We are super excited to welcome our friend Lacie, from Creative Barracks in Dunnville for this cool spell-casting workshop!
Join us at Lupton Street Studios for a night of intention setting & manifestation. Whether you’re looking for love, security, abundance or strength …
Bring a goal or intention, or let the goods available guide you on your journey to manifestation in this two hour introspective workshop. Learn how to craft a custom spell recipe using herbs, crystals, objects from nature & colour theory before locking the powers of your intention into a glass jar and sealing it with wax.
Once you’re on your path to manifestation, you’ll learn to create your own tarot card to help guide you and remind you of your goals. Take the gifts you’ve made for yourself home, & use them as part of your daily routine.
All tools, materials & instruction supplied. No experience required. $40 per person + HST
A lot of parents start thinking about offering their children the chance to learn piano at a pretty young age. However, they are not always sure that their child is mature enough to sit through an entire lesson at the piano. Other kids could be old enough, but not knowing what they are getting into, they might feel a little overwhelmed or intimidated by a full one on one piano lesson with a teacher they don’t know.
The Deluxe Lesson is a great format for these reasons and so much more. It allows kids to ease into the world of music through a variety of learning experiences, takes into account the shorter attention span of the beginners and just makes it plain fun to come to the studio!
So How Does It Work Exactly?
During a typical Deluxe Lesson, 3 students will go around a carrousel of learning stations, each lasting 20 minutes. After the first 20 minutes, they rotate and start their second portion of the hour in a different station, and then finish the hour with the remaining station.
Each kid will start and finish with a different station, but they will all go through the three of them at some point in the hour.
Station 1 – Piano Lesson
One of these 20 minutes will be spent with one of our teacher in our practice room at the piano. This is where what we would typically call the “piano lesson” happens: scales, chording, reading music and learning to interpret it correctly on the piano. The teacher is there to accompany the student and work on every element of technique or theory needed to properly perform the pieces they are learning.
Station 2 – Floor Time (Music Theory Games)
A second teacher is at the station we commonly refer to as the “floor time”. There, the student will be presented with a bunch of little challenges and activities touching on various music theory elements, turning the learning process into a game. It’s an approach that demystifies music theory and helps students getting familiar and comfortable with all kinds of important musical terms and concepts.
Station 3 – Sight Reading On iPad
At the third station, the student is sitting at one of our electric keyboards with earphones plugged into an iPad. On the tablet are various applications that teach sight reading in video game form. While the student is at the station, they are working alone, but under the supervision of the second teacher who is nearby and can help if there is any need. But we know how kids are savvy at working with applications and video games; they get it faster than adults and they usually get the hang of this station pretty quickly… and they love it!
If these little descriptions failed to paint a clear picture for you, please click on the video at the top of this article, where you will see our kids in action in the context of a Deluxe Lesson.
Is My Child A Good Candidate For Deluxe Lessons?
Most children 6 years old and up can easily participate in a Deluxe Lesson and benefit from its variety of teaching styles. It is a great introduction for a complete beginner, but even a kid who already knows how to play could find this format a fun and dynamic way to learn more.
As for younger kids, the main point is the ability to be relatively independent at the iPad station. It’s always possible for you as a parent to stay and assist your child at this station if they need some help. If you don’t know if your child is ready for this type of class, you can always call us to chat about it or come at the studio and see how it works. In the event your child is not quite there yet, we have other great options for younger kids to learn music at their own level.
You can get some more important details and register for a Deluxe Piano Lesson by clicking HERE. We cannot encourage you enough to take advantage of this great formula! It’s fun and it works!
Fall is at our door. New season, new school year! Even for us adults who don’t go to school anymore, September still feels like renewal. Time to go back to our regular schedule, with a renewed energy and purpose. Or time to start something new. How about a mix of the two?
We at Lupton Street Studios have had to rearrange our space since the last session. For the past couple of years, let’s say that things weren’t quite, well, normal. So now, we are facing – hopefully – a normal, full year, and we felt the need to rearrange our schedule and our space to be functional for all the new programs and students that will come flooding through our doors.
Most of our teachers are back, and they are happy to reunite with their students! Some of our teachers have to move on to new things; this is unfortunate for us but we do wish them the very best! And some new teachers will be joining us and contributing to the amazing atmosphere of learning, creativity and fun with us!
(By the way, we are always looking for full time or part time partners! Think you’d like to check it out or give it a shot? Click here for more information!)
One of the very exciting new things happening this year is the fact that we have access to a brand new space at the studio! We have expanded our space with a very spacious room in the basement, where programs like musical theatre, drama and other group activities will be happening. It is so awesome to have this kind of very versatile room in the same building!
While we are so excited about this new development, we are also happy that we were able to make improvements in the areas of the studio that were already in use. The space feels refreshed, efficient and pleasant!
