with swatches. Supply fee includes swatches, three-ring binder, materials to decorate it, and a lighter to burn the fabrics. No class Sep 22.
Music Courses
Explore the rich tapestry of popular music in the United States - from its origins to the watershed moment of Woodstock. Through the Connect4Education online content, you will have access to listening and references of over 300 pieces of streaming music linked directly from the text. Dive into the musical landscape of Tin Pan Alley, Ragtime, Blues, Dixieland, Swing Bands, Broadway, Hillbilly, Surf Rock, Soul, the British Invasion, Bluegrass, Folk Music, and Psychedelic Rock. This is the first of a two-part course, where the subsequent class will explore music from the 1970’s to today. This class is flexible online, with instructor support and involvement in discussion groups
Explore the rich tapestry of more recent popular music in the United States - from the watershed moment of Woodstock to Hip-Hop and Rap. Through the Connect4Education online content, you will have access to listening and references of over 300 pieces of streaming music linked directly from the text. Dive into the diverse musical landscapes of country, soul and funk, pop, hard rock and alternative rock, disco, heavy metal, punk rock, hip-hop, and rap. Discover the new ways that musicians create and distribute their art. This class is flexible online, with instructor support and involvement in discussion groups.
Led by Gemini Piano Trio cellist Dr. Benjamin Myers, four informal masterclasses plus performance will cover all aspects of musical knowledge, wisdom, wellness, cello performance preparation, and planning strategies. Cello students will build confidence in a fun and supportive atmosphere, gain performing experience, and nurture their appreciation for music. Students are encouraged to participate in discussions, give constructive feedback to their peers, and perform in the post-seminar recital with instructor approval. Cellists interested in registering for this seminar may contact Dr. Myers to audition at BMyers@HowardCC.edu.
Join this vocal ensemble which performs traditional and contemporary choral literature. Also available as a one-credit course (MUSP-131).
Sergeant Pepper, Pet Sounds, Dark Side of the Moon – these great albums defined the rock music of their time. Other albums, such as Berlin, Synchronicity and Heroes, made slightly less impact on the world at large, but revolutionized the music industry. Others, like Eye In The Sky, sold in fantastic numbers around the world but passed the U.S. by. Using early mixes, session recordings, and interviews (including much unreleased and suppressed material), HCC music faculty member William Scanlan Murphy will examine exactly how this vital music was made and what it says to us today
Bring your guitar to this group class, open to students of all ability levels, and build a fundamental understanding of the basics of music reading and guitar playing. The main focus is the discipline of classical guitar technique and style with emphasis on note reading and individual development. Some instruction will be offered in other styles of guitar music as well. Students will be grouped with others of similar guitar experience. Instructor: Bruce Casteel. No class Nov 28.
Enjoy music for a lifetime in this Master Series event focused on musician health. The masterclass is led by HCC piano faculty member I-Wen Tseng, a Taubman Approach Certified Teacher. This approach focuses on those who wish to play the piano with greater ease, as well as those who have sustained an injury to recover and once again be able to enjoy playing the piano. Through Music Institute student performances and interactive demonstration, Ms. Tseng will discuss how to negotiate body and instrument.
Do you dream of writing your own songs, or sitting down at the piano and simply improvising without written music? With only a basic knowledge of music, you can learn chords, how to read a chord chart, and improvise within a chord chart. Local musician and song writer Paul Buker will walk you through the creative process and empower you to expand your musical experience within a small group setting.
Join us as we pull back the curtain on a Sunday Symphonie Fantastique (Tales of Poe) concert with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Attend a pre-concert talk and discussion with an HCC Performing Arts faculty member and learn spooky insider stories about the tortured passions of Berlioz’ Symphonie Fantastique, the brooding Prokofiev Violin Concerto No. 2 with violinist Francesca Dego, and the US premiere of Poe’s poem Israfel set to music. The following weekend head over to the Hall and meet your class for the concert, plus an exclusive backstage tour. *Concert ticket (@$45) must be purchased separately. Additional information will be sent upon registration. To ensure concert seating with the class, please register as early as possible. Transportation not included. $59 includes the $50 registration fee.