Continuing students can register for classes by sending an e-mail to: olli@sierracollege.edu
Fall 2008 Classes
Art
Art 814
Art of the City: Florence
Florence is the birthplace of the Renaissance and sits in the heart of beautiful Tuscany. Through slides, lecture, and discussion we will explore the city of Florence, her history, and her art. This course is the closest you can get to walking the streets and museums of Florence without buying plane tickets!
Brenna Chapman has an M.A. in Art History from UC Davis and taught for Sierra College’s Study Abroad program in Florence.
Sun City Lincoln Hills, Kilaga Springs Lodge
# 4639010/30 - 11/20
Thur.,
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Presentation Hall
Rocklin Campus
# 45949 10/31 - 11/21
Fri.,
1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Room D-12
Business
Bus 809
Personal Investments
Learn how to manage investments during retirement. Topics include generating both income and growth from investments, fixed income, stocks, mutual funds, and annuities.
Russ Abbott is a registered financial advisor who holds an MBA in Finance and a BA in Economics. He has taught for over 15 years.
Roseville Gateway Campus
# 46406 9/18 - 10/9
Thur.,
2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Room 601
Nevada County Campus
# 46415 10/30 - 11/20
Thur.,
3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Room S-100
Drama
Drama 809
Modern German Film
Edgy, riveting, ironic, grotesque, moving—brilliant. These and other adjectives might describe aspects of the following six German films: Aguirre,The Wrath of God (1972) Werner Herzog’s film of extraordinary imagery in the Amazon rainforest, starring an intense Klaus Kinski; Fassbinder’s The Marriage of Maria Braun (1978), with a memorable performance by Hannah Schygulla as Maria; plus The Tin Drum (1989), Europa, Europa (1991), Downfall (2004) and the Oscar-winning The Lives of Others (2006). All films in German with English subtitles.
Stephen Sterling has a BA in Film from San Francisco State University and also teaches English and Meditation.
Nevada County Campus
# 46033 9/16 - 10/21
Tues.,
2:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Room M-101
Classic Italian Film
Study two films by Vittorio De Sica, (master of Italian neo-realism where filmmakers took cameras into the streets of war-torn Italy) The Bicycle Thief (1947), Umberto D (1952); and the fanciful break with neo-realism in three classics by perhaps Italy’s greatest director, Federico Fellini. La Strada (1954), The Nights of Cabiria (1957) and 8 ½ (1962); Eloquent in development of character, situation and technique, these films depict the human condition at its most touching. Plus: Divorce-Italian Style (1962).
Stephen Sterling
Lincoln Library at Twelve Bridges
# 46014 9/19 - 10/24
Fri.,
2 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Willow Room
The Films of Daniel Day Lewis
Daniel Day-Lewis is one of our most compelling actors, continually excelling in original and powerful performances. We will view 6 of his finest. The first two are from Irish director Jim Sheridan: In the Name of the Father (1993) and his first Oscar-winning performance in My Left Foot (1989). Also: Room with a View (1986), Martin Scorsese’s The Age of Innocence (1993), as Hawkeye in Last of the Mohicans (1992) and in his second Oscar winning performance, There Will Be Blood (2007).
Stephen Sterling
Rocklin Campus
# 46023 9/19 - 10/24
Fri.,
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Room D-12
The Films of the Coen Brothers
Brothers, Joel and Ethan Coen have been collaborating by writing, producing and directing films since their breakthrough dark comedy hit, Blood Simple in 1984. Their humor is dark and offbeat and often violent and they can vary between screwball comedy or film noir or a blend of the two. We will watch such films as Blood Simple (1984), Barton Fink (1991), Intolerable Cruelty (2003), and their masterpieces, Fargo (1996), and No Country For Old Men, winner of the academy award for best picture of 2007, and others to be announced. Come prepared for afternoons of great viewing experiences.
Curtis Covington has a BA in political science with a primary interest in Film, History, Literature and Current Affairs.
Roseville Gateway Campus
# 46072 10/16 - 11/20
Thur.,
1 p.m - 4 p.m.
Room 601
Modern American Comedy
Laughs come in many forms, and we will decide the level of hilarity in these six approaches to comedy—Romantic: Rob Reiner’s When Harry Met Sally…with Billy Crystal (1989, Rated R); comic fantasy: Big (1988) with Tom Hanks; vulgar absurdity: Mel Brooks’ Blazing Saddles (1974, Rated R); quirky comedy: Little Miss Sunshine (2006); satiric angst: Jack Nicholson in As Good As It Gets (1997); and Christopher Guest’s outrageous canine “mockumentary” Best in Show (2000).
