Community Arts Academy Offers Free Demo Classes

Founded in 2014, the Buffalo State Community Arts Academy (CAA) offers engaging hands-on and research-based classes for young community members taught by Buffalo State faculty and advanced student interns.

The CAA is letting the community try a few of the music courses for free during Demo Days, January 21, 22, and 24.

On Saturday, January 21, infants through preschoolers and their caregivers can sample the Early Childhood Music and Movement (ECMM) class. It’s divided into three sections by age: birth to 18 months at 10:30 a.m.; 18 to 36 months, at 9:30 a.m.; and 3- and 4-year-olds at 11:30 a.m. All classes take place in Rockwell Hall 107 and are led by Kerry Renzoni, assistant professor of music and coordinator of undergraduate music education.

High school students interested in digital audio design can try a sample class on Tuesday, January 24, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. in Rockwell Hall 102 taught by Ethan Hayden, lecturer in digital music.

The ECMM classes begin February 4 and run every Saturday through April 8. Digital audio design classes run February 7 through April 18 with no classes February 21 or April 11. Cost is $110 each for the 10 weeks.

Additionally, auditions for the CAA’s spring jazz workshop will be held on Sunday, January 22, at 1:30 p.m. in Rockwell Hall 21 for instrumental music students in sixth through 12th grade. The workshop, led by Mark Filsinger, assistant professor of music education, will be held Sunday afternoons February 5 through April 9.

The CAA also offers the Buffalo Urban Music Project for fourth through eighth graders on Saturdays and a variety of visual arts and creative writing classes throughout the spring. 

Advanced registration for Demo Days is required by calling (716) 878-6326 or visiting the CAA website where parents also can enroll their children in the classes.