So this week, we are so happy to be back to the routine of a regular fall session. At the same time, we are really excited about the new things: new room, new classes and programs, new teachers and students, etc. ! It’s still time to register! Don’t hesitate to reach out to us and check out all that we have to offer you. We will be happy to welcome you and take this fun journey with you!
You can check our programs for this current session here.
I joined Lupton Street Studios as a teacher during the first summer of the whole COVID situation.
I had just lost my job as a paint instructor with another business and I wasn’t sure where I was going after that. With the world at a stop, and my self-confidence not at its highest, I didn’t know if I was going to know how to reinvent myself.
That’s when I saw an ad about this studio looking for piano teachers.
I’ve studied classical piano for 10 years and have been playing for over 40 years. I had never taught piano but I knew I was solid enough to do it. I clicked on the ad and found out something else that really caught my attention even more: not only were they looking for piano teachers, but anybody who had other various skills: guitar, singing, drama and improv, visual arts, etc.
This just spoke to me so loud. To imagine that there was a place where I could explore so many of my various personal interests and get to share them as a teacher was so exciting!!!
During these past couple of years, even while the world was at a halt, I still got a chance to:
Meet students of all ages and backgrounds;
Teach piano, singing, painting, musical theater, improv and drama, etc. ;
Create events, activities and games for our students to learn in a variety of fun ways ;
Share ideas and work side by side with super fun people, as well as…
Participate in a few running gags and inside jokes 😉
Now that we are easing back into normal life again, the studio is looking for more people to join! What is your talent? What is your passion?
You want to try something new? Come join our team!
We are looking to add a couple of new instructors to our team for our 22-23 teaching year. Specifically, instructors for Musical Theatre (ages 4+), Acting / Drama, Paint Classes (kids and adults), and various Curious Kids programs (Lego, Pokemon, Game Nights, etc.). If you are personable, fun, and comfortable working with all kinds of kids, please apply!
If you know music… If you are an artist… If you’ve got some experience on stage… Or if you like to organize fun activities with kids, there is a place for you!
Whether you are looking for a full time job or you have a few hours per week to give… That works too!
I remember the first time I fell in love with Musical Theatre. I had a family outing to the movies. We were seeing a film called, ‘Hairspray’. I had no idea what it was about, hairspray I assumed. I left a different person that day, as Hairspray became my favourite musical of all time. I had seen other musicals before that, but something about it made it rise to the top. Between the dancing, singing, acting, story, it all made the perfect package. Since then, I’ve been dancing and singing through my life. Dance lessons, acting school, singing lessons, leads in plays, and now the honour of teaching it. It’s all come full circle.
Last years Musical Theatre class re-ignited my love for Musical Theatre. Watching the kids grow from being too nervous to sing or dance, to having them perform on stage in front of friends and family, was a proud moment I’ve never felt before. Even myself, learning and growing along with them. Watching the kids have an ‘ah ha’ moment, be it hitting that note while singing, perfecting that dance move, even winning in fun theatre games, it has all been so rewarding, and I can’t wait for what is to come this year!
Looking for a great night out? Enjoy a beverage and maybe a snack while you create a masterpiece! We have partnered with Just John’s to bring you regular Sip ‘n Paint nights. Go HERE for details and to view upcoming paintings.
Hello friends! How have you been enjoying your summer up to now? Are you spending some time by the pool with a nice cool drink in hand? Or maybe doing some gardening? Are you playing a team sport in a park near your home? Firing the BBQ and making burgers for neighbors and friends? Are you just enjoying some guilt-free, lazy summer time in your backyard?
We do hope you are taking advantage of this wonderful season! But if for some reason you are looking for something fun to do… we at Lupton Street Studios are there with an awesome program 😉 Our summer classes are going on and it’s never too late to join us for music lessons, paint classes, Curious Kids clubs, etc.!
By the way we have a Summer camp coming up soon and there are still some spots left! Make sure to check it out!!!
In between our classes and special activities, we have been creating a little something fun and colorful to celebrate summer time, holidays and sun-filled days. Take it as a little gift from us, a little touch of whimsy added to your summer holidays 😉 See you very soon friends, hopefully for one of our special summer fun programs and classes!
Before our world took a break from “normal” for a few years, I lead paint evenings on a regular basis in restaurants and pubs.
I’ve seen all kinds of people coming to these events: best friends looking for a cool kind of evening together. Moms on an evening out to nourish their own soul. Artists who would blow me away, and people who hadn’t touched a paint brush since kindergarten. Boyfriends who were coming to make their girlfriend happy, and ended up loving their experience, etc.
Two things would make me particularly happy, and I want to share them with you.
First – I loved people who had little to no experience in painting. They would invariably come in, look at the painting for the evening, and tell me with a nervous smile: “I’ll never be able to do THAT!”
I would smile, and tell them: “It is my job tonight to make sure you end up with something much better than what you think you can do. Trust me, you’ll be surprised! And… a little drink will definitely help the process!”
