Enroll in SMARTS Public Classes

SMARTS Fall 2023 Classes

Enrollment for Fall 2023 classes will open on Wednesday, September 6 @ 1pm, and are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. If you have any questions in the meantime, please reach out to us here at SMARTS at 330.574.2787. We look forward to seeing you!

Why Virtual SMARTS?

SMARTS has been growing and expanding our expertise by learning best practices and effective teaching strategies for virtual learning.  We have found that online classes are often discussed in ways that underestimate their potential. However, we have been amazed, inspired, empowered, and at times...challenged...on what our notions of what virtual learning could be.  While we believe in-person arts teaching and learning is always better, we have found that all arts disciplines and all types of students - even students with special needs - can learn and demonstrate remarkable creativity in an online class. In some ways, there are even advantages.

Virtual SMARTS classes are unlike virtual classes for school, just as all SMARTS classes are...because you pick the art you want to study and you learn directly from an artist who specializes in that art! SMARTS aims to set a new standard for learning in a traditional classroom setting by focusing on creating the next generation of artists and creative innovators. We now also aim to set a new standard for the effectiveness and wonder of learning in a virtual setting. We are excited for you to discover and create with us this year!

Explore SMARTS Classes

All SMARTS and Virtual SMARTS classes are free, open to the public, and offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

SMARTS Guitar Lesson/Studio (1A & 1B), Grades 5-12

SMARTS Guitar Lesson/Studio (1A & 1B), Grades 5-12 (Simon Kenneally)   With guitar, you can learn to play all the songs you love and even write your own music! In this class, you will learn how to tune and hold your guitar, strum basic rhythm patterns, and learn beginner chord progressions that will get you…

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Early SMARTS Paint the Town, Ages 18 months – 5yrs. old

Early SMARTS Paint the Town, Ages 18 months – 5yrs. old (Ally Christopher)   We have covered every wall in the classroom, and turned it into a giant canvas. We will create a story and the art to accompany it together as a class. Our little friends need to bring creativity, imagination, and play clothes.…

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SMARTS Advanced Guitar, Grades 5-12

SMARTS Advanced Guitar, Grades 5-12 (Simon Kenneally)   The guitar is among the most popular instruments in the world. The iconic guitar sound can be heard in most music genres including rock, jazz, funk, soul, metal, pop, bluegrass, country, and many more. This class will build on the basics taught in Guitar 1A & 1B,…

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SMARTS String Program Violin 1, Grades 3-12

SMARTS String Program Violin 1, Grades 3-12 (Silvia Games Dubos)   This is the first violin class offered in the SMARTS String Program for students who are either just starting violin or students who are still in Suzuki book 1. Students will build a foundation that includes identifying the parts of the violin, proper violin…

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SMARTS String Program Cello, Grades 4-12

SMARTS String Program Cello, Grades 4-12 (Silvia Games Dubos)   This is the first cello class offered in the SMARTS String Program for students who are either just starting cello or students who are still in Suzuki book 1. Students will build a foundation that includes identifying the parts of the cello, proper cello posture,…

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SMARTS Adventures in Piano 1, Grades K-2

SMARTS Adventures in Piano 1, Grades K-2 (Rachel Cline)   This is the first beginner-level piano class in a series offered at SMARTS for grades K-2. Adventures in Piano will teach you the basic rhythm, music reading, and listening skills needed to take piano later in the SMARTS Piano Lab. Explore the piano using all…

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SMARTS Steel Band, Grades 6-12

 SMARTS Steel Band, Grades 2-12 (Daniel Shiller)   Originating in Trinidad and Tobago, the steelpan was born from musicians playing instruments such as bamboo, biscuit tins, dustbins, and oil drums. While beating the oil drum, the musicians began to cause dents in the metal. Finding the dents they created had different pitches, they started to dent…

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SMARTS Adventures in Piano 2, Grades K-2

SMARTS Adventures in Piano 2, Grades K-2 (Rachel Cline)   This is the second beginner-level piano class in a series offered at SMARTS for grades K-2. Adventures in Piano will teach you the basic rhythm, music reading, and listening skills needed to take piano later in the SMARTS Piano Lab. Explore the piano using all…

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Across the SMARTIVERSE Theater, Grades K-3

Across the SMARTIVERSE Theater, Grades K-3 (Jeremiah Kibler)   Explore uncharted planets, hang out with the native Martians, fight an intergalactic villain or break the space-time continuum. Anything could happen as you travel through and across the SMARTIVERSE. Create characters work on developing their level of physicality and appearance. Experiment with gravity, the speed of…

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SMARTS Scene It Again, Grades 4-6

SMARTS Scene It Again, Grades 4-6 (Jeremiah Kibler)   Learn how to connect to popular scenes from movies, the stage, and hit tv shows and make them your own! What is the character feeling? What is being emphasized in this moment? How did the character get to this point, and what are the circumstances surrounding…

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Become a SMARTS Student Today!

To take SMARTS free classes and to receive communication about SMARTS class offerings, complete a new student application.

In-person

Instruction in a traditional classroom setting at our beautiful, historic downtown Youngstown facility.

Virtual

Instruction live online via Zoom using a link provided at enrollment from a private Virtual SMARTS class page.

Hybrid

Any combination of in-person, Zoom, or video instruction.

Video

Video-only instruction that students complete at home at their own pace.

About Us

SMARTS, Students Motivated by the Arts, is a 501(c)3 non-profit community art school.

Address: 25 East Boardman Street, First Floor, Youngstown, Ohio 44503

Phone: 330-574-2787

Email: info@smartsartschool.org

Our Classes

SMARTS classes have been free and open to the public since 1997. To become a SMARTS student and receive regular communication about our class offerings, complete a new student application. Classes are filled on a first-come, first serve basis.

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