Bridges Academy is rolling out talent development courses, taught online by our teachers who are experts in twice-exceptional education. 

Our summer course catalog is now available! Head here to see our more than 35 options and to register.

Past Courses

​The first batch of courses included a course in digital design for budding artists. For fledgling writers, we offered courses in fiction, poetry, and non-fiction writing. For musicians, we had a course on music production and composition. And for our scientists, we had an exploration of the deep sea.
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FICTION BOOT CAMP 
with Stuart Matranga

DATES: April 6-10
​TIME: 10-10:45 a.m PT & 2:45-3:15 p.m. PT*
RECOMMENDED GRADES: 8-12
​TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS: None

Knowing what to write about is one thing, knowing how to write about it is another. This five-day intensive course will help students structure the plot, develop the tone, and determine the voice of their fiction. Students will work on outlines, points of view, and underlying themes of short stories and novels. The class time will be divided a discussion of general writing issues (such as time management, character goals, endings), sharing individual work, and a constructive group response to that work.

*Students are expected to participate in both daily sessions that comprise the sole section of this course offering.


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*********REGISTRATION IS CLOSED.*********
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POETRY AND LYRICS SLAM
with Stuart Matranga

DATES: April 6-10
​TIME: 11-11:45 a.m. PT & 3:30-4 p.m. PT*
​RECOMMENDED GRADES: 8-12
​​TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS: None

Students will create a productive and nourishing space for students to read and develop their poetry and their song lyrics. For each of the five daily sessions, the class will be given an optional prompt to react to for the following class. Alternatively, students are encouraged to read their work in progress. A group discussion can follow if the student so desires. Each class will also feature a very brief discussion of poetic modes and themes, such as the structure of sonnets, the evolution of ballads, and an explication of a sample work from a great poet such as W.H. Auden or lyricist such as Bob Dylan.

​*Students are expected to participate in both daily sessions that comprise the sole section of this course offering.
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*********REGISTRATION IS CLOSED.*********
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ENCYCLOPEDIA X
with Stuart Matranga
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​DATES: April 6-10
​TIME: 9-9:45 a.m. PT & 2-2:30 p.m. PT*
​RECOMMENDED GRADES: 8-12
​​TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS: None

​Students in this course will channel concern into action as they create their own informational site (think Wikipedia) that addresses a pressing social, political, environmental, or social justice issue. Students will decide on their own topic and explore its origins, history, important events, important people, complications, and critical needs, as well as related political and economic factors.

*Students are expected to participate in both daily sessions that comprise the sole section of this course offering.



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*********REGISTRATION IS CLOSED.*********
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DIGITAL DESIGN BOOT CAMP
​with Amy Faigin

DATES: April 6-10 (two sections)
​TIME: 9 to 11 a.m. & 1 to 3 p.m. PT (two sections)
​RECOMMENDED GRADES: 8-12
​TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS: Photoshop*

In this online course, students will work in Photoshop to generate their own digital content, be it illustrations, graphic design, products, or even high-quality memes. Students will master a set of tools and learn how to use them to bring their creative visions to life. From the very basics to advanced painting techniques, this course is ideal for any visual artist who wants to get their feet wet or take off swimming when it comes to digital art. Through this five-day course, students will walk away with completed works that can be used to build a portfolio, along with the knowledge necessary to keep creating. 

*Students must have access to a copy of Photoshop to participate in this class. Adobe is offering free and discounted packages at this time for those who don't currently have the software installed. It is recommended that students have a graphic interface tablet for this class (Intuos, Da Vinci, Monoprice), but this is not a requirement for the course; paintings can be made utilizing a mouse or touchpad.
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*********REGISTRATION IS CLOSED.*********
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MUSIC MAKER EXPERIENCE
w/Kyle Wittlin & Dylan McKenzie
​DATES: April 6-10
​TIME: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. PT
​RECOMMENDED GRADES: 4-8
​​TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS: Access to a Mac with an up-to-date version of Garage Band or Logic Pro X

The Music Maker Experience is geared toward students who want to compose and produce their own music using Garage Band or Logic Pro X. Classes will start with a brief demonstration from the teacher, covering topics such as how to work with loops, how to program original drum parts and bass lines, how to mix, and how to use automation to achieve realism and keep interest. Students will then work on their own compositions. The last part of each class will be a live performance and sharing session where students will be able to share their work in front of the class or perform a song or original improvisation on an instrument of their choice.

*********REGISTRATION IS CLOSED.*********
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DEEP SEA SCIENCE
​with Annie Radigan

​DATES: April 6-10
​TIME: 10 a.m. - noon PT
​RECOMMENDED GRADES: 4-8
​​TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS: None

This course is designed to introduce students to some of the most interesting science related to the deep sea. Beginning with the physical conditions of the deep sea, students will explore amazing adaptations of the creatures that live there, interesting biological interactions that occur, the rare chemosynthetic communities that exist along hydrothermal vents, and some of the most important geologic features of the deep. Students will also have a chance to explore a specific deep sea topic of their choosing to research throughout the week and present during our Deep Sea Science Symposium at the end of class.
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*********REGISTRATION IS CLOSED.*********
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS
Stuart Matranga has been a teacher at Bridges Academy for the last 15 years. He has also written several books, films, and magazine articles.

Kyle Wittlin is a GRAMMY-nominated music educator who has been the Music Director at Bridges Academy for the past 15 years.  He is also a composer and producer whose music has been featured in over 100 television shows, including American Idol, The Voice, and Saturday Night Live.

Annie Radigan is a math and science teacher at Bridges Academy. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution from UCLA and is passionate about providing accessible education for all students.
​Amy Faigin is an artist, educator, advocate, and Bridges Academy alumnus. She graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Media from the prestigious Otis College of Art and Design, and is currently pursuing a master's degree in education. Other interests include comic books and marine biology.

Dylan McKenzie is a guitarist, songwriter, and music educator based in Los Angeles. He has toured internationally with his own projects and as a supporting guitarist. Dylan plays regularly in Los Angeles and has performed at a number of venues including The Walt Disney Concert Hall, KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic, The Hammer Museum, and more. His band Derde Verde released their new album 'Slow Light’ in October 2019.

Dylan co-directs the Bridges Academy Music Program along with Kyle Wittlin. He is available for Guitar, Bass, Songwriting, and Music Theory lessons over Zoom, Skype, and FaceTime. dylan.mckenzie@bridges.edu
Continue to check back here as more courses are added. Contact us at onlinecourses@bridgeseducationgroup.com with any questions.