Stephen Sterling
Nevada County Campus
# 46087 10/28 - 12/9 (no class 11/25)
Tues.,
2:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Room M-101
Asian Film Festival
The six Chinese and Japanese films we will study are both stunning and insightful, creating dynamic, lyrical worlds that can, at times, be quite intense. China’s greatest filmmaker Zhang Yimou’s Raise the Red Lantern (1991) and To Live (1994); Akira Kurosawa’s Ikiru (1952); The Burmese Harp (1956); Woman in the Dunes (1961), and The Twilight Samurai (2006). All films with English subtitles.
Stephen Sterling
Lincoln Library at Twelve Bridges
# 46041 10/31 - 12/12 (no class 11/28)
Fri.,
2 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Willow Room
Tough Women in Classic Hollywood Film
These six iconic actresses are determined, resilient, provocative—and sometimes dangerous, four of whom are from the 1940’s: Barbara Stanwyck in Billy Wilder’s Double Indemnity (1944); Lana Turner in The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946); Joan Crawford in Mildred Pierce (1945); Lauren Bacall in To Have and Have Not (1944); Also: Susan Hayward in I Want To Live (1958); Bette Davis in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962). One thing we can agree: they don’t make ‘em like this anymore!
Stephen Sterling
Rocklin Campus
# 46051 10/31 - 12/12 (no class 11/28)
Fri.,
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Room D-12
English
English 814
Creative Writing (Critiquing)
A writing workshop with an overview of what publishers want, criteria for publication, methods to transform ideas into publishable prose or poetry, discussion of plot, structure, character, voice, dialogue, description and point of view. Course will consist of lectures, writing exercises and critiques.
Steve Linthicum
Roseville Gateway Campus
# 45854 9/17, 10/1, 10/15, 10/29
Wed., 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Room 224
Roseville Gateway Campus
# 45862 11/5, 11/19, 12/3, 12/17
Wed., 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Room 224
Writing Your Autobiography
On one level or another, everyone’s life is interesting and multifaceted. Learn to express your unique personal journey in the form of memoirs or journal entries in a very supportive atmosphere. We will practice techniques to make your writing flow and give you confidence in creating a vivid picture of your life story—a real page turner for your children and grandchildren. Bring a blank journal or something similar for writing in class.
Stephen Sterling
Roseville Gateway Campus
# 46097 9/17 -10/22
Wed., 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Room 607
Roseville Gateway Campus
# 46106 10/29 -12/10 (no class 11/26)
Wed., 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Room 607
Writing Your Life Story
An opportunity to begin or finish writing your life story for yourself or your family members. Class will include exposure to published life stories, memory triggers, instruction in how to begin and organize the high points in your life, small group critiques, and the opportunity to have your writing edited and critiqued by the instructor. Class members are requested to bring writing materials to class.
Suzanne Villarreal has a BA and an MA in English and has taught English for 35 years.
Nevada County Campus
# 46439 10/29 -12/10 (no class 11/26)
Wed., 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Room L-101
English 815
Ralph Waldo Emerson
We will further explore Emerson’s spiritual philosophy of Transcendentalism in several of his famous essays including “Spiritual Laws” and “The Transcendentalist.” Emerson placed great emphasis on the individual in his theological beliefs and saw human life as a manifestation of the Sacred. We will study this aspect of Transcendentalism and see where we can apply it to our own lives.
Stephen Sterling
Eskaton Village, Grass Valley
# 46124 9/16 -10/21
Tues., 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
49er Room
Haunted: The Life and Works of Edgar Allan Poe
Poe’s short stories and poetry have had a profound effect on both American and world literature. His short stories in particular have been credited with originating both horror and detective fiction, and some scholars claim Poe was actually the architect of the modern short story. We will examine his tormented life and some of his most famous darkly psychological tales and poems (Fall of the House of Usher, The Tell-tale Heart and the Raven)—all in time for Halloween.
Stephen Sterling
Sierra Pointe
# 46118 10/2 -10/23
Thur., 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Great Room
The Influence of Hammitt, Steinbeck & Wolff
For insights into your own writing, or because you love to study great American writers, this course features the work of Dashiell Hammitt, John Steinbeck, and Tobias Wolff. As individuals, they have had a great influence on the world's 20th and 21st century writers and readers. You'll discover how these three California writers developed their distinctive writing styles, each changing, forever, American literature. The 6-week course includes reading some short stories, novels, plus at least one essay and one report.
Sue Clark has a BA in Speech/TV and had a literary agency for 36 years. She has taught fiction and non-fiction writing classes and is a ghostwriter as well.
