Photography
Boost your portfolio with the range of photography courses at Stevenson College. A range of qualifications can be gained whilst you learn camera. darkroom and digital imaging techniques. Stevenson College. Sight/till. ()13/ 535 4700, mm:.s‘tet'enson.ae.uk
Glasgow
Art
The Continuing [Education programme at GSAr offers evening and day courses for those yearning to pick up a paintbrush. There are also portfolio—focused courses if you need to bulk up your stash of work. Courses run over two terms. 20 classes in total. Day courses from £465. evening courses from £200. Glasgow Selzool of/lrt. Renfren' Street. ()14 l 353 4596, mm: gsaae. uk
Jewellery
Glasgow School ofArt‘s jewellery classes show you how to create your own accessory masterpieces. Beginners are welcome at Tuesday’s silversmithing class. and there is an advanced jewellery
class you can progress to. Glasgow
Seltool of/lrt. .s'ee Glasgow. art. Glass design
Get a feel for glasswork with RDW‘s six-week beginner course. Run on Thursday evenings. you will learn trade secrets whilst making two stained glass panels. Classes cost £125 for six weeks. including materials and equipment. RDW Glass, Fleming Street. 014/ 556 33/2. mm:rrltrglassro.uk Fashion
With good contacts in the industry
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and purpose-built facilities. Cardonald College is earning itself a solid reputation for its fashion courses. Distance learning and pan or full-time options are available. Cardonald College. Mosspark Drive. 014/ 272 3333, lt‘lt'li'.('(ll'(l()ll(ll(l.(l(‘ Ilk
Ceramics
Release tension and throw a pot or two at Firework Studio. Classes are split into hand building and throwing techniques. Two-hour weekly sessions cost £90 for six weeks. livening class times are negotiable depending on your work and travel commitments. l‘iiren'ork Studio, Dal/toasie Street. .s'al es @fi ren 'orksturli o. co. ak. mm:firen‘orkstmlio. ('o. ak
Alternative Therapy Edinburgh
Aromatherapy
Non-vocational courses are available through the CliC or you can earn a BA in Complementary Healthcare (Aromatherapy) at Napier University. CliC. see Edinburgh. art. Napier University. Craig/oekliart. 0845 260 6040. mm:napierae.ak
For more shopping & fashion visit www.list.co.uk/shopplng
Meditation
If you are frazzled by lunchtime. drop into a lunchtime meditation session at the Edinburgh Buddhist Centre. Six-week meditation courses are also available. costing £65 (£45). Lunchtime meditation is held on Wednesdays and Fridays. lZ.3()-l.3()pm. £3 (£2). lit/inbuiin Build/list Centre. Melville li’rt‘ttee. ()13/ 662 669‘), mm:edittlnogltlnalrlltistt'entre.mg. uk
Yoga
Running courses for yoga virgins or veterans alike. beginner's classes must be booked in advance and are £68 for eight weeks. Arlita Yoga Centre. Alva Street. 0/3] 226 260]. mm:arlitiyogai'entre.eom
Glasgow
Meditation
With meditation. tai chi. yoga and Alexander Technique tuition all under one roof. the Glasgow Buddhist Centre know lots of ways to de-stress. 'l‘wo-hour. weekly meditation classes are £63 for six weeks. Glasgow Build/list Centre. Sauehieltall Street. 0/4] 333 ()524. ii'n'nzglasgmv l7ll(l(llll.8‘l(‘(’tlll‘(’.(‘()Hl
Yoga
Drop in on Pilates and ashtanga yoga classes or indulge in their salsa dance and djembe drumming courses. Classes start at £6. Gather in Glasgow. Rut/It'en Lane (off Byres Road ). ()7 967 [88 5/3, mm:gatheringlasgon'.eo.uk
Thai yoga massage
Learn the ancient art of Thai yoga massage at Metta. There are introductory days for beginners or courses to practitioner level for those wanting to make a career out of it. All courses are accredited. Prices vary. Metta. Neii'eozo't Street. 07956 9/] I59. n‘n‘n:yoga/iiassage. co. uk
Edinburgh
Showing pupils how to sizzle in Spanish or argue in Arabic. the Applied Language Studies has various courses to bring you closer to linguistic perfection. There is an open day at Hill Place. Sat 20 Sep. l lam — 3pm. Institute jor Applied lzmguage Studies. Hill Place. 0/3] 650 6200, mm:ial.v.e(l.ae.ak
JOKE CAMP
Sian Bevan is schooled in the fine art of stand-up comedy and is ready to explain all to you. Come hear her punchline Adult education is so much more than learning new facts. A good course can change the way you think, maybe with life-altering results. Comedy is a subject which can’t be ‘learnt’ but it offers invaluable transferable skills: public speaking, creativity, confidence, acting and microphone technique. Oh, and it’s bloody good fun.
I run the stand-up course at Leith Academy with fellow comic Rick Molland. Previous students were phenomenally successful - most went from a vague appreciation of comedy to performing a solid set within eight weeks. It was exciting to watch, as students performed character comedy or a guy dealing with autism gave a gloriously bitter rant.
It’s great to see friendships springing from the course. Laughter brings people together and everyone is in the same nerve-wracking, position. The course ends with a showcase of students’ work, which has led some to write and perform sketch comedy for local radio. I hope to build up a community to develop people’s confidence and skills even further.
We can’t magically make anyone funny and we’re not trying to create professional comedians in one term. Instead, stand-up is a springboard to see what people are capable of. I really believe most people have the capacity to be funny - it’s just a question of finding your voice and the humour that surrounds us.
It’s like an emotional parachute jump: if you can overcome nerves to perform stand up comedy then the world is at your devilishly funny feet.
I Comedy for Beginners starts at Leith Academy on Tue 16 Sep. 7-9pm.
(1—18 Sep 2008 THE LIST 13