Monday Courses   

In this first of a series of six courses on the music of Beethoven in celebration of the 200th anniversary of his death in 2027, we’ll look at and listen to his first five symphonies. We’ll examine the history of these works and how they continue the symphonic developments of Haydn and Mozart. We’ll see how they reflect Beethoven’s innovative ideas and how the first five symphonies lay the groundwork for the last four. No previous knowledge is expected. The course will be mostly lectures, using PowerPoint and YouTube for musical examples.

NOTE: There is no class on Monday, Jan. 19. This course is part of an online share with OLLI at the University of Nevada, Reno.

This course is a one-week introductory “boot camp” for absolute beginners who want to learn the basics of playing American mah-jongg (AMJ). This five-day series of hands-on play and practice activities is limited to two tables of four or five students each. Instruction will cover the game materials and the rules of play. This is not for people who have played before and want to get back into the game. Intermediate or advanced game play strategies are not part of this activity. At the conclusion of this boot camp, students will understand the game materials, objectives and rules of play, and be ready to form a group of beginner players to continue their AMJ play. Each variation of mah jongg (American, Chinese and Japanese Riichi) has a unique play style and set of rules.

NOTE: The required reference text is provided by the instructor. Text fee is $10, payable at the first class, cash only, please. Please commit to the full week of classes. Missing one class can disrupt the learning experience for all participants. Class will meet in Room C on Tuesday, Jan. 6.

This course is a one-week introductory “boot camp” for absolute beginners who want to learn the basics of playing American mah-jongg (AMJ). This five-day series of hands-on play and practice activities is limited to two tables of four or five students each. Instruction will cover the game materials and the rules of play. This is not for people who have played before and want to get back into the game. Intermediate or advanced game play strategies are not part of this activity. At the conclusion of this boot camp, students will understand the game materials, objectives and rules of play, and be ready to form a group of beginner players to continue their AMJ play. Each variation of mah jongg (American, Chinese and Japanese Riichi) has a unique play style and set of rules.

NOTE: The required reference text is provided by the instructor. Text fee is $10, payable at the first class, cash only, please. Please commit to the full week of classes. Missing one class can disrupt the learning experience for all participants. Class will meet in Room C on Tuesday, Jan. 6.

This course will review Broadway musicals that were hits of their time but are rarely produced anymore or, conversely, were considered failures in the initial run but are now considered minor classics. Whenever available, filmed productions of the original stage version will be used rather than less faithful Hollywood movie adaptations. Each session will feature a production video. Due to length, some productions will be divided into two sessions. Titles for this term include: “Kiss Me, Kate” (Porter), “Half a Sixpence” (Heneker), “Curtains” (Kander & Ebb) and “Lady in the Dark” (Weil & Gershwin). Time is allotted during each session for class discussion. Enrollment in Broadway Musicals, Part 1, is not a prerequisite. 

NOTE: There is no class on Monday, Jan. 19.

Most families have secrets that conceal shame-evoking histories and experiences. Many of them involve taboos about sex, criminal behavior, incarceration, war trauma, ancestry, race or other denied and hidden pasts. Some secrets hold less power over our lives, and others are so painful or would create so much pain for others that we keep them hidden. Decisions about concealment and truth-telling are often complicated and raise questions such as: “Who owns the secret?” and “Who has a right to know?” This is an academic exploration of the social and interpersonal dynamics in families that lead to secret-keeping, and the motivations behind secret-keeping and revealing. No one is expected to reveal secrets. Discussion formats will give participants freedom to share or opt out of sharing.  

NOTE: Course materials are from psychological studies in family secrets, sociological looks at trends in culture, and diverse memoirists. Some discussions or materials could be evocative. Those with newly uncovered secrets or deeply painful secrets may wish to take another course. Course participants will read “The Secret Life of Families” by Evan Imber-Black.

Come explore local food with us in two sessions. We'll start with a slide presentation with discussion and a short activity, then we dive in with a demonstration cooking project. This course will explore connecting with where your food comes from, building positive relationships with food, and using local, seasonal, budget-friendly produce. We’ll share what farm to school is and what is happening in our region. Our style of education will utilize similar techniques we use with students: fun, interactive learning with opportunities for discussion, exploring new things and asking questions. This will be an opportunity to learn about growing, buying, cooking and enjoying food for yourself as well as ideas for engaging the young people in your life to share the joy of connecting with food.

