Potential students beware. It seems to be all about the money! I registered and paid for a stained-glass class at Studio 34 through the Rochester Brainery for $295. The class was supposed to have been taught by a world-renowned glass artist, and the class description read that it included all the glass and all materials except for protective eyewear. On the first day of class, the instructor, who was not the professional glass artist listed in the course description, had us look through bins of glass scraps after we'd decided on a pre-approved design. While I found some pieces I could use, I could not find green or blue glass that matched and/or were large enough for the design. The instructor looked too, couldn't find any, then brought out some sheets of glass for me to choose from. At no point was there a mention of having to pay more for the glass. When I showed up the following week, I was told that I had to pay for the green and blue glass I'd picked out the week before. I objected, and the instructor said I had to call the owner, who said that the bins had copious amounts of glass for the projects. They did not. They were inadequately stocked. I was not the only one having difficulty finding glass. Every student had trouble. The owner said that my options were to pay for the glass or take a refund for the class. I will not be forced into paying for glass that was supposed to be included in the class cost so I took the refund. If there was an additional cost to the glass, that should have been said upfront when the sheets were brought out by the instructor. And it turns out that this class does not even provide the finishing piece so we couldn't actually hang our stained-glass projects. We could only leanthem against a window. The finishing piece is part of another class and this was not mentioned in the course description. Another class and more money to finish one piece. When a course description says we're going to be instructed by a glass master, I expect that it will be unless I'm notified in advance that it's not the case and offered a chance to opt-out at that time. When a course description says the class includes the materials, I expect to be able to find glass that I can use to create an integrated piece, rather than random scraps that result in a mismatched mess. The only other option offered was to open my wallet and pay more. read more

I have not taken any of the classes but I have worked with the owner and met a handful of the instructors. I have also sat in on a class to see how it works. The studio is located on the second floor of a multifunctional historical building in the Neighborhood of the Arts. When you come to the studio don't be afraid to knock on the door... just walk in. They keep the door closed because of the a breeze that can sometimes effect the art work going on inside. All of the staff members I met were super friendly and professional. I came to the studio with no experience in any of the art they offered and absolute no knowledge. Marilynne and her instructors are excellent teachers and truly care to make your experience special. The class size I sat in on was a glass fusion class. If you don't know what that is(which I didn't before I stopped in) it's where you cut colored pieces of class and place them on a big piece of glass. Once you get your desired arrangement it then gets put in a furnace and melts into an awesome piece of art, just the way you arranged it. The class was a small class size, 4 people total. The instructor gave the students great instruction, then let them get creative. She offered pointers and answered questions along the way. I look forward to signing up for some of the hot glass classes. Also, it's important to note that Studio 34 repairs jewelry. So if you have a favorite piece that needs mending whether its glass, beads, or metal...stop in here! read more

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My son and I have taken a variety of classes including: fused glass, stained glass, and mosaic. We love the small class sizes and the projects. The staff is knowledgeable and supportive. read more

I loved the Bubbles glass. It was challenging to keep all of the stringers in place, but the final piece is beautiful. looking forward to the next class! read more

This was alot more than what i expected i like this place the ladies was very nice helpful its different and definitely creative

My rating has nothing to do with the quality of classes Studio 34 offers. In fact, I haven't been able to enroll. Rather, it is limited to my attempts to connect with the Studio with questions. I sent an e-mail following multiple attempts to stop by, having found no one at the Studio (which does not list its hours on its website). I did finally receive a reply - 2 months later. Recently, having e-mailed to sign up for a class which was scheduled several days later, again, no response & the class came & went. I'm under the impression that Studio 34's classes are popular, & perhaps that's why the ability to contact them isn't a priority. It is a business, however, which must maintain not only a clientele, but a reputation - or they won't have a clientele! Unless this was a fluke occurrence, it would be advisable for those in a management role to either reply to messages or hire someone to do so if they intend to add to their customer base. read more