 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
||||||||||||||||||
| Jul 19, 2008 |  |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
 |
Spring 2008 Courses
Spring 2008 Courses
2. Music—Behind the Scenes This class will go ‘behind the scenes’ of music and examine the inner workings. If you enjoy listening to classical music, this course could provide additional awareness and knowledge to your music listening. A new topic is presented each week, with music focused on the specific subject including: the conductor, composition, instruments, musicians, rehearsals and practice, evaluation, the music industry, and world music. As we enjoy music, we respond to what is being performed and from time to time we might wonder about some of the things that go into the performance itself. Each class will include lecture, listening, and observation. CDs of classical music, with an orchestra emphasis will be used, along with DVD’s relating to the specific topic presented.
Homer Gartz was Director of Ames Public Schools Band for 41 years and Ames Municipal Band for 26 years. His undergraduate and graduate studies, with an emphasis on education and performance (trombone and piano), were done at The University of Northern Iowa, Drake, and The University of Iowa. He has extensive musical experience as an educator, conductor, performer, and adjudicator at local, district, state, and national levels. What do you know about Ames or Central Iowa history? Ames Historical Society members will present Ames history using individual leaders and events that changed our town. Did you know that Parley Sheldon and Alfred H. Munn agreed to build a new hotel in 1907? What did Frank Morris the livery stable owner think about it? That Cynthia O. Duff sold property in 1863, which she acquired from many owners opposed to having the railroad near their homes, to John I. Blair, national railroad tycoon? That Charles Irish, Blair’s engineer, platted the town of Ames the very next year? And who was Mary Greeley anyway and why was our hospital named after her? Speakers from the Ames Historical Society are: Dennis Wendall, collections curator; Kathy Svec, president; Alan Spohnheimer, administrator; and Janet Klaas, curator of Farwell Brown Photograph Archive. Each speaker will feature stories regarding individuals who were influential in the development of Ames. Central Iowa history will feature representatives from museums and historical societies from Nevada, Maxwell, Story City, Gilbert, Boone, and Slater. These speakers will share stories about the history of their communities and describe their organizations and museums. 4. Great Decisions Great Decisions is a foreign policy discussion group that studies one topic each week for eight weeks. The Foreign Policy Association prepares about 10 pages of reading material and a 25-minute video for each topic as a factual base for the discussion. A study guide is available for $18. (Purchase is encouraged, but not required; please pay when you register. Study guides will be distributed at the first class.) The topics for this class are:
Douglas Finnemore, distinguished professor emeritus, Department of Physics and Astronomy, spent 40 years with the Ames Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Energy and has facilitated several Great Decisions courses. Just about any camera, regardless of how good or bad it is, can be used to create outstanding photographs for magazine covers, winning photo contests, and hanging in art galleries. The quality of a lens or camera has almost nothing do with the quality of images it can be used to produce. In this class you will learn what you can and can't do with your digital point and shoot camera. Questions may be directed to Sam Wormley, 515 296-2627. Topics will include:
6. Digital Photography—Advanced dSLR Level This course will concentrate on photographic challenges that provide insight into the effects of focal length, aperture, shutter speed, exposure compensation, and lighting control. We will also explore visualization, perspective, composition, and light quality. Student assignments will be critiqued in class. Students are expected to know how to use their dSLR cameras well. Questions may be directed to Sam Wormley, 515 296-2627. Sam Wormley regularly contributes photo work to Co-Motion Dance Theater, ISU Dance and Music Departments, and the Central Iowa Symphony. Spanning 30 years, he has gone from film and B/W darkroom work to full-frame digital SLR photography. "For me, reading is an excellent way to learn. I learned what I know about photography by reading—the technical camera and darkroom techniques, the science of perception, the effect of framing, and other artwork. And, of course, one learns by doing. A photographic experiment is worth a thousand expert opinions." The geology and geological history of the high plateaus, canyons, cliffs, and the colorful strata of the Colorado Plateau of western Colorado and southeastern Utah will be discussed and illustrated. Of particular interest, and the focus of the course, will be places such as Arches, Bryce, Canyonlands, and Zion National Parks, which are well known for their grand geology and inspiring scenic vistas. Basic principles of geology will be reviewed. The course will be followed by an optional 12-day field trip to the national parks and monuments of the regions studied. The course fee is $50 and the cost of the 12-day excursion is $1,600 per person based on double occupancy. An additional $650 will be charged for travelers requesting single accommodation. Included in the price of the tour are motor coach transportation, lodging, lectures and tours by Dr. Vondra, and entrance fees for national parks and monuments. Meals are at your own expense. This class is currently sold out, however, if you are interested in the class and field trip, indicate this on the registration form and you will be put on the waiting list. Should space become available, you will be contacted. Carl Vondra is Emeritus Professor of Geology and Distinguished Professor in Liberal Arts and Sciences at Iowa State University; director of the ISU Geology Field Station; and was chair of ISU Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences