11:30 AM – 12:30 PM Courses

  • Bright Moments of Jazz & Rock

    This course celebrates the great bands and stars of pop, rock and jazz. We will listen to recordings, watch videos and talk about a wide variety of musicians and bands. Social, historical and musical context will be provided. Examples of the artists included are Aretha Franklin, Michael McDonald, Elvis, James Brown, Fats Domino, the Temptations, Stan Getz, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald and B.B. King. You will expand your jazz and rock music appreciation and have fun doing it. Come and share your bright moments.

    Teacher: Tom Doran is a bassist/vocalist who plays soul, funk, blues, jazz and rock. In retirement he loves to play music and make abstract art. He loves to talk about music, so if you do too, please join!

  • Moore–to–Say with David

    A wide ranging discussion and analysis of the week's news stories including the domestic political landscape, foreign affairs, and the economy. Each Friday an email will be sent out with links to stories I have found particularly pertinent to that week's news. Given Trump's indictment, the '24 election landscape, the war in Ukraine, and Chinese-US relations we should have plenty to talk about.

    Teacher: David Moore received his master's degree in American Studies from Boston College in 1966. He taught in the History Department at Newton North High School receiving the Charles Dana Meserve outstanding teacher award in 1993. His particular historical interests include classical Greece, American Studies, fin de siècle Europe, and the Holocaust.

  • Sacred Song: Poetry and Song of/about Five World Religions

    Sessions 2-10. Starts September 18 All world religions have used poetry and song as a way of worship and expression of beliefs. We will look at works from Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam, from the Psalms of David to the lyrics of Leonard Cohen. Using an anthology* compiled by the teacher, there will be intros to each religion and suggested points for discussion, with the class being predominantly discussion.

    *This 160-page anthology will be provided free in digital format to all registrants. If you want a hardcopy and can't make one at home, WWLL will provide one for $27 (in addition to the registration fee of $25) if we receive your order by Sept. 11th.

    To order a hardcopy, the procedure is:

    • Register for the course via the REGISTRATION page of the website.
    • Send a $27 check (made out to WWLL) to: WWLL, P.O. Box 484, Weston, MA 02493. Include a note asking for the hardcopy. Be sure to include your postal address, phone number, and email address.
    • The hardcopy will be postal mailed to you. Due to the logistics, we cannot guarantee receipt by Sept. 18.
    • Checks received for orders not fulfilled will be returned to you.

    Important Note: As with all WWLL Zoom courses, so that the teacher (who lives in the U.K.) can focus on teaching, this course requires that at least one registrant (preferably two or more) volunteer to be the Zoom host. WWLL will provide any training necessary. To volunteer, check the “Willing to be the Zoom host” box on the Registration form. For more information on the responsibilities of a Zoom host, send an email to zoomsupport@wwllcourses.org.

    Teacher: Carol Shedd has degrees in English literature, library science, and religion. For 12 years she was director of outreach at Harvard's Center for Middle Eastern Studies and has led courses at several lifetime learning programs.

  • Science in the News

    Sessions 1-5. Starts September 11 Discoveries and exploits in science fill the news. They enthrall the imagination, but can lead to bewildering questions about how they work and what they mean for our future. We'll tackle a variety of topics of current interest, from genetic engineering to the effects of a strong El Nino on changing weather patterns, and the challenges of AI. We'll shed light on issues of science and technology important to our understanding of the modern world. Join us as we discuss the most up-to-date science in a clear, concise manner that is both thought-provoking and fun.

    Note: Since this course only lasts the first 5 sessions (i.e. weeks), at the end of Session #5 you will be given the opportunity to join another class (on a space-available basis) for the remainder of the semester at no additional fee.

    Teacher: Frank Villa taught physics and ran his own company that designed laboratories. He has lectured on a range of scientific topics for many years.

  • Stories of Conflict as Seen Through a Narrator's Lens, Part XVI

    We will discuss how narrators' perspectives affect our appreciation of works including selected sonnets by Shakespeare. Our emphasis will be on DARK TIDE The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919 by Stephen Puleo and Shakespeare's King Lear.

    Teacher: Helen Smith has taught at the Winsor School, Newton North and in Armenia, Hungary, Kyrgyzstan, the Republic of Georgia, Romania and Zambia. A Smith College graduate, she edits texts about writing and journalism. She is the president of the New England Scholastic Press Association.

  • Writing Your Story: (Memoir, NOT autobiography)

    Maximum Enrollment: 20 If you enjoy writing and sharing stories of your life with a community of writers that will give you constructive feedback, this class may be for you. If you are writing a memoir or simply want to share your stories with your children and grandchildren, most writers find being part of the group inspires them to write more regularly. The best way to learn about memoir writing is to listen to other writers' stories. Everything shared is confidential. Writing is done at home and shared in class. For those who can stay, the class extends to 1 p.m.

    Leader: Sue Edgecomb, retired from teaching for 35 years in the Wellesley schools, has participated in Amherst Writers and Artists workshops for 12 years. Her memoir, Clearing in the West: Navigating the Journey Through Loss, Grief and Healing, was published in July 2021.