Lincoln Library at Twelve Bridges
# 46137 10/27 -12/15 (no class 11/10 or 11/24)
Mon., 3:30 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Willow Room
The Confessional Poetry of Anne Sexton and Sylvia Plath
We will delve deeply into the “dark night of the soul” of these two gifted poets. Through their mental suffering, both Sexton and Plath share harrowing journeys with us as each one’s incredible poetry reflects the turmoil of her particular life. At times, we will take a psychoanalytic approach, concentrating particularly on Plath’s most famous collection Ariel [“Daddy”, “Lady Lazarus”, “Fever 103”] and Sexton’s To Bedlam and Half Way Back [“Music Swims Back to Me”, “Ringing the Bells”, “Her Kind”].
Stephen Sterling
Eskaton Village, Grass Valley
# 46166 10/28 -12/9 (no class 11/25)
Tues., 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
49er Room
The Poetry of Depth: T.S. Eliot and William Butler Yeats
We will study two great poets of the 20th Century. T. S. Eliot, known for his stream of consciousness genre of poetry, portrayed the disillusion of the post war generation in such famous poems as The Waste Land; Yeats used a more traditional form and was known as a Symbolist, drawing on Irish myth and folklore. We will study their lives in light of their work as well as the complexity of their genius.
Stephen Sterling
Maidu Community Center
# 46144 10/30 -12/11 (no class 11/27)
Thur., 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Senior Meeting Room
Music
Music 810
Antonin Dvorak: His Music, His Life
Dvorak stands at the heart of the Czech nationalist musical movement. He succeeded in fusing fold idioms with the symphonic techniques of his predecessors Beethoven and Brahms. In 1891 he was invited to become the director of the new National Conservatory of Music in New York. Several of the works he wrote in the United States show the influence of American folk music, especially the negro spiritual.
Steve Miller has a BM and MM from CSU Sacramento. He is a part-time faculty member at Sierra College.
Roseville Gateway Campus
# 46189 9/15 -10/20
Mon., 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Room 601
Nevada County Campus
# 46179 9/19 -10/24
Fri., 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Room L-101
The History of Jazz: Part 3
In this segment we travel through the War Years with American Swing Music providing the country's "Victory Soundtrack”. Then we journey to the emergence of many new directions for Jazz including Be-Bop, Cool Jazz, and the West Coast sound.
Ray Ashton has both an MA and BA in Music from the University of Nevada and has taught music at Sierra College since the fall of 1999.
Sun City Lincoln Hills, Kilaga Springs Lodge
# 45961 9/18 -10/9
Thur., 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Presentation Hall
Nevada County Campus
# 46230 10/30 -11/20
Thur., 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Room M-101
Franz Schubert: His Music, His Life
Unlike Beethoven, whose fame during his lifetime had spread all over Europe, Schubert's reputation was largely local. His composing career was short, a mere 15 years, and although he worked in the same genres as Beethoven, it was not his operas or his symphonies, but his more intimate works, particularly the songs and chamber music, which posthumously ensured his unique place in musical history.
Steve Miller
Roseville Gateway Campus
# 46212 10/27 -12/15 (no class 11/10 or 11/24)
Mon., 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Room 601
Nevada County Campus
# 46198 10/31 -12/12 (no class 11/28)
Fri., 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Room L-101
Symphonic Band
Dust off your horn and come explore the wonderful world of symphonic band literature! The Sierra College Symphonic Band is an ensemble dedicated to the study and performance of standard and contemporary band literature. Several concerts will be presented at the Rocklin Campus and throughout the community each semester. A minimum of three to four years playing experience is necessary for participation. For further information please contact Greg McLaughlin at (916) 660-8054, gmclaughlin@sierracollege.edu.
Greg McLaughlin has a M.A. in flute performance from Sacramento State. His diverse musical background includes performance experience in symphonic, chamber, jazz, pop, and commercial studio genres. He is in his seventeenth year as an instructor at Sierra College.
Rocklin Campus
# 45804 8/25 -12/8 (no class 9/1 or 11/10)
Mon., 6:55 p.m. - 9:45 p.m.
Room D-1
Tahoe/Truckee Community Chorus
The 70 member chorus is open to all residents of the Tahoe/Truckee area. Sign-ups and voicing appointments will be accomplished at the first meeting, August 25. Performance literature will be seasonal and holiday pieces, to include: Gloria by John Rutter with brass and organ. Concerts are scheduled for December 6 and 7.
Chris Nelson
Alder Creek Middle School, Truckee
# 45978 8/25 -12/8 (no class 9/1 or 11/10)
Mon., 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Sierra Community Chorus
Practice in the interpretation and performance of traditional and contemporary choral music. Successful completion of the course constitutes membership in the Sierra Community Chorus. Fall 2008 performances will be December 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, and 20. Auditions take place at the first and second class meetings. Visit www.sierrachorus.org for more information.
Lorin Miller has a vocal music degree from Oral Roberts University and a distinguished background as a solo performer and choral director. He has performed nationally and internationally in a variety of styles ranging from Bach to Broadway.
