Zoom Workshops   

In this workshop, we will view and listen to some of Rock and Soul Music's greatest performers. Besides enjoying some of their finest songs and albums, we will explore their early, formative years. This will help us to better appreciate and understand their musical craft. Our workshop is designed to be interactive, with member participation being most welcome. Your thoughts and experiences about the music of the era can add greatly to our grasp of each of the artists we will view. For example, your recollection of a particular song or album adds to our appreciation of the music. Also, if you attended any concerts of the performers we discuss in the workshop it would be great to hear about your experiences.

This workshop will present a broad overview of music that begins with the lyrical poems of the middle ages, the harmonies of the Renaissance, and the drama of the baroque era. We will preview both solo and symphonic works through the classical and romantic periods with an emphasis on high energy pieces. The modern era will cover both music and dance including flamenco, tango, classical guitar, jazz (Count Basie, Big Band, others), Gypsy songs, Mariachi, and Mambo.

In this workshop we will delve into the new advanced features of Photoshop such as masking and making selections. We will explore the new AI Tools for removing objects and the capabilities of Camera Raw. This will be in person and on zoom

A workshop for all interested in sharing their images, whether photographs or paintings. Each session will view and discuss the images with the goal of achieving effective images. All skill levels welcome. Look, laugh and learn.

We read aloud and discuss (mostly) American plays. We will cover three-four plays during the semester, ranging from light to serious. Additionally, we will learn about the playwrights and discuss relevant features, themes and questions raised in the works. We may view short videos of selected scenes, playwright interviews, thoughts from cast members, etc. of the selections. It is hoped (but not required) that participants will be eager to take on roles – let your inner Bernhardt or Miranda shine through! The objective is to familiarize workshop participants with great drama and have fun!

In less than a hundred years, aviation has grown, boomed, and declined on Long Island. Long Island helped in transformation of aviation from an experimental whim and a dangerous sport to a viable means of transportation. Many record-setting and historic flights that took ppace here, and the many aviation companies that developed here made aviation the integral part of our world that it is today. We will explore this history in depth and get to know some of the contributing designers and aviators (including numerous women)

1. Become Physically and Cognitively Sharper; and
2. Attain Extraordinary Memory Retention and Flexibility like those decades younger
along with a more robust Emotional Well-being; and Disease Resilience.
Utilizing recent findings on Neurogenesis (i.e. brain’s ability to regenerate New Brain Cells and
Renew Itself) fending off cognitive decline.

• This semester, we focus mainly on how Nutrition & Diet collaborate with Memory &
  Learning to increase Neurogenesis.
• Discover Simple Activities or Factors that Increase Neurogenesis while avoiding those
  that Lower Neurogenesis leading to a Longer, Healthier, and more Enjoyable Life!
• The only prerequisite is an “open mind”, as we avoid all complexities of neurosciences.

Workshop Style: Workshop Designed to be Enjoyable and Having Fun while Learning: using simplified presentations with video clips; fun cognitive exercises and discussions.

Cicero, a renowned orator and politician, was not an A-list philosopher, but an avid interpreter of the Greek titans, and preserver of much of Hellenistic philosophy and morals. He developed the Latin vocabulary for philosophy still used in literature and theory. We will discuss excerpts from “life lesson texts”: On Friendship, On Moral Duties, On Old Age and a moving defense of literature.

The focus of this workshop is creative photography ideas and methods. The objective is to inspire the participants to try lots of ways to enhance their photos as well as to try new subjects and in-camera techniques.

Participant discussion of current events, with an occasional emphasis on politics and changing laws.

 

Read a book. Join a lively discussion with other OLLI members in a friendly atmosphere to examine the style and quality of the writing, the characters, the plot, the themes/problems explored and consider the what-ifs, hows and whys as well. Reading both fiction and nonfiction, we will be reflecting on the issues addressed, thinking about how our own experiences affect our understanding of the material and what our reactions are to comments other members have made.

We will meet once a month in September, October and November.

september 16th - Buckeye by Patrick Ryan

October 14th - Tha Names by Florence Knapp

November 18th - Culpability by Bruce Holsinger

This course explores the themes, style, historical context and significance of selected works of literature. Books under consideration for the fall term will include Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte, and Wide Sargasso Sea, by Jean Rhys

John Steinbeck's early collection of short stories, THE LONG VALLEY (including THE RED PONY stories), 1938, presents some of his best and most powerful work. The at-times violent, yet always beautiful, stories paint a vivid and moving picture of the California landscape in which Steinbeck spent his early life and career. We will read and discuss ten of the stories.

We will read the remainder of THE LONG VALLEY stories not read in Spring 2026 plus his short novella THE PEARL.

