Leander Cedar Park Fine Arts Academy

Leander Cedar Park Fine Arts Academy

Written by Katherine Kennedy Wednesday, 07 March 2007

One-woman show evolves into fine arts academy

The Leander Cedar Park Fine Arts Academy is growing rapidly and searching for a larger building for its expected expansion. What started as one woman teaching private lessons after Sunday School 15 years ago has grown into an academy offering four fine arts categories – music, art, dance and theater - together in one location.

Mary Ann Hetrick, founder and instructor, discovered the need for fine arts classes, rather than just private lessons. She moved into the current location on Buttercup Creek to teach four categories of fine arts, and started the LCPFAA in 2005.

“To better reach the community, we became a non-profit organization. We needed to get parents and the community involved,” Hetrick said. “The school district adds 2,500 students per year, and Leander is the fifth fastest growing city. Our business is growing fast and furious.”

LCPFAA offers a wide variety of classes to students from age two through adulthood. It offers a fun and friendly atmosphere for students to explore relationships between ideas and objects.

“Our instructors are professional, talented and educated. We are bringing culture together. We are here for people to enjoy and be educated in the arts,” Hetrick said. “We provide a safe place. Parents trust our instructors and our method of teaching.”

The Academy teaches beyond the fine arts curriculum of the school district by providing focused learning on one topic. The instructors believe the arts are integral to every person’s daily life.

“The arts appeal to the creative side of the brain. Students gain a sense of accomplishment by coming here because of our systematic way of teaching,” Hetrick said. “We offer a merit program, similar to the Boy Scouts, in which students earn badges for accomplishments including recitals, increasing book levels, practicing during the semester and art exhibits. This is an incentive for the students, and it takes the push away from practice so students want to practice.”

LCPFAA reaches out to home-school families who feel there is a gap in the curriculum and want to add fine arts to their studies. The Academy insists learning the arts will teach self-discipline, reinforce self-esteem and foster the thinking skills and creativity so valued in the workplace.

“Home-school programs offer the academic side (science, English and math), but for fine arts, they have to go to places like the Zachary Scott Theater downtown,” Hetrick said. “We are offering a fine arts combination that would be easily accessible for home school children and parents who teach.”

“We are currently looking for a larger space to expand our Academy,” Hetrick said.

People who want to donate can visit the Web site.

Upcoming Events:

• Community Folk Night. Every second and fourth Wednesday of the month, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
• Free classes in Mountain Dulcimer and Mandolin, 6:00 pm. Community Jam Session, 7:00 pm. Classes will be offered for guitar, banjo, dobro, upright bass, mandolin, fiddle, singers, pickers and spectators.
• Irish Tune Session. Every first, third and fifth Friday of the month, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
• Celtic music and Tex-Mex food
• Kid’s Movie Night fundraiser. Saturday, March 17, 6:30 – 10:30 p.m., $20 per child, $2 sibling discount
• Parent’s Night Out. Saturday, March 17, 6:30 – 10:30 p.m.
• Summer Camps which offer music and art lessons, ceramics and quilting workshops and a girls modesty camp

Leander Cedar Park Fine Arts Academy, 200 Buttercup Creek Blvd., Ste. 104• Cedar Park, 401-8863 • www.lcpfaa.org