Trust the process!
I was able to say it with confidence, because in all the times I’ve done this, the number of disasters I’ve had on my hands was astonishingly small. Not because I’m some sort of genius. It’s just that the paintings selected for these evenings were made out of very simple steps – all you need to know is how to break it down in simple steps that everybody can reproduce with very little difficulty. Even the most hesitant ones would end up doing something they never thought they could. It wasn’t Van Gogh or Rembrandt, but it was theirs, and they were proud!
If they hesitated about the final product, I’d play a little trick on them. I’d tell them to hold their painting, I’d take a picture and show it to them. Invariably, they would be surprised: “I’ve painted THIS?!” Once they saw their painting on the screen, somehow, it helped them see it as a whole, instead of focusing on the small details that bugged them. They could see it with a more objective eye, and they were amazed at how good it looked!
As Bob Ross would say: “Happy little (palm) tree!”
I absolutely loved that moment. It was magical.
The other thing that would make my night was when I had a rogue in the group.
Sometimes, it was somebody who clearly had artistic abilities and would go off on their own interpretation of the theme of the evening. They would add details, they would play with colors, shades and tones, they would totally make it theirs and I loved seeing them just improvise with their brushes!
At other times, it was a person with a bit of an original streak that would think of something humorous or off the wall and just go for it. I’ve seen it all: a SWAT team dropped in the middle of a serene winter scene. Intergalactic fried eggs (don’t ask). A Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle with a Bob Ross afro, holding a palette and paint brushes. As soon as I would see something like that happen on one of the canvases, I’d tell that person to just go for it, and I’d keep an eye on it all evening. It totally made my night!!
All of this to say how excited we are to bring this type of evening back!!! I cannot wait to see you guys join us at Just John’s for a nice cool drink and a bite to eat, as we go through the steps of this beautiful Tropical Evening painting, or the other designs coming up this summer!
I’m looking forward to meet all of you: don’t count yourself out because you think you cannot do it! As I’ve said before, it’s my job to prove you wrong. One way or another, it will be a really fun evening, and if all goes well, as I think it will, you’ll end up with something you can proudly hang up in your living room!
Visit our website to reserve your spot, places are limited! Come with a family member or a friend, or come by yourself if that’s what floats your boat! Treat yourself to our Sip ‘N Paint nights at Just John’s!
GAHHHHH we cannot wait for our Summer Camp! We’ve got activities for everyone. Painting, crafts, lego challenges, playdoh fun, drama activities, games, music, outside activities, and more! Either come to our Morning Camp, 9am-12pm, to our Afternoon Camp, 12:30pm-3:30pm, or come to both and stay all day, Monday-Friday! There’s so much fun to be had and we can’t wait for it to begin. Register now to claim that spot! Kids ages 6-12 are welcome to join. If you plan on doing the all day camp, make sure to bring a packed lunch!
Mothers’ Day is coming soon. You would like to do something special for Mom, Grandma or another special lady in your life. Flowers and chocolate are nice, but you’d like to shake things up a little. What would be fun and special and unique…?
A full-on scrapbook is a long endeavour. Maybe you don’t have that much time on your hands. How about something in the same vein, but smaller and… well, cooler?
Meet the Explosion Album, the creative combination of scrapbooking and origami! Three big squares of heavy paper get folded in a particular way. When you fold them together, you get a neat little square booklet-type of bundle. But when you unfold it, it reveals all kinds of secrets and a much bigger surface to work on that appears at first!
What makes an Explosion Album so much fun, is all the little surprises and secrets you can hide in it.
In the video I shared with you, you can see an album I’ve made about my nephew Vincent. There’s decoupaged shapes of his kitty, Chucky. There are pockets where I hid pictures transformed into cute bookmarks. There are mini-booklets that are bound with an eyelet so you can twist them open.
That is what makes an explosion album such a fun craft to realize and a really special present to offer. It seems to keep on giving as you explore it! You can make it as simple or as intricate as you’d like. You can make one that is your own little secret pocket to hide precious keepsakes. Once you know how to make one, it kinda becomes addictive! You always want to create another one!
Some of the tools and materials you can use to create your own explosion album.
So, what type of material is necessary to make your own explosion album?
You start with three large squares of heavy craft paper – this is important so it can survive multiple folding and unfolding. I used three sheets of 12×12 heavy scrapbook paper. You will also need two 6×6 squares of slightly heavier cardboard – you can cut them from an old cereal box.
From there, whatever you have under hand can be used to embellish and personalize your album: wrapping paper, strings and ribbons, stickers and stamps, pictures, buttons, drawings and doodles, etc. Let your imagination run wild!
For Mothers’ Day, you can include a little secret envelope where you can hide wishes from your heart, a little poem, or just a few words to tell the person you’re making it for how much you love her.
Check out our upcoming events for the chance to come and try your hand at one of these marvelous little treasures…? See you soon!