 

Learn how to make better choices when at the grocery store, in the kitchen, and when dining at restaurants. We will explore different types of sugar, fats, and other ingredients, including those found on prepared food in the store. In addition, we'll discuss the hype about organic foods, and the difference between processed and ultra-proccessed foods.

 

I will discuss the basics and latest findings of climate science, the history and future predictions of the earth’s climate, and, from the perspective of a physicist, describe possible ways to reduce the emissions of CO2 gas and therefore limit future temperature increases.

New York's 10 pro teams rarely win a championship anymore. Our opinionated group of retirees will attempt to solve their issues with a lively monthly discussion. Expect timely videos and a guest speaker (or two) from Newsday's sportswriters. Rookies welcomed.

You are the repository of the stories of your time. We will be both storytellers and historians. Memoir writing is a group effort in which we support and critique one another's work, in an effort to produce memoirs worthy of preservation.

This workshop is an anthropological look at a few select aspects of human nature. We are reminded that nature, through evolution, is more of a tinkerer than a master designer. Discussions will focus on both our physical an cognitive design imperfections. Topics will include human cooperation, aggression, and group dynamics.

In this workshop we will learn about Near Death Experiences (NDE’s) and Near Death Like or Spiritually Transformative Experiences (STE’s). We will listen to different speakers that will share about their NDE’s and STE’s. When we have a speaker join us, there will be time for Q and A, insights and feedback after our speaker shares. We will come to understand how their life journeys were altered through these extraordinary life changing events. We will discover how these experiences have changed them for the better. We will also explore some of the obstacle's these people have gone through as a result of their NDE’s and STE’s and have overcome. We will come to an understanding of how these obstacles have eventually been a catalyst for them to be able to live their life in a more authentic and purposeful way. We will explore together as group what we have learned from these NDE’s and STE’s. We will discuss how their experiences have been transformative and how these people then go on to help others to understand that we are much more than just our physical existence. We will discuss the implications of such experiences on society as a whole. We will also discuss how these Extraordinary Experiences are life changing, not only for the NDE and STE Experiencers, but also for the many that hear their stories. I hope you can join us as we delve into this fascinating topic of Spiritually Transformative Experiences and Near Death Experiences and how knowing and learning about these experiences can change our world for the better.

We invite you to join us for another sentimental journey highlighting the greatest entertainers of our lifetimes. We’ll revisit extraordinary stars whose careers dominated the 20th Century and beyond. Expect to be moved as you learn about their families, interviews, performances, awards and scandals through discussions and special videos. You’ll be challenged with weekly clues to guess the newest superstar. We especially enjoy making you smile and reminisce in a welcoming stress-free zone while sharing experiences with your OLLI friends.

The focus of this workshop is the craft of writing poetry. Participants bring in their poetry and share their work with the group. The goal is to point out the strengths of the writing with the goal of encouraging the writer to continue writing and improve their skills in writing poetry.

We will be discussing two plays that relate to the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche: Henik Ibsen's The Master Builder and Bernard Shaw's Man and Superman.  Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh, a somewhat related play, will also be discussed, in addition to an introduction to Nietzsche's ideas.

See the world with us! We will visit popular and sometimes exotic locations

Electronics technology is all around us, in our homes, our cars and in everyday devices that we use and take for granted. This workshop is for non-professionals who are interested in a basic understanding of how it all works. We will start with the principles of electricity and electrical components and show how we encounter them every day. Semiconductors from simple diodes and transistors to integrated circuits will be discussed including their uses and how they are manufactured. The last session will cover electronic navigation systems including GPS. Some formulas will be used in our discussions but math skills are not required to understand the topics covered in this workshop.

Workshop Format: Primarily workshop leader presentation

A round-table presentation and discussion of members' writing in various genres, such as fiction, non-fiction, poetry, essays, and script-writing. Emphasis is on effective writing techniques, rather than overall storytelling, so presentations are limited to 500 words. Longer works may be excerpted or serialized over the course of the term.

Yoga 101 welcomes all including those who are new or have little experience with yoga. We will focus on the basics of yoga at a pace that is not overwhelming and in an environment that is safe, welcoming, and non-judgmental. Students will be introduced to yoga postures through step-by-step verbal descriptions and demonstrations. Emphasis is placed on student understanding, safety, and stability. Supplies Needed: A yoga mat, yoga blocks, and a blanket are needed. Students should wear comfortable clothing.

There is a waiver requirement for this workshop, and the waiver must be submitted in order for you to partcipate in the workshop.

The waiver must be signed and returned to OLLI Inbox at olli@stonybrook.edu or 631-632-6554 by Tuesday, September 1.