Learn to play alto recorder with other beginning students. Being able to create beauty with a musical instrument, especially playing in groups, is a fulfilling social and communal experience that can lift your spirits. Low physical demand means you can do it all your life. For this class, you should already know at least some rudiments of reading music (from playing piano, singing in choir, or being in junior high band forty years ago, for example), but you do not have to have played any wind instrument. By the end of the course, you will be able to produce a beautiful sound, know all the basic fingerings, and play simple duets with other students. You will need to have the following materials and bring them to each class: an alto recorder (plastic preferred; Yamaha or Aulos recommended, easily available on Amazon or through a music store); a music stand (also available online or at stores); the instruction book Sweet Pipes Recorder Book - Vol. 1 Alto, by Burakoff and Hettrick, $6.50. It is available online from several sources. One is Honeysuckle Music (honeysucklemusic.com). This class can be preparation for joining the Recorder Consort class, also offered through LLI. Limit 8.

Susan Richter
9:15—10:30 A.M. Tuesday, Starts Feb. 18
Christ Lutheran Church
300 E. Monroe Street (78704)

Find your inner Diva and release the goddess! Calling all Queen-agers and Goddesses from 50-100. Belly dancing is a great way to exercise, gain strength, increase balance and range of motion, and just have fun! In this beginning-level class you will learn the proper position, the basic steps, isolation of movements, four basic rhythms and a short choreography. Our instructor teaches a melding of American styling with classical Egyptian. She performs locally and in other states and continues to study the dance, attending workshops and sponsoring them, bringing instructors in from across the U.S., Germany, and Tunisia. Her philosophy is: Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...It's about learning to dance in the rain. Please bring $3 to the first class for handouts. Wear regular workout clothes and soft-soled shoes (or bare feet). Restrictive clothing such as blue jeans and running shoes are not recommended. The music is available on CD for $2 or thumb drive for $5. Limit 25.

Jeanette Cunningham
9:30—11:00 A.M. Tuesday, Starts Feb. 18
Dittmar Recreation Center
1009 W. Dittmar Road (78745)

This class is designed as an introduction to the practice of Yoga. It is a slower-paced class, focused on developing clear and safe alignment in basic Yoga postures called 'Asanas'. You will learn gentle stretches, simple breath work, and relaxation techniques to help you become comfortable with Yoga. Bring a Yoga mat and wear loose, comfortable clothing. Limit 15.

Zareen Shah
9:30—10:30 A.M. Tuesday, Starts Feb. 18
Unity Church of Austin
5501 W. US Hwy 290 (78735)

Note: #43 Intermediate Spanish will be taught on Tuesday mornings.
Classes #19 and 43 were switched in the printed catalog. 

This course uses the online service News In Slow Spanish (intermediate level) to provide reading and listening experience on topics concerning political, economic, cultural and scientific news with a focus on Latin America. You will read a weekly compilation of news and prepare to discuss it informally in small groups in class. The remaining class time is spent discussing and practicing grammatical structures and vocabulary. Students need to be familiar with present, imperfect, and preterit tenses in the indicative mood and have some acquaintance with the present subjunctive. You must be able to use a computer or tablet outside of class to read the weekly news and view videos that complement news stories and provide exposure to a variety of regional dialects. A group (reduced rate) subscription to News in Slow Spanish is required (about $10 per month for 2 months). Short excerpts of current episodes are available at www.newsinslowspanish.com. Scroll to the far right to find “Switch to Latino”, the Latin American version. Bring $2 to class for handouts. Limit 22.

Jann Randle
10:00—Noon Tuesday, Starts Feb. 18
Lamar Senior Activity Center
2874 Shoal Crest Avenue (78705)

What do people across various cultures need to experience happiness and inner peace? It’s not wealth, youth, perfect health, large families, talent, or power. Extensive research reveals that certain activities, attitudes, and characteristics play a significant role in fostering lasting happiness and tranquility. This course is based on the instructor’s book, The Secrets of True Happiness. Dr. Stephen Post, best-selling author of Why Good Things Happen to Good People, calls it “the finest book on happiness I have ever read, both in content, style, and its transformative potential.” Limit 25. 6 Classes.

Farnaz Masumian
10:00—Noon Tuesday, Starts Feb. 18
The Church at Highland Park
5206 Balcones Drive (78731)

The United States of America started as individual colonies isolated by a huge ocean to the east and a huge continental land mass west of the Allegheny Mountains. Now, 400 years after Jamestown and Plymouth, America is the most powerful nation on earth. We’ve experienced explosive growth in the relentless push west to the Pacific Ocean. We’ve celebrated our unique and better way of life, a model for oppressed people everywhere. Yet, we’ve experienced a deadly civil war, an economic system sustained by slavery, and an expansionist drive that pushed native inhabitants out of the way. What’s wrong with America is solved by what’s right with America: as ever, we are intent on upholding our founding principles, “with justice and liberty for all.” America is a work in progress. So we re-examine our story:

• Getting Started—Colonies to revolution and independence.

