COCA swept all three categories of our 2008 Parents' Picks quest to find the best artsy class for little kids, big kids, and teens in St. Louis!

An extensive multidisciplinary arts institution located in the historic U-City Loop district, COCA (Center of Creative Arts) offers classes, camps, workshops, and performances in the visual and performing arts for children, teens, and adults.

The COCA Family Theatre Series, held in the center's 400-seat theater, is a favorite of locals, especially because theater workshops are frequently offered before and after shows for the whole family. COCA also hosts summer camps for kids, as well as art, circus, dance, or theater birthday parties.

In addition, COCA is also home to the Millstone Gallery, which features contemporary art exhibitions by regional and nationally recognized artists.

Young people experience playing, performing, and studying all facets of rock music at Dave Simon's Rock School, which features both private lessons and a performing rock band program. Guitar, bass guitar, piano/keyboard, drums, and brass are taught within the private instruction component. The school offers one-day workshops and summer camps.

Young people experience playing, performing, and studying all facets of rock music at Dave Simon's Rock School, which features both private lessons and a performing rock band program. Guitar, bass guitar, piano/keyboard, drums, and brass are taught within the private instruction component. The school offers one-day workshops and summer camps.

Instruction in ballet, tap, jazz, musical theater, drama, art, and music is the focus of DaySpring School of the Arts, a school that infuses Christian values and character training into its classes. Homeschooling families often take part in many of the school's offerings.

The school is home to "The Company," a dance troupe of the school's strongest and most committed dancers, as well as to a musical theater troupe and The Drama Company, all of which perform throughout the year at community events and schools.

The school's summer programming includes two-week musical theater workshops, week-long art camps, preschool art and dance camp, and Shakespeare at the Lake for older children. Private music lessons can be arranged year 'round.

Non-profit Folk School of St. Louis uses music and folk arts to build community.

The organization offers introductory through advanced classes in guitar, fiddle, mandolin, harmonica, banjo, bass, dulcimer, and ensembles for adults and older teens. Children's fiddle classes for kids as young as five and a range of workshops are also offered.

Perhaps best of all, three Saturdays a month between noon and 3pm, students engage in fun-for-all, public (and free) jam sessions; check website for the schedule.

Whirling, imagining, storytelling, and singing are part of the fun at Kindermusik with Lori Burkhardt. Using music and dance, Kindermusik classes help build age-appropriate skills in language aquisition, literacy, listening, problem solving, social interaction, self-esteem, and musicality.

Every Kindermusik program includes At-Home Materials - music CDs, creative activities, illustrated children's books, and specially designed instruments.

Whirling, imagining, storytelling, and singing are part of the fun at Kindermusik with Lori Burkhardt. Using music and dance, Kindermusik classes help build age-appropriate skills in language aquisition, literacy, listening, problem solving, social interaction, self-esteem, and musicality.

Every Kindermusik program includes At-Home Materials - music CDs, creative activities, illustrated children's books, and specially designed instruments.

Ms. Bridget's Conservatoire of Dance (MBCD) offers dance classes, voice lessons, and fitness classes. The venue can also host birthday parties. Classes are taught by professional dancers, choreographers, and former Rams Cheerleaders in a nurturing, contemporary atmosphere.

Summer camps are popular here. The MBCD Summer Dance Intensive incorporates ballet, jazz, hip-hop, tap, and pom/cheer instruction.

Music Together is a nationwide educational program founded on the belief that all children are musical and that music is a perfect way for even the youngest child to learn, create, communicate, connect, and grow.

Kids and their adult companions sing songs and chants together, do lap songs and tickle games, dance, and play drums and other instruments in an informal, creative, supportive, and fun atmosphere.

Each semester includes eight weekly 45-minute classes. Special baby classes are available for infants up to eight months.

The greater St. Louis area has two chapters: Gateway Music Together and Robert's Music Together. Check websites for registration information, class locations, and times.

This handy dandy website is a great place to search for individuals offering private and group lessons in all sorts of musical endeavors.

St. Louis Irish Arts serves as the local branch of Dublin-based Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann ("A Gathering of Irish Musicians"). It was founded in 1972 with the purpose of preserving Irish cultural heritage.

Beginning at age five, children are accepted into the program and can learn Irish step dancing or how to play a range of Irish instruments, including the harp, fiddle, tin whistle, bodhran, and harmonica.

Workshops are offered throughout the year in a variety of instruments and dancing. A three-week program is also offered during the summer.

Stages St. Louis, a theater company, sponsors the Stages Performing Arts Academy, which offers courses year-round for students of all ages and experience levels in the musical theatre disciplines of dance, voice, and drama. Special one-week "camps" are typically offered during spring break, and summer brings several class and camp options, too. Class schedules are available online.

The academy also offers Access the Arts and the performing ensemble Troupe Broadway for area teens and young adults with physical, cognitive, or developmental delays.

STAGES Academy 90-minute birthday parties includes 45 minutes of age-appropriate music, dance, or acting activities led by a teaching artists. The academy can plan celebrations around particular themes, books, or children's interests. Scheduling is arranged on an as-available basis.

The Focal Point is a non-profit dedicated to the promotion of folk music and other musical forms that have come from folk music, as well as other associated traditional art forms like dance and storytelling.

The venue hosts all kinds of family-friendly concert series throughout the year, as well as dance workshops and classes.

The Webster Groves Family YMCA features an indoor pool, a full-size double gymnasium, an indoor track, a fitness center, aerobics room, racquetball court, sports fields, a childcare nursery, a family changing area, and equipment checkout for basketballs, volleyballs/wallyball, racquetballs, and racquets. The YMCA hosts a range of classes, workshops, and special events throughout the year.

The 7,000-square-foot Wildwood Dance and Arts Center hosts dance classes covering children's movement, ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, modern, and choreography, as well as courses in poms/cheer, tumbling and acrobatics, karate, drama, musical theater, voice, and art.