25 Nashville Adult Education Classes to Wake Up Your Brain!

Updated January 2023 by Brianna Goebel

Whether you’re looking to learn how to whip up a five-star meal, experiment with new art mediums, or brush up on your writing skills, there’s no time like the present. Luckily, Nashville offers plenty of options to help you flex your creative muscles, challenge your body, and inspire growth. Here are 25 adult-friendly classes to enrich your year!

25 Nashville Adult Education Classes

Art and Soul Nashville

Helping the community nurture its love of art for over 30 years, Art and Soul Nashville offers both online and in-studio classes. Develop and indulge your creative side with adult learning classes such as Figure Drawing: Alive and Well!, Intro to Mixed Media, or Vertical Storytelling in Visual Art. Visit artandsoulnashville.com to see a complete list of workshops — and then sign up to find the beauty and power of your personal expression!

Cheekwood’s Wellness 360 Classes

Offering over 55 acres of breathtaking florals and lush landscaping, Cheekwood is the perfect place to unwind and take in the beauty of nature. The garden’s Wellness 360 series includes everything from Tai Chi classes to sound bath meditation, yoga, mindfulness courses, and more. The complete schedule is set to release later this month, so visit cheekwood.org regularly for updates.

The Clay Lady’s Campus

If you’re looking to join Music City’s vibrant artist community, The Clay Lady (aka Danielle McDaniel) offers an art education center with pottery workshops for all skill levels. You can learn to make your own bowl or bird feeder or take classes with Mom or your sweetheart. For a complete list of class options, visit theclaylady.com.

The Curious Kitchen

Calling all cooking enthusiasts! Started by a mother-daughter duo with a passion for cooking (Mom spent five years as the director of the largest recreational cooking school in Los Angeles), The Curious Kitchen is a café-meets-culinary school experience that’s perfect for all skill levels. Lessons include creating a Tuscan feast, making various Thai dishes, and even learning to make sushi. Courses begin at $65, and admission includes all necessary ingredients and supplies. Plus, each class ends with the chance to sit down and eat what you’ve whipped up. You can check out menu options, the class calendar, and more at curiouskitchen.rezclick.com.

Frist Art Museum

Did you know the Frist Art Museum hosts a collection of art education classes throughout the year? From lectures about the museum’s current exhibitions to hands-on art classes, there are plenty of options to choose from. Standout events include a lecture about the upcoming exhibit, A Garden in the Flood, drop-in drawing classes, and more. To see the full list of events, visit fristartmuseum.org.

Goo Goo Chocolate Classes

If you’re a chocolate lover, make your way to Goo Goo Chocolate Co. Starting at $55, you can attend one of the classes they hold throughout the year. Currently, the flagship store only offers Taste of Goo Goo classes, but stay tuned for more! Not only do you walk away with fun facts about the iconic Nashville brand but a satisfied sweet tooth, too. Not to mention, you can also design your own Goo Goo Cluster — an exciting activity for adults and kids alike. For additional information, visit experience.googoo.com.

Green Hills Guitar Studio

Are you looking to take up an instrument or get back into playing one you haven’t touched in a while? Green Hills Guitar Studio offers two locations with individual and group music workshops that range from guitar and songwriting instruction to piano and ukulele lessons. Whether you’re looking to pick up a new hobby or simply find a creative outlet, the studio provides a comfortable atmosphere in which to spread your wings. You can learn more about the workshops at greenhillsguitarstudio.com.

Harpeth Hall Winterim for Adults Program

A go-to for adult education classes, Harpeth Hall hosts its annual Winterim for Adults Program led by alums, faculty, staff, and local professionals each winter. This year’s classroom-style and hands-on workshops offer everything from pickleball to cooking classes, book talks, self-defense courses, and more. Registration is now open, and classes begin in February, starting at $10. See the full lineup of courses at harpethhall.org.

Haus of Yarn Nashville

Whether you’re new to the knitting world, want to finish an existing project, or fix a knitting mistake, Haus of Yarn Nashville offers classes for every type of knitter. Beginner classes include introductions to gauging, increases, decreases, and more, while intermediate classes teach you how to create apparel like sweaters and socks. To see a complete list of course options, visit hausofyarn.com.

Liquor Lab

Make the chilly months of winter more fun by commanding the skills of cocktail making. A hands-on event space where guests can experience and create custom beverages, Liquor Lab offers the opportunity to get behind a bar. They host mixology classes throughout the year that are sure to elevate your home bar life! Prices vary based on live versus virtual classes, with on-demand virtual options available from $10. Plus, Dry January partakers might appreciate the mocktail class offerings, too! Learn more at liquorlabnashville.com.

Little Art House

Nashville kids seem to love and embrace Little Art House, and why shouldn’t adults benefit from a bit of creativity, too? Sisters and art lovers Emma Bradford and Leighton Lancaster opened Little Art House in Hillsboro Village as a place for folks of all ages to imagine, explore, and create. Now with an additional location in Sylvan Park, there’s no shortage of opportunities to do just that. Try your hand at calligraphy, watercolor painting, and abstract acrylic painting, with classes that continue throughout the year. For a complete list of courses, visit littlearthousenashville.com.

Marguerite’s Sewing School

Whether you’re well-versed in sewing or just starting out, Marguerite’s Sewing School offers classes for all skill levels. Attendees can learn how to make everything from a collared shirt to home decor or even take private sewing lessons. Classes begin at $30, and most include a sewing kit and pattern. For additional information, visit sew-cool.com.