from 1991-1997. Prior to his work at Iowa State, he was employed by Chevron and Amoco in petroleum exploration and development. Dr. Vondra has conducted research projects in Europe, Africa, and Asia. 8. American Theater History Since 1930 American theatre since 1930 will begin with the offspring of the Group Theatre from the Theatre Guild. The Group produced a number of important people who would dominate American theatre for forty years thereafter. Included in the course will be material about such playwrights as Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, William Inge, Edward Albee, and William Saroyan, and such directors as Elia Kazan and Joshua Logan, as well as the development of the American musical after the beginning of the Rogers and Hammerstein partnership. Also included will be material about dramatic criticism and the various theatre awards, including the Tonys. Burt Drexler is professor emeritus in Speech and Theatre at Iowa State. He taught at Iowa State from 1952 to his retirement in 1991. He has taught College for Seniors classes since 1995. By the middle of the 20th century, classical music had reached a point where it was hard to see where else it could go. All the rules that had organized it for centuries had been thrown out, experiments using computers had not been fruitful, and much new music did not appeal to the general public. Perhaps as a reaction to this, many musicians looked in unusual directions for inspiration. We will consider some of the resultant changes in this class. Many of these changes have been performer driven, so this class is not about the important composers of this period (although we will look at some of them), but rather it will be about the total world of classical music, performers, and composers as it is today. Discussion time will be included in some of the sessions. The first session will cover several composers chosen to demonstrate the concept that there is tuneful music being written today. The following topics will be covered in later weeks:
Jean Meeks has taught numerous music classes for the College for Seniors and has been a regular speaker for a number of local music organizations. She studied voice for some years and has sung in several choirs. 10. The History of Classic Jazz Although it is still being played today, Classic Jazz is generally defined as that jazz that was written from about 1915 to the late 1920s. Rather than attempting to limit it to a specific time frame, however, it is perhaps better to consider the subject in terms of the various evolving styles in which it was played—each such style often identified with a city in which it was primarily developed. Starting with a history of Classic Jazz, the chronology will be developed in terms of style rather than years. Each of the jazz styles will be expanded on and the music will say more than the accompanying words. There are no prerequisites, except a desire to learn more about part of a musical journey that is peculiarly American and has been called “a national treasure.”
Harry Weiss is a ISU professor emeritus of Engineering Mechanics and Mathematics. He retired from ISU in 1989. His jazz interest dates back to the 1940s when he started collecting jazz music. He now owns about 2,300 CDs, most of which are jazz. 11. Bridge—The Diamond Series The Diamond Series is the second in an eight-week introduction to the game. Designed to let students experience what the game of bridge is all about, the lessons are divided into two parts: discussion and play. The class is for those who have played bridge occasionally. This course is based on Diamond Series: Play of the Hand, the second in a series of lessons published by the American Contract Bridge League. In addition to the course fee, there will be a $10 fee to be paid to the instructor to cover the cost of the text. 12. Bridge—The Spade Series In this eight-week course, students will combine the skills of bidding, declarer play, and defense. Students will play 80 to 100 deals during the course and will learn the mechanics and strategy of intermediate/advanced contract bridge. Basic bridge conventions such as Stayman, Blackwood, Weak-2s, and transfers will be taught. Participants should have bridge experience, either by having taken bridge courses or by previous playing. (In addition to the course fee, there will be a $10 fee to be paid to the instructor to cover the cost of the text. Andy Terry is a computer analyst for ISU. He is an accredited teacher and certified club director of the American Contract Bridge League. ****Andy will be offering a Friday evening lab (March 28-May 16) from 6:30-9:00 p.m. for both classes in a supervised play format. Attendees of both classes are invited to this additional learning opportunity, but are not required to attend. This lab will also be held at Northcrest Community Fireside Room. 13. Fruit of the Vine—Demystifying Wine -- CANCELLED as of 3/13/08 Come join us as we explore the world of wine in this introductory wine course. Learning has never been so much fun! Through a series of talks and tasting you will be introduced to the wonderful world of wine. You will taste a wide variety of wine, learning how to taste to “get the most out of it” and finding new varietals to sample and enjoy. We will explore wine production and how tastes may be added to the wine by the winemaker. We will delve into wine labels and how to interpret them so that you will feel more comfortable ordering wine in a restaurant, and we will discuss pairing food and wine. The registration fee of $95 includes a $40 charge for 24 wines to sample, snacks, and a wine glass. Beth Swenson is an avid wine hobbyist, takes online wine classes, and belongs to two Hy-Vee wine clubs. She has been a medical Technologist at MGMC for 22 years. Her hobbies include cooking, eating, gardening (she is a master gardener), and wine drinking— not necessarily in that order. 14. This We Believe III--Part A -- FULL as of 3/13/08 Each week students will hear a presentation from a different faith group about its history, beliefs, doctrine, music, etc. No transportation will be provided, but participants will be given a map with directions to each location.
15. This We Believe III—Part B -- FULL as of 3/5/08 Each week a different faith group will present their history, beliefs, doctrine, music, etc.
Special one-day class offering: This will be an all-day trip to the Maharishi University in Fairfield, Iowa, with guided tours and explanations of the University and of Vedic City. Lunch will be available, at the student’s expense at Hotel Raj restaurant, which is one of the buildings we will tour. 17. Watercolor Painting -- FULL as of 3/13/08 This is a beginning-level course providing hands-on experience to learn how to paint with watercolors. The focus of the class will be techniques for landscape scenes. The classes will include discussion and demonstrations of sketching, design, and layout of a painting, followed by the steps necessary to complete the painting. As beginners, participants will produce a painting by following the steps, in order, through the six classes. Assistance from the instructor will be given for each step and one-on-one help will be provided. The final result will be a finished painting, ready for show or display. More than one scene will be done through the course of these sessions. Each student will gain the fundamental knowledge needed to continue painting after the course is completed. A suggested list of the basic supplies (pencils, paints, brushes, paper, and miscellaneous items) that are needed for this course will be mailed to each student with the letter confirming class assignment. Frank Allen has spent 30 years in public education as a teacher and administrator. He has been doing watercolor painting as a hobby for the past 25 years. He offers his finished work for sale at two art centers and at Art-in-the-Park events. He also has attended numerous watercolor workshops and has participated in art center activities. 18. Exploring Industry in Central Iowa -- FULL as of 3/5/08 This is an opportunity to learn about the operations of several companies in Ames, Story City, and Nevada. Tour the plants and facilities, discover how some familiar as well as unfamiliar products are manufactured, and learn of the economic impact of these industries on their communities. This course can be physically challenging. Attendees will be walking or standing for 1 to 1.5 hours. Facilities may not have handicap accessibility. Attendees should wear long pants and leather top shoes. Company locations and travel details will be provided with the course confirmation.
For questions about the course, contact Mike Fowler at 515-233-1931, or mike.fowler@mchsi.com. This course will be offered at Wesley Acres in Des Moines, 3520 Grand Avenue. This course is NOT restricted to residents of Wesley Acres; anyone interested may enroll. Great Decisions is a foreign policy discussion group that studies one topic each week for six weeks. Topics include: Iraq, The European Union, Talking to our Enemy, Russia, U.S. Defense and Security Policy, Latin America, and the U.S. and China Trade Policy. The Foreign Policy Association prepares about ten pages of reading material and a twenty-minute video for each topic as a factual base for the discussion. A study guide is available for $18. (Purchase is optional; please pay when you register. Study guides will be distributed at the first class.) Douglas Finnemore, distinguished professor emeritus, Department of Physics and Astronomy, spent 40 years with the Ames Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Energy and has facilitated several Great Decisions courses. Wesley Acres is located at 3520 Grand Avenue. From I-235, take the 42nd street exit and go south on 42nd. Turn left (east) on Grand Avenue. Turn right (south) at the first entrance to Wesley Acres. You may park anywhere that isn’t marked as “Reserved” or “No Parking.” Enter the building at the green canopy. Proceed straight ahead and take the hallway to the right. The theater is across from the dining room. 20. Music, It Don’t Mean a Thing This class will be offered at the Lodge at Ashworth, 909 Ashworth Rd., West Des Moines. This course is NOT restricted to residents of the Lodge at Ashworth; anyone interested may enroll. This survey of the music of the “hot” bands of the Swing Era includes the recordings of Goodman, Shaw, Herman, Miller, Ellington, and others. Information about the leaders and the sidemen make them come alive. Pictures of these performers add to the enjoyment. Learn how the Swing Era was launched and what ended the reign of the big bands. Although he is a distinguished professor emeritus from the Iowa State University Department of Political Science, Jorgen Rasmussen has taught several ISU College for Seniors courses on popular music. He was born only three months before the Swing Era began. In his youth he was a radio disk jockey. After retiring he wrote a novel on the Goodman band. The Lodge at Ashworth is located at 909 Ashworth Road. From I-235take the 8th Street exit. Turn north on 8th St./73rd St. to the four-way stop. Turn right on Ashworth Road.
Beginning Computer
Note: We suggest you practice the beginning computer skills for a semester before registering for an intermediate course.
Computer course schedule |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
(877) ISU-ALUM (478-2586) | alumni@iastate.edu | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