NOTE: The second session on Jan. 12 will be a demonstration cooking class held at the Ashland Food Co-op, located at 237 N. First St., from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Efforts will be made to address individual food allergies and sensitivities; ingredients will be listed in a pre-course email to registered students. Signed liability waiver required to participate.

We’re often told, “We can’t afford that program” or “The deficit will bankrupt our grandchildren.” But is this true? Unlike households, the U.S. government issues its own money through the Federal Reserve — it doesn’t need to “find” dollars before it spends them. That’s what makes the dollar a fiat currency: It isn’t backed by gold or any commodity, but instead by law and trust. This class cuts through myths about budgeting, deficits and debt to show how government spending really works. We’ll separate fear from fact and explore how money creation shapes policy, inflation and our everyday lives. 

NOTE: There is no class on Monday, Jan. 19.

This course explores the structure and primary movements of the 24 ribs and how they are connected to the entire skeletal system. Each class features a lesson involving gentle movements, done slowly with minimal effort, while paying attention to one’s own personal experience. Students will be guided through easy, novel movement sequences, exploring and discovering ways of moving that activate the neuroplasticity of the brain. The lessons are safe, fun puzzles for the nervous system and brain designed to create new patterns of behavior. Benefits may include improved breathing, less neck and shoulder pain, fewer backaches, improved ability to manage anxiety and stress, better circulation and a sense of comfort and ease throughout the whole self. It is beneficial to repeat this course.

NOTE: There is no class on Monday, Jan. 19. Signed liability waiver required to participate.

In 2024, the average U.S. consumer spent about 12 hours and 42 minutes daily with media. Most people know very little about the history of media or its economic and societal impacts. Over four classes, students will learn about the evolution of media from the invention of the printing press to everyone having a world of information at hand. No prior knowledge is required. There are no outside assignments or required reading. Topics: the origins of print, radio, TV, social media and the size of their audiences; how different types of media generate income; how media is or is not regulated; news versus journalism; an attempt to forecast what might be in the future for media. Discussion will be encouraged, but the course will not be about blame, anger, grievance, opinions or entertainment. 

NOTE: There is no class on Monday, Jan. 19.

Have you ever wanted to learn to play the guitar or improve your guitar playing skills? Did you take guitar lessons once but stop playing, intending to pick it up again someday? Then this guitar course may be for you. Students will be introduced to the most common chords and a variety of playing techniques. In a few weeks, they will learn the skills to begin to create pleasing guitar music. Sessions will consist of lectures and demonstration followed by group practice. Students will have the opportunity to practice individually with guidance from the instructor. Participants should spend some time outside class reviewing and practicing the skills introduced during each session. 

NOTE: Students must provide their own guitars. A music stand, guitar tuner, capo and picks would be helpful. There is no class on Monday, Jan. 19. 

Learn a complete tai chi form for health and longevity that can be done anywhere and is adaptable for all ages, body types and abilities. No previous experience is necessary. Reduce pain and stress, improve balance, increase focus and find comfortable ways to move while gaining benefits from a 3,000-year-old Chinese movement form, tai chi. When students finish the course, they will have three tools for dealing with change, transition and life in general. These tools include the tai chi 17-form, movements from a Yang short form, and a martial arts sequence called Finished the Form as well as a basic knowledge of tai chi and the martial arts. Each time students take this previously offered course a deeper understanding of this lifelong practice is gained. 

NOTE: There is no class on Monday, Jan. 19. Signed liability waiver required to participate.

While many Oregonians have advance directives for health care, there are other documents they can use to help shape the kinds and extent of health care they want as they age. This course explores directives, health care representation, HIPAA rules, physicians’ orders for life-sustaining treatment (POLST), and Oregon’s Death With Dignity law to help students guide their own decision-making and care.

NOTE: There is no class on Monday, Jan. 19.

