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Amid their second Piano for Beginners class, a cohort of colorful individuals tickled the ivories.

Each sitting at their own piano, the students listened intently as teacher Yukiko Kaneko floated effortlessly around the College-Conservatory of Music classroom.

“Make sure you’re starting with your pinky,” Kaneko said as she demonstrated playing the piano.

An older gentleman nodded in understanding with a smile, as a younger woman played a simple melody.

Kaneko signaled to the group to begin playing a chord in unison.

Producing a less-than-harmonic sound, the players’ fingers sauntered across the piano.

“We’re pretending we can actually play,” said class participant Doris Allen with a laugh .

With approximately a decade of experience teaching piano, Kaneko is experienced in educating novice participants about the fundamentals of basic piano technique. As she pursues her doctorate degree in piano at CCM, she instructs beginners with finesse and expertise, her students said.

“We have a very patient teacher,” Allen said. “She’s willing to stay late and come early.”

And while they may need the extra help from Kaneko, the participants will learn the foundations of piano playing and reading music by the end of their eight-week course.
Filled with students young and old, the piano class is the perfect example of the point of the program.

“Learning really never has to end,” said Communiversity director Donna Burns.

This is the driving force behind the University of Cincinnati Communiversity Program. The program offers personal and professional developmental classes for a multitude of ages. With a wide variety of classes offered, participants can attend the informal, noncredit classes for reasonable prices.

“The university is extending its resources to the greater community,” Burns said. “It’s about the whole concept of learning never ending.”

Originally founded in 1949 with the name “Short Term Courses for Busy Men and Women,” the Communiversity program offered just eight classes each academic term.

By 1979, the name was changed to Communiversity, melding the terms community and university. Communiversity serves as a community engagement effort, Burns said.

“We define community internally and externally,” Burns said. “We serve the university community, but we also reach out and serve the entire Cincinnati community.”

Offering over 200 online titles and more than 120 face-to-face classes each month, Communiversity aims to provide a unique experience for each individual. From Binocular Stargazing to Business Analytics Boot Camp, the courses range from recreation to academic development.

“We have a lot of different classes for a lot of different cultures,” Burns said. “We do a lot of cultural exposure, whether it be language, dance or travel.”

Destination travel classes, such as “Costa Rica, Belize and Beyond” and “Italy Insights” offer invaluable pre-planning information for participants traveling to a foreign country in the near future. Music classes like “Argentine Tango Introduction” and “Celtic Fiddling for Beginners” allow enthusiasts to experience the style of another culture.

“People’s interests are so wide-ranging,” Burns said. “Choosing a particular class is such a personal decision.”
Printed four times annually, the Communiversity course offering booklet is updated seasonally. Between 15 and 20 percent of the catalogue will present brand-new classes with each new printing, while 10 percent of the booklet contains limited seasonal class offerings, Burns said.

“This season, you will see snowboarding, skiing and ice skating,” Burns said. “Obviously, next season you won’t see those activities but you’ll see others like golfing.”

Seasonal sport courses, including dance classes, are most popular with participants under age 30, Burns said. These classes include salsa, ballroom, hula and ballroom dancing.

Test preparation classes are the most popular courses in the Communiversity program, Burns said. Intensive ACT and SAT classes are offered to educate high school students about studying strategies, critical reading strategies and essay writing.

For college students, GMAT and GRE preparation classes provide helpful aid to enhance acceptance rate for graduate school. The LSAT Preparation course, costing which costs $299 for four sessions, is the most expensive Communiversity course offered.

“Prices vary depending on the amount of hours the class meets,” Burns said. “The class meets for the duration of time it takes to meet the educational goals.”

Even so, Burns believes the classes are a bang for your buck. Courses are a wonderful value for the money and time a participant invests, Burns said.

“For eight weeks, you can’t beat the price,” Allen said. “Private piano lessons are so outrageously expensive.”

Beyond the price and course content, the Communiversity courses aim to connect the university with the community — and the program succeeds with that goal.

Classes take place on UC Main Campus and Victory Parkway Campus, among other locations. Participants feel a connection to the university when they arrive on campus, Allen said.

“You see the kids practicing sports and all the students playing their music,” Allen said. “The atmosphere is great, and it’s just a really pleasant experience I find.”

Communiversity puts the emphasis on learning back into education. When college degrees and a superior education are essential for career ambitions and professional development, the program values learning to learn, over having to learn. Classes are short-term, pressure-free and require no studying, Burns said.

“What participants learn in class is theirs to keep and use as they please,” Burns said. “We serve people who are interested in stretching themselves.”

At the end of the hour-long piano class, Kaneko urged her students to attempt the melody together again. Each person placed their hands on the keys and hesitantly began playing the chord. While the tune did not mimic that of a famous orchestra, they filled the room with a light and flowing harmony.

“You all played very well,” Kaneko said. “I’m very excited.”
After finishing the piano tune, the Communiversity class ended on a very high — and musical — note.