New Las Vegas learning center offers variety of lessons in the arts

Go big or stay home.

That's been the philosophy of southwest Las Vegas resident Gina Landero, who for the past three years has taught group piano lessons from her home.

"I mean that literally," she said. "If I wasn't going to do this big then I would just keep what I'm doing in my home, because that's been working fine for me for a while now."

The "this" Landero refers to is the June 15 opening of the Landero Learning Center for Music and the Arts, 9620 Las Vegas Blvd. South.

The 4,300-square-foot facility will include classes in piano, violin, martial arts, dance (including everything from ballet to hip-hop) and belly dance.

"We intend to keep class sizes small," she said. "But I am a big believer in the power of learning as a group. I think people learn in ways they wouldn't otherwise when exposed to the ideas and struggles of other students studying the same medium."

Landero began studying piano at age 5 and said she believes there's no better instrument to teach motivation, poise, rhythmic skills and work ethic.

"It's all about accountability," she said. "It's the group lessons that I do which teach kids, specifically, also to work together. It teaches challenge, focus, dedication and skill."

Landero said the vision for her center is that it will become a Mecca for the arts and self-improvement.

"I want you to be able to come to the center and know you're getting the best for your money and know that you can take a class in all things related to art or learning a martial arts skill," she said.

Landero will teach only piano and violin and has found community partners willing to take on the venture with her. "Everyone who is teaching at the center is the very best at what they do," she said.

Landero said classes will vary in price, but she promises to keep costs down.

Las Vegas resident Kate Butler said she has been thinking about taking up piano for some time but was convinced she was already too loaded down with work and other hobbies.

"I like the concept of a place where you can take classes in several different areas of interest, though," she said. "Kind of like a one-stop shop for hobbies. That cuts down on the aggravation of going from studio to studio."

Butler has no children but said she could see how parents might also find the facility intriguing.

"Everyone I know who has a kid is exhausted," she said. "Seems like the simpler you can make things, the better; one place, a bunch of different options. I'm all for simplicity."

Landero said a year from now she hopes the center will be thriving, with kids and adults involved in a variety of classes from dance to karate.

For more information, visit landero
learningcenter.com.

Contact Southwest and Spring Valley View reporter Amanda Donnelly at adonnelly@viewnews.com or 380-4535.