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Welcome to Hochstein's Creativity Lab!

Have you always dreamt of writing music, making visual art, or writing stories, but find yourself intimidated by the act of creation? Well, here’s your chance to discover that creativity is a skill that can be cultivated and practiced like any other skill! Hochstein’s Creativity Lab is dedicated to exploring a variety of creative practices and cultivating the next generation of makers and innovators.

Hochstein’s Creativity Lab will offer lessons and workshops focusing on fundamentals like music theory, the basics of drawing, or the essential elements of improvisation. Beyond that, more advanced studies include subjects such as making comic books and graphic novels, composing music in a variety of styles, advanced songwriting/demoing, and advanced jazz improvisation. 

If you are looking to explore a topic not listed here, please reach out and ask. Hochstein also offers Independent Study on a variety of topics. Mastery of one discipline tends to effectively ease open doors into other disciplines. 

Lessons or classes in the Creativity Lab can also give students a much-needed outlet for self-discovery, providing a safe space for students to find their own personal means of healthy expression. 

                                                - Dr. Dave Chisholm, Director

Creativity Lab Open Hours

Tuesdays, 4:00-6:00 pm
Saturdays, 9:30-10:30 am

Drop in and try out the space or discuss your big creative ideas. Additional hours available by appointment – just ask: dave.chisholm@hochstein.org

About the Creativity Lab

Hochstein’s Creativity Lab is outfitted with 8 linked iMac computers with piano keyboards, plus the teacher station. On the computers, students will be able to access music notation and digital audio workstation applications that easily adapt to just about every genre of music. 

Throughout the school year, Dave Chisholm will host monthly Saturday afternoon pop-up events, ranging from easy group creativity challenges to fun, pop-culture-centric lectures. 

Short-run workshops – one or two sessions max – offer another opportunity to explore your creativity on a specific topic.

There are also open lab hours where you can drop in and try out the space or discuss your big creative ideas with Dave.

See the schedule of pop-up events and workshops below. For more information about our year-round Music Theory classes, click here.

Pop-Up: Composition Challenge! 3/29
Saturday, March 29, 2025; 1:00-2:30 pm; free
Recommended for ages 15 and up; Limit: 8
To sign up, call 585.454.4596 or stop by the Hochstein Front Office to be added to the list.
 
This is the perfect icebreaker for anybody interested in writing music or songs! Join Creativity Lab Director Dave Chisholm for a 90-minute composition challenge. He’ll provide a prompt and some tools to get you started and offer help and wisdom along the way. Do you want to write a piece of electronic dance music? Perfect. How about a heartfelt song? Wonderful. A string quartet? Fantastic. This challenge is open to any skill level. The technology in the Creativity Lab will help bridge the gap for beginners. If you’ve ever been curious about writing music but afraid to take the plunge, this is the workshop for you.
 

Workshop: Comics & Music 4/26 & 5/3
Saturday, April 26 and Saturday, May 3, 2025; 1:00-2:30 pm; $30
Recommended for ages 12 and up; Limit: 8
To register, call 585.454.4596.

If you’re curious about how comic books are made, or even if you just enjoy drawing, then this workshop is for you. Join Creativity Lab Director and critically acclaimed writer/artist Dave Chisholm in a wonderful exploration of the intersection of cartooning and musical sound. You’ll learn about story structure, script writing, character design – and, of course, there will be LOTS of time dedicated to drawing comics! At the end of this two-week course, you’ll have created a short comic interpretation of your favorite song. Please bring a pencil and any other favorite drawing utensils (no liquid media, please). Paper will be provided.
 

Workshop: Basics of Improvisation 5/10 & 5/17
Saturday, May 10 and 17, 2025; 1:00-2:30 pm; $30
Recommended for ages 15 and up; Limit: 8
To register, call 585.454.4596.
Musical improvisation can feel intimidating, but did you know that you improvise every single day when you engage in conversation? Join Creativity Lab Director Dave Chisholm in an unpacking of the fine art of musical improvisation – jazz or otherwise – in this short-run course. By the end of this session, you will be engaging in improvised, cooperative musical conversation with your peers! Perfect for any instrumental student at Hochstein. If you’re curious about this but not sure, reach out to Dave at dave.chisholm@hochstein.org.
 

Pop-Up: The Secret History of the Marvel Universe 5/24
Saturday, May 24, 2025; 1:00-2:30 pm; free
All ages and skill-levels welcome; Limit: 12
To sign up, call 585.454.4596 or stop by the Hochstein Front Office to be added to the list.
Are you a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Join Creativity Lab Director and acclaimed comic artist Dave Chisholm for a discussion on the origins of the Marvel Universe – especially the under-credited contributions of artists Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko. We’ll talk about the introductions of your favorite timeless characters, the revolutionary interwoven stories, and the groundbreaking techniques used by these brilliant artists. 
 

Pop-Up: Mini-Comic Workshop 6/7
Saturday, June 7, 2025; 1:00-2:30 pm; free
All ages; Limit: 12
To sign up, call 585.454.4596 or stop by the Hochstein Front Office to be added to the list.
Beginners welcome! Join Creativity Lab Director and acclaimed comic artist Dave Chisholm in a crash course at making your own short mini-comic. The mini-comic tradition is an open door for all skill levels and any type of story. At the end of this 90-minute class, you’ll have created your own mini-comic and opened the door to a new means of self-expression. Please bring a pencil and any other favorite drawing utensils. Paper will be provided.