Summer Learning at Home

Looking for new ways to get productive this summer while staying safe? Try an online class! School’s out for summer, but adults across Lincoln Square and the city still have opportunities to learn right from home. Take an art class, brush up on some computer skills, and more thanks to online learning opportunities easy to access.

Juilliard

The Juilliard Summer Series, curated by the Evening Division, will fill the summer months with many exciting short courses and lectures online for adults. Enroll in voice classes, take a Music Reading Boot Camp course, or enjoy history and appreciation classes, like Four Opera Heroines which discusses Operas in connection with the Met Opera. Add some performing arts to your summer schedule!

Shakespeare & Co.

If you’ve got writing skills you’d like to polish, take advantage of Shakespeare & Co’s online Creative Writing Workshops led by accomplished writers. Workshops combine writing exercises, discussion of readings, and critical analysis of completed drafts. This month, author Heather Bryant is teaching classes Tuesday nights from 5:45pm – 7:35pm. Classes are $45. Click here for the calendar.

Jazz at Lincoln Center

Jazz at Lincoln Center has long offered education opportunities from its campus, but now you can catch a master class or a Swing University session online live or at your own leisure afterwards. Browse the calender and listen to Jazz professionals discuss history and music, tuning in live to participate with the instructor. Or, check out the archive of classes on YouTube on your own time. You can still learn about and connect with Jazz even in your living room. 

Lincoln Center

To learn and bond with your family, tune in to Lincoln Center’s Pop-Up Classroom every weekday at 2:00pm for your daily dose of creativity. Led by some of world’s best artists and educators, each creative learning activity utilizes simple materials found at home to help families with children explore a variety of art forms. Lessons stay available for you to watch on demand at your convenience.

Apple

If you’re looking to gain some tech savvy, check out Apple’s online page of video tutorials. Join Creative Pros from Apple Store locations all over the world for quick and fun projects you can start from home. These how-tos will familiarize you with creative applications on your iPhone and Mac, such as making video loops using the free Clips app. Click here for the video series. After a few tutorials, you’ll feel like a pro yourself.

Museum of Arts & Design (MAD)

For simple but professional introductions to different art styles, take advantage of MAD’s Digital Drop-Ins. Each class offers a live artist-led tutorial on experimenting with craft and design elements, including papermaking, quilting, and more. These virtual classes are for participants of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels. Click here to see upcoming classes and check in often for new offerings.

Harvard University

Harvard University has over 140 of its classes publicly available online. You can audit these classes for free, and the courses span topics like computer science, public health, politics, history, poetry, and the science of cooking. Most of these classes are self-paced, too. Plus, if you'd like full access to the course materials and a certificate to add to your CV, resume, or LinkedIn profile, you can opt to pay a fee per course.

DOROT

For older adults, DOROT’s well-known University Without Walls program offers remote learning via telephone. It’s easy to connect to interesting courses right from the comfort of your own home. Take up a storytelling class, a lesson in self-massage, and discussions of current events. Email uww@dorotusa.org or call (877) 81-9147 to sign up for classes. Click here for June and July class options.

Exercise your brain this summer with these online courses, specialized classes, and how-to tutorials!

Photo credit: Pexels