Oaxaca, Mexico
In early September, my oldest child came home from school and told me he wanted to quit school and go hiking forever. When I inquired further he said, “I’m tired of feeling like a robot. I want to express my ideas and be captivated by the things I’m learning.” An artist and musician, he also told me he wants to have substantial time each day to create—it’s through making art that he feels strong and connected to himself, others, and the world.
A week later, as I was waiting for the bus, I noticed, in the nearby schoolyard, a plaque with a quote from Nelson Mandela: La educación es el arma más poderosa que puedes usar para cambiar el mundo. (Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.) I wondered why I enrolled my child in a school where he has little access to the arts when we are living in a world-renowned cultural capital. With a group of curious students, committed parents, and inspiring teachers, I know it’s possible to create learning experiences in which students feel fully alive. Join us this fall our inaugural semester!
MUSIC LAB: Wednesdays November 4 through Wednesday December 2nd, 2:30-4 pm; Ages 12-15; 10 students maximum. Register HERE.
TINTA Y PAPEL: Friday, November 20th, 2:30-5:30 pm, Ages 10+; 10 students maximum. Register HERE.
Music Lab, taught by Eric Barrita of Música de Barro, is an innovative, 90-minute program designed specifically for young people aged 12 to 16. At this age, motivation is everything. That’s why we transform classical music theory into a hands-on, dynamic, and fully bilingual (Spanish and English) experience that connects with your child’s genuine interests. During each session, students develop their ear and creativity through a comprehensive approach covering the three pillars of music.
- Rhythm (The Beat): We develop coordination and internal pulse through body percussion and modern production technology, exploring everything from traditional time signatures to urban rhythms.
- Melody (The Tune): We learn to build and decode catchy melodic lines in both languages, helping students understand how hit songs are composed and motivating them to create their own musical hooks.
- Harmony (The Chords): We discover the magic of chords and their emotional impact. Students learn to identify famous pop and rock chord progressions, enabling them to accompany songs on foundational instruments like the keyboard or ukulele almost immediately.
This class provides a solid musical foundation and fosters teamwork, self-confidence, and mental agility through fluid interaction in two languages. It is the perfect space for your child to channel their energy, make friends, and discover the universal language of music in a fun, safe, and high-quality educational environment. We look forward to helping them unlock their full potential!
Join us for Tinta y Papel, a three-hour studio workshop where you’ll explore the tactile, graphic world of relief printmaking alongside Oaxacan artist Federico Landa. Designed for creators of all experience levels looking to build or expand their skills, this session takes you step-by-step through the process of designing, carving, and printing. Participants will experiment with two distinct surfaces. We will start with everyday materials like potatoes for quick, experimental stamping, then move on to carving detailed textures into linoleum blocks. By working with shapes, textures, and inks, you will learn how to turn simple drawings into high-contrast prints. Everyone will create and walk away with their own original, hand-pressed prints.
- WHO: Participants ages 10+
- WHEN: Friday, November 20th, 2:30-5:30 pm
- TEACHER: Federico Landa
- LOCATION : Colonia Volcanes, Oaxaca de Juárez
- MAX: 10 participantes
MUSIC LAB: Wednesday October 5 through Wednesday October 21, 2:30-4 pm; Ages 8-15 (Completed)
Courses are taught in Spanish and English. We shape our course content around student interest, teacher expertise, and real-world immersion, using standard benchmarks as a flexible compass rather than a rigid map. The valley is our classroom. / Los cursos se imparten en español e inglés. Adaptamos el contenido de nuestras clases según los intereses de las y los estudiantes, la experiencia del cuerpo docente y la inmersión en el mundo real, utilizando los estándares de referencia como una brújula flexible en lugar de un mapa rígido. El valle es nuestro salón de clases.
In order to promote economic justice, Art in the Garden uses a sliding scale fee. / Para promover la justicia económica, Art in the Garden utiliza una tarifa de escala móvil.
¿PREGUNTAS? QUESTIONS? artinthegardenpgh@gmail.com