Mud Puddle Pottery Studio

Mud Puddle Pottery is best known for its pottery studio, where you can shop handcrafted gifts from local Tennessee artisans. But the fun doesn’t stop there. You can also learn the art of pottery and attend classes in coppersmithing, jewelry-making, painting, and more. They are currently working on the class and workshop schedule for 2023, but you can sign up for updates at mudpuddlepottery.com — or keep checking back until they’ve posted the full schedule.

Nashville Acting Studio

Nashville Acting Studio has the goods, whether you’re looking to come out of your shell, build self-confidence, practice public speaking, or hone your already impressive acting skills. Learn the art of storytelling through one of the world’s most nuanced crafts by studying scripts and exploring what it means to be an actor. Learn more about class options at nashvilleactingstudio.com.

Nashville Ballet

Did you make a New Year’s resolution to be more active this year? Instead of enduring a grueling workout at the gym (unless that’s your thing!), get moving to the tune of instrumental music at the Nashville Ballet’s Community Division. Practice pirouettes and perfect your pliés down the hall from Nashville Ballet’s professional dancers. Don’t worry; previous dance experience is not required, and you can sign up for everything from beginner ballet to DANCEFIX — a high-energy dance workout that incorporates styles such as hip-hop, jazz, Latin, and lyrical. Classes start at $15 and run throughout the year. See the complete schedule at nashvilleballet.com.

Nashville Sign Language Club

Have you ever wanted to learn basic American Sign Language (ASL)? Thanks to the Nashville Sign Language Club, you can learn more about ASL vocabulary, fingerspelling, grammar, and the deaf culture. The eight-week beginner’s course is held every Monday from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. While the January class is full, you can still sign up for the March series. Visit nashvillesignlanguageclub.com for more information.

Nashville Jazz Workshop

Jazz lovers, you’ve found your oasis. The Nashville Jazz Workshop ensures you get your fill of jazz culture and classes. Offering a plethora of online options, you can sign up for instruction on everything from ear training and guitar to how to play music with a group. Check out the full schedule and pricing at nashvillejazz.org.

Paddywax Candle Bar

If you’ve never been to Paddywax Candle Bar, you’re in for a treat. The retail selection alone is phenomenal, with a stellar lineup of stunning scents and eye-catching candle vessels. And since Paddywax originated with one woman’s passion for pouring small-batch candles in her home kitchen, it seems apropos that the shop offers lessons on how to start your very own DIY candle collection. You can learn more at thecandlebar.com.

The Porch Writers’ Collective

Perhaps you’re destined to pen the next great novel, or maybe you’re simply looking to be more consistent with writing in your journal. Either way, you’ll be welcomed by The Porch, our city’s very own independent center for writing that inspires and educates the local literary community through various workshops. With poetry, creative writing, fiction, and non-fiction options offered throughout the year, there’s something to suit every type of writer. Learn more at porchtn.org.

Rose Hill Flowers

Thanks to the experts at Rose Hill Flowers, you can learn to create a floral arrangement for every season. Classes begin in March and continue through the end of the year. Arrangements are designed after holidays like St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Cinco de Mayo, and more. Admission is $74.95 and includes materials, design tools, your arrangement, wine, and light snacks. To learn more, visit rosehillflowers.com.

Southern Belle Biscuit Company

Perfect the art of Southern biscuit-making at Southern Belle Biscuit Company. With classes taught by biscuit expert Maryann Byrd, attendees can learn how to make their own fresh batch of biscuits before the class ends. Courses are $65.50 and include two homemade biscuits, gravy, and a hands-on lesson from Maryann herself. To learn more, visit southernbellebiscuit.com.

Standard Proof Whiskey Co.

Home bars are all the rage these days, and we expect them to gain even more popularity as we make our way through 2023. Whether you’re hoping to master a few classic cocktails or dazzle guests with your extensive knowledge of mixology, Standard Proof Whiskey is ready to add to your education. They offer interactive one-hour classes for $60, including a craft-infused whiskey flight and class-made cocktails. Check out standardproofwhiskey.com for more information.

USN Evening Classes

Turn to the University School of Nashville’s Evening Class Program for an extensive catalog of adult education classes on various topics. This year’s options cover a variety of fields, from astronomy to making balloon garlands, art classes, and more. You can register for courses at eveningclasses.org.

Vanderbilt University’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

There isn’t an age limit on learning, and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute caters specifically to those over 50 — lifelong learners take pleasure in partaking in the institute’s educational programs and cultural activities. This winter’s course schedule includes classes that examine global warming, films, painting, and memoir writing. For a complete list of classes, visit vanderbilt.edu.

Belmont University’s Watkins College of Art Community Education

Embrace your creative side by enrolling in a workshop for art, design, photography, or traditional craft mediums at Belmont University’s Watkins College of Art Community Education. The non-credit classes start as early as the end of January. Whether you’re looking to conquer graphic design, pottery, illustrating, or any other number of skills, you’re in the right place. Classes start at $80 and take place throughout the year. For a list of courses, visit belmont.edu.

Does your company offer adult education classes — or do you know of one we missed? Email [email protected] to let us know!

**********

For a daily dose of StyleBlueprint delivered straight to your inbox every morning, subscribe HERE!