This course is designed for the person who wants to learn the fundamentals of the fastest growing sport in America. It is played by all age groups and physical abilities in recreational or tournament play. Join the fun, led by experienced instructors from the Ashland Oregon Pickleball Club. We will meet for 1½ hours a day for five consecutive afternoons. Beginning players will learn the basics: choosing a paddle, paddle position, serving, return of serve, dinking, drills, scoring and calling “out balls.” You might meet “Nasty Nelson!” An emphasis will be placed on safety, court etiquette and sportsmanship. AOPC will provide the paddles, balls and instruction. Use of the Playtime scheduler will be covered as well as courts available in our area. 

NOTE: If you have a mobility issue, this may not be the course for you. Please wear court shoes, bring a hat/visor and a hydrating drink. Eye protection is recommended. If we have inclement weather the class will be canceled. Signed liability waiver required to participate.

This course is designed for students who have taken the Absolute Beginners Pickleball course or have a rudimentary knowledge of the game. It will be taught by seasoned instructors who are experienced players. Expect to build on the basic game to include advanced strategy in play. We will meet at Lithia Park pickleball courts for 1½ hours a day for five consecutive days. There will be an emphasis on safety and sportsmanship. This skills-building class will focus on different types of serves; lobs; third shot drops or “drop shots” drives; partner communication; stacking; types of scoring; and identifying Bert, Ernie and Nasty Nelson. The last day will be a FUN round-robin in which each player will rotate play with all others. An instructor will be on each court to provide feedback.  

NOTE: Please bring a paddle, court shoes, a hat or visor, snacks and a hydrating drink. Eye protection is recommended. Students must know the basic game, such as rules/usapickleball.org, court position, basic serve, return of serve, NVZ, calling “out” balls, safety and sportsmanship. If we have inclement weather the class will be canceled. Signed liability waiver required to participate. 

We often take plants for granted, but we shouldn’t. The goal of this course is to foster an appreciation for the importance of plants in our daily lives. We will examine how plants contribute to our lives and well-being, including the basics such as oxygen to breathe, food, shelter and clothing. We will also discuss the role of plant compounds as medicines and psychoactive/stimulating agents. The course will introduce some scientific concepts and terminology relating to plant structures and functions as well as economic and historical aspects of plant use. The format will be interactive lectures; plant material will be brought in periodically to demonstrate particular concepts.

NOTE: There is no class on Monday, Jan. 19.

“Prophet Song” is the 2023 Booker Prize winner by Irish novelist Paul Lynch. This gem of a novel, described as a “prophetic masterpiece” in the Washington Post, is a dystopian take on modern life. In lyrical prose Lynch slowly reveals a horrific scenario through the experience of his protagonist, Eilish, a scientist and mother of four whose husband, a union organizer, is “disappeared” at the beginning of a totalitarian takeover of the country. Described in the New York Times as coming “at a moment when the fear it addresses is daily in the news,” this novel is not an easy read and yet it is essential. The flow of the narrative revealing the process of Eilish’s awakening to horror as she struggles to care for her young family is deftly handled and riveting.

NOTE: Students are encouraged to read the entire novel before the course begins.

What stories from your life would you like to tell? This course in writing personal narratives is derived from the Readers Write section of The Sun literary magazine. We will review samples from past issues and write responses to the magazine’s prompts. We will also look at upcoming topics, so students may submit works for publication. Students are expected to write one 400- to 800-word essay each week and share it on the interactive website Raider Moodle. Participants will respond to others’ essays by answering the following questions to encourage supportive feedback: What did you notice? What struck you? How did you connect personally to the story? All students are welcome, regardless of writing experience. This course has been offered previously, but all writing prompts will be new.

NOTE: There is no class on Monday, Jan. 19.

Students will learn that ancient prehistoric cultures as well as practitioners and teachers of women’s spirituality today celebrate/d a female goddess. You will read materials, discuss and have student presentations on scholars who illustrate the goddess as a giver of life, of sustenance, of agricultural plenty, a keeper in death and as a connection to the great cosmic cycles. We will discuss what a worldview that values equality in social relations and connectivity to the cycles of natures and the web of life could mean for us and our communities. No prior knowledge is needed. There will be in-person sharing and discussion.

NOTE: There is no class on Monday, Jan. 19.