Open Houses and Classes with Free Trials: After School Enrichment Options for LA Kids

9/3/14 - By Roberta B

So we're back in school. We're packing lunches, going to PTA meetings. and overseeing homework. And we're probably starting to wrap our minds around figuring out some enrichment classes to fill in the gaps and/or add some sparkle to the process. Your child might attend a school with a great onsite, low-cost after-school program, which takes care of half the question already; on the other hand you might be trying to figure out the shortest distance between your house and a place to constructively use those ballet shoes. Open houses and free trial classes make the hunt for great classes a little more do-able, which is why we offer this list of 10 great places that offer chances to try it out for free, either in the coming weeks or - in many cases - all year long.

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Fondazione Italia
Burbank, Hermosa Beach,Lake Forest, West LA
Week of September 19, 2014
Kids can get a bilingual edge with the Italian classes at Fondazione Italia - but how to know if they will like it or not? Try one of the free classes during the first week of the fall session (that's the week of 9/19/14). Click on your desired location to see specific dates and times. RSVP required. 

Music Teacher LA
Los Angeles metro area
Ongoing
These music classes come to you, serving kids infant through the teen years and on all instruments. The first class/consultation is always free. Reservations can be made on the company's website.

Sholem Sunday School
West LA
September 14, 2014
For religious families, where to go for Sunday School is generally a no-brainer, since their house of worship is probably a big part of their lives. What about less religious families, trying to navigate their own path through the complex questions of values and culture? Sholem offers a secular Jewish Sunday School program; if you're not quite sure what that would look like, check out the open house on September 14.

Santa Monica Synagogue Sunday School
Santa Monica
September 14, 2014
One of the Westside's pillar Reform congregations holds a festive, outdoor open house to showcase its religious school program.

Ladybug Music
Several locations
Ongoing
These early music parent-and-me classes are offered at locations throughout LA for kids through preschool age. The group always offers a free demo class the first time; just select your location on the website and see when the next trial opportunities are.

Moo Moo Musica
Venice
Ongoing
These drop-in music classes for babies and toddlers are the ones that started the tradition at the Cow's End Cafe years ago (the cafe now has its own free classes on Monday and Thursday mornings). Moo Moo Musica meets daily these days at the Electric Lodge and allows drop-ins any day of the week, without reservation, first class free.

McCabe's Guitar Shop
Santa Monica
Ongoing
Maybe your family has been to the Sunday morning concerts here, or maybe you bought your first guitar here way back when. The music classes are still plentiful, and the first class of any 8-week session can always be attended free.

Blue Starz Dance and Theatre School
Sherman Oaks
Ongoing
Dance, drama, and musical theater classes - lots of folks teach 'em in this Hollywood-driven town, but which one will your young performer like? Blue Starz always offers the first class free, so you can find out.

Garri Dance Studio
Burbank
Ongoing
Tutus and Burbank - they go together like Garri and Dance. Young dancers-in-waiting can always have a free trial class here; just call to reserve.

Golden State Gymnastics
Burbank
Ongoing
Nadia and Olga had the Soviet Union to pay for all those gymnastics classes; Valley-dwellers get a free intro class at Golden State. It's a start.