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The Enrichment Program at DU (lifelong learning) kicks off its Winter/Spring 2021 term with four days of FREE , from Monday to Thursday, January 11 to 14. Enjoy any or all of these one-hour courses for free, all taught by hand-picked experts, and cover a wide range of topics. Take part in stimulating discussions without exams, grades, admission requirements or fees. It’s all for the love of learning.

Of course, the hope is you’ll love these “sampler” classes so much, you’ll sign up for one or more of the fee-based more than 50 courses offered this coming semester.

All presentations are live via Zoom. You do need to register in advance as space is limited.

Here’s a Quick Start Guide for setting up Zoom. To access any of these courses, simply and then scroll down to “Back to School Sampler” or click on the ENRICH course number in each listing below.

Here’s the schedule:

Monday, January 11

7 p.m. — Winning Investor Mindset – JP Tremblay –

Investing can be a tricky business unless you develop the right mindset. Join financial analyst JP Tremblay as he shares the top five mental pitfalls that keep investors from reaching their goals.

8 