Rocklin Campus
# 46267 8/26 -12/9
Tues., 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Room D-2
Women's Barbershop Chorus
Also known as "The Mountain Belles", this is a performance level course that showcases its members as they sing and entertain in four part barbershop harmony. The fall semester will prepare students for the upcoming holiday shows. Learning CDs and sheet music are provided. Rehearsals are once a week and students are required to memorize their music. A strong commitment to the group is needed in order to assure the quality of each performance. Materials fee: $25.
Lynelle Tyler
Truckee
# 45992 8/27 -12/24 (no class 11/26)
Wed., 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Chamber Orchestra
This course is a wonderful opportunity for people who enjoy making music together to learn some of the world's great orchestral literature. Those enrolling should have 3 to 4 years experience playing one of the orchestral instruments.
Steve Miller
Nevada County Campus
# 45920 8/28 -12/11 (no class 11/27)
Thur., 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Room M-101
Beginning A Cappella Singing
A non-performance class that will teach students the fundamentals of singing. Focus will be on voice control, pitch, and warm-up exercises, singing in harmony and bringing out the best in each individual's voice. Students will apply these skills to a four-part singing arrangement and work towards a well polished final project. No musical experience necessary, just a love of singing!
Lynelle Tyler
Truckee
# 45985 9/4 -11/6
Thur., 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Physical Education
PE 808
Fitness Options for Older Adults
Have you heard the saying, “Stay young at any age?” Are you familiar with the term “aerobic?” What else is necessary to become a well-balanced, healthy, physically fit senior? Discover how a good physical fitness regimen is dependent on many different factors and learn to plan a good physical fitness program using items commonly found in your home. You’ll be introduced through lecture, discussion, and instructor demonstration, to a wide range of flexibility and muscular strength and endurance exercises. Discussions and handouts will focus on fitness issues critical to senior health including essential vitamins and minerals and the hazards of osteoporosis. Each section offered introduces a different form of exercise through lecture, handouts, and instructor demonstration.
Sifu Renee Neal has been teaching martial Arts for 19 years, and also teaches other mind/body fitness/classes. She holds a 3rd Degree Black Belt and is an 8 time International Champion. She is currently the Sierra College Martial Arts Club Faculty Advisor.
Emphasis: Tai Chi Level 1 - Beginning
Tai Chi is a gentle and graceful movement class designed to build better balance, coordination, and focus in older adults. Students are encouraged to wear loose comfortable clothing. Our program features the Yang Long Form.
Renee Neal
Roseville Gateway Campus
# 45882 8/12 -9/11 (no class 8/19 or 8/21)
Tues. & Thur., 8 a.m. - 9 a.m.
Room 525
# 46289 9/16 -10/9
Tues. & Thur., 9 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Room 525
# 46325 10/14 -11/6
Tues. & Thur., 9 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Room 525
# 46362 11/11 -12/11 (no class 11/25 or 11/27)
Tues. & Thur., 9 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Room 525
Emphasis: Tai Chi Level 2
This class is designed for continuing students who are working on or who have completed Section One of the Yang Long Form.
Renee Neal
Roseville Gateway Campus
# 45896 8/12 -9/11 (no class 8/19 or 8/21)
Tues. & Thur., 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Room 525
# 46293 9/16 -10/9
Tues. & Thur., 8 a.m. - 9 a.m.
Room 525
# 46335 10/14 -11/6
Tues. & Thur., 8 a.m. - 9 a.m.
Room 525
# 46374 11/11 -12/11 (no class 11/25 or 11/27)
Tues. & Thur., 8 a.m. - 9 a.m.
Room 525
Emphasis: Tai Chi Level 3
This course is designed for continuing students learning Sections 2 and 3 of the Yang Long Form.
Renee Neal
Roseville Gateway Campus
# 45907 8/12 -9/11 (no class 8/19 or 8/21)
Tues. & Thur., 9 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Room 525
# 46307 9/16 -10/9
Tues. & Thur., 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Room 525
# 46347 10/14 -11/6
Tues. & Thur., 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Room 525
# 46381 11/11 -12/11 (no class 11/25 or 11/27)
Tues. & Thur., 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Room 525
Emphasis: Tai Chi Level 4
This course is designed for continuing students learning Section 4 of the Yang Long Form.
Renee Neal
Roseville Gateway Campus
# 45870 8/12 -9/11 (no class 8/19 or 8/21)
Tues. & Thur., 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Room 525
# 46275 9/16 -10/9
Tues. & Thur., 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Room 525
# 46315 10/14 -11/6
Tues. & Thur., 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Room 525
# 46356 11/11 -12/11 (no class 11/25 or 11/27)
Tues. & Thur., 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Room 525
Page last updated
October 23, 2008