31 Thorpe Rd. Needham, MA 02494 USA     Phone: 781-449-7687      Fax: 781-449-9098    Email: PottersSchool@aol.com   Hours: Mon, Tues 12-6; Wed, Thurs 11-5; Friday 10-4

Adult Pottery Classes

We are the only studio in Needham, Massachusetts to teach adult pottery lessons so sign up for one of our classes and get muddy! 

Our adult classes are open to those 18 years of age and older. The class size is limited to 8. Our beginning to advanced classes are open to all levels, and though focused on wheel throwing, people interested in pursuing hand building and sculpture are welcome!  Our advanced throwing class is strictly limited to those with developed and advanced throwing skills. A conversation with one of our teachers is required prior to being accepted into the class. Please call the studio for more information.

Classes are tailored to the needs and interests of each individual student. All of our classes encourage you to progress at your own pace and assure the personal attention you will need to continue to grow. Our teachers are also experienced in hand building and sculptural methods.   

The class fee includes materials, a $25 administration fee, and additional studio time. Firing charges are not included with tuition, but students receive a discounted rate. These fees are nominal and based on only what you decide to finish and fire and will vary from student to student. Our classes meet once a week for 2 hours.  In addition to class time, students are welcome to 5 hours of free practice time per week during regular business hours that are kept up to date on the front page of our website.  Additional studio time beyond 5 hours a week will be charged at a rate of $5 per hour. Please be a good citizen and log your hours on the sign in sheet.

We also offer private lessons for those looking for one-on-one individual instruction and coaching. Private lessons are available only to those with solid intermediate-advanced clay working skills or higher, and are scheduled at times convenient to both the student and teacher. They may be a single coaching session or a series of meetings over a period of weeks. The fee for private lessons is $65/hour, materials included, firing charges are additional as described above. Private lessons also make you eligible for special Potters School Student rates on studio membership if a minimum of four private classes are scheduled.

For those enrolled in our classes who want additional or more flexible studio access than described above, we offer special Potters School Student rates on our studio memberships:

Unlimited Access Resident Membership: $415 quarterly (regularly $575)

Limited Access Resident Membership: $315 quarterly (regularly $425)

Please see our  Membership page for complete details on each category of membership.

The Potters School shares space with The Potters Shop and its members.  As a current student, you are welcome to use the same tools and equipment, while enjoying other benefits (please see below). 


Registration has now closed for 
the 2023 Spring Session.

Both the Tuesday and Thursday classes are full.  
As we do not offer classes during the summer, our next session will begin in September.  Check back here for more scheduling details in the summer.

In order to be notified of our class schedule and have the opportunity to register for a class as soon as we open registration to the public, you must join our Class Interest List.  See the lower left hand column on this page for details.

Please keep in mind that these are full, 8-student classes.  
Masking in the studio is optional until further notice.

Class Schedule 

Spring Session 2023

A note about the current Spring Session:
In order to better serve our students, we are extending the length of our classes this spring from the usual 6 or 8 weeks to 14 weeks. As a result, we have adjusted both the cost of tuition and the number of practice hours (70 hours for a 14-week class) to reflect the longer session period.  
We hope that extending the session period will allow for a richer and more relaxed 
learning experience for our students! 

Beginner to Advanced Throwing
with Sarah Whitlock
Tuesdays 7-9PM
March 7th - June 20th
(no class on April 11th & May 30th)
14 weeks / $770 tuition

Beginner to Advanced Throwing
with Sarah Whitlock
Thursdays 11AM-1PM
March 9th - June 22nd
(no class on April 13th & June 1st)
14 weeks / $770 tuition

********

Personal Coaching with Steven Branfman

As his class is full for the session, we are not accepting new students right now. Please let us know if you have any questions or would like to discuss future availability.

Join Potters Shop & School Founder and Director Steven Branfman for six, monthly wheel throwing coaching sessions.
 
Each session will put you one-on-one with Steven for him to address your personal technical, as well as aesthetic issues and concerns. The group is limited to six participants allowing adequate time for Steven to focus quality time on each member of the group.
 
Steven will meet with the group monthly, from 10-12pm, on the following dates:
1/6, 2/3, 3/3, 4/7, 5/5/, 6/2
 
Class fee; $300
 
This is a class for studio members only (Unlimited Access, Limited Access, Student Membership) and is strictly limited to those with developed and advanced throwing skills. For studio membership information, please see our membership page A conversation with one of our teachers is required prior to being accepted. Due to this requirement, we will not use SignUpGenius for registration in this class. Please contact the studio for more information.

*************

Fall Session 2023

Beginner to Advanced Throwing
with Sarah Whitlock
Tuesdays 7-9PM
September 12th - December 12th
(no class on October 31st & November 21st)
12 weeks / $660 tuition

Beginner to Advanced Throwing
with Sarah Whitlock
Thursdays 11AM-1PM
September 14th - December 14th
(no class on November 2nd & November 23rd)
12 weeks / $660 tuition

Personal Coaching with Steven Branfman
Dates TBD

Class Sign Up and Reservation

Classes are limited to 8 students.  Current students have registration priority for the next session before it is open to the public.  We do not have a waiting list and do not hold spots.  We DO have a class interest list.  After the current student re-enrollment period is over we send out an email to the class interest list informing the public of open enrollment.  The class fee must be paid in full in order to reserve your space.  Class fees may be paid in cash, check, or via PayPal to pottersschool@aol.com

Let us know if you have any questions or would like to be added to the Class Interest List to receive info on future class scheduling.

781-449-7687   pottersschool@aol.com

Refunds If you choose to cancel your reservation prior to the start of the session, a full refund less the $25 administration fee will be given only if The Potters School can fill your spot.  Class fees are not transferable to subsequent sessions.

Other Student Benefits - as a currently enrolled student we hope that you will take advantage of the benefits that the studio has to offer:

  • Use of the lending library
  • Gallery participation eligibility
  • Student membership firing rates
  • Attendance at membership-only demos and workshops
  • Member discount on visiting artist workshops
  • Participation in member-only raku firings


Make Up Classes Classes canceled due to weather by The Potters School for any reason will be rescheduled.  There are no other make up classes available.

31 Thorpe Rd. Needham, MA 02494 USA     Phone: 781-449-7687      Fax: 781-449-9098    Email: PottersSchool@aol.com   Hours: M-Th: 11-5 F: 10-4