• Expanding Nation—We’re on our own…how do we establish ourselves?

• Sea to Shining Sea—Slavery, Trail of Tears, expansion Sea to Sea; slippery slope toward civil war.

• Post Civil War/Manifest Destiny—How to unwind from slavery and Civil War. How and why of “Jim Crow”. What to do about the Indian Territory?

• Building a World Power—Binding the continent together with infrastructure, worldwide trade, building a growing society.

• Expanding Beyond Borders—Trying our hand at European-style colonialism.

Our ever-popular master instructor, retired Naval officer and business executive, brings his love of world exploration and history to bear on our nation’s story. Limit 50. 6 Classes.

Todd Clayton
10:00—Noon Tuesday, Starts Feb. 18
The Village at The Triangle      
4517 Triangle Avenue (78751)

We will begin with what is contained in an Estate Plan including a Last Will and Testament, Medical Power of Attorney, Statutory Durable Power of Attorney, Directive to Physician, HIPAA Release, and, if necessary, a Trust agreement. Then, we navigate through the Probate process from the filing of an Application to the closing of the Estate, as well as what happens if one passes away without proceedings. We conclude with a review of Federal Trust, Estate and Gift Taxes. Limit 20. 6 Classes.

Andrea V. Comsudi, Attorney and Counselor at Law
10:00—Noon Tuesday, Starts Feb. 18
Triumphant Love Lutheran Church, Upper Room
9508 Great Hills Trail (78759)

In this ongoing seminar exploring how the arts affect us and why they matter, the course this term will consider outstanding examples of the American short story in its first century. Authors will include moderns such as Anderson, Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Faulkner, and Porter; near antecedents such as James, Bierce, Cather, London, and Twain; and ancestors such as Irving, Hawthorne, Melville, and Poe. While the focus will be on the art of fiction in the individual story, the course will also consider developments in subject matter, style, technique, and effect culminating in the modern American short story of the 1920s and 30s. Supplemented as necessary, the text will be the paperback Great American Short Stories, ed. Paul Negri (Dover 2002), available from Amazon for less than $10. The first class will discuss Washington Irving’s “Rip Van Winkle” and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown” plus a bonus poem, Emily Dickinson’s “To Lose One’s Faith.” For receiving class assignments and supplemental materials, an e-mail address is a must. Limit 20.

Joseph Longino, PhD
10:00—Noon Tuesday, Starts Feb. 18
Westover Hills Church of Christ, Room 203/204
8332 Mesa Drive (78759)

Ever wonder how laces such as Belgian, Swiss, or Chantilly are made? You will learn the basic techniques of weaving lace using bobbins, which may lead to using other threads, yarn, and/or wire to create your own designs. Bring a box of straight pins, scissors, pin cushion and “cover cloth” (cloth table napkin or piece of fabric 18 inches square). Limit 12.

Pat Tittizer
10:30—12:30 Tuesday, Starts Feb. 18
United Christian Church
3500 W. Parmer Lane (78727)

Continue learning to play the recorder with other beginning-level students. By the end of this course, we will have covered all the notes (fingerings) in the everyday range of the recorder; become familiar with time signatures and rhythms through sixteenth notes; learned to play several major and minor scales; and become more confident sight-readers. We will play multi-voice pieces (duets and trios) with other class members. You will need to have these materials, and bring them to each class:

• the recorder you used in Beginning Soprano Recorder 1

• a music stand

• Sweet Pipes Recorder Book - Vol. 1 Soprano, instruction book by Burakoff and Hettrick

Other materials will be provided throughout the semester, including audio clips and sheet music created by the instructor, and made available on a website. This course is intended for students continuing from Beginning Soprano Recorder 1. If you were not enrolled in that class, please contact the instructor. This course, followed by Intermediate Soprano Recorder, can be preparation for joining the Recorder Consort, also offered through LLI. Limit 8.

Susan Richter
10:45—Noon Tuesday, Starts Feb. 18
Christ Lutheran Church
300 E. Monroe Street (78704)

This course is recommended for students with prior Yogic practice and basic understanding of Yogic postures and breath work. 'Asanas' or Yoga postures selected for this class will emphasize range of motion, flexibility, balance, and strength. Bring a Yoga mat and wear loose comfortable clothing. Limit 20.

Zareen Shah
10:45—11:45 A.M. Tuesday, Starts Feb. 18
Unity Church of Austin
5501 W. US Hwy 290 (78735)

This course is conducted entirely in French. Our textbook, Encore une Fois by Henry L. Herbst and Hale Sturges II, guides students in reading comprehension of Petit Nicolas stories, vocabulary building and review, grammar review, and pronunciation. Limit 25. Note: 2-week delayed start; first class meeting March 4. Course extends 2 weeks.

Gloria Cisneros Lenoir
10:00—Noon Tuesday, Starts March 4
Westover Hills Church of Christ, Room 201
8332 Mesa Drive (78759)