TAMIU Offers Spring Young Artists Program

Give your children the opportunity to practice self-discipline and diligence while learning to play an instrument or exploring music at Texas A&M International University's 2005 Spring Young Artists Program.

Dr. Gilberto Soto, coordinator of the Children Music Community Program and chair of the Department of Fine and Performing Arts, said the program offers children remarkable exposure to the world of music.

"The Young Artist Community Program has been in existence since the fall of 2002 and provides fine arts courses in the areas of music discovery, piano and guitar to those children interested in discovering the wonderful world of music. At the same time, the program provides an opportunity for TAMIU music/fine arts students to become teachers and mentors to these children, as they will become future music educators for this area. We offer these classes because we know how important it is to start music education at an early age," Dr. Soto said.

Beginning and intermediate classes meet once a week for an hour and the session runs Jan. 17 through May 3.

The schedule is as follows:

Music Discovery (four to six year olds) - Mondays, 5 p.m.

Music Discovery (four to six year olds) - Tuesdays, 5 p.m.

Piano (six to nine year olds) - Mondays, 5 p.m.

Piano (six to nine year olds) -Tuesdays, 5 p.m.

Guitar (six to nine year olds) - Mondays, 5 p.m.

Guitar (six to nine year olds) - Tuesdays, 5 p.m.

Piano (10 to 14 year olds) - Mondays, 6 p.m.

Piano (10 to 14 year olds) - Tuesdays, 6 p.m.

Guitar (10 to 14 year olds) - Mondays, 6 p.m.

Guitar (10 to 14 year olds) - Tuesdays, 6 p.m.

Parents may register their children at the Center for the Fine and Performing Arts between office hours on Friday, Jan. 14. General registration will be held on Monday, Jan. 17 from 4 - 5 p.m. There is a registration fee of $20 and tuition costs $45 per month. Space is limited.

For more information, contact Dr. Soto at gsoto@tamiu.edu, call 326.2649 or visit offices in the Center for the Fine and Performing Arts, room 217C.

University office hours are 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

University offices will be closed Monday, Jan. 17 in a state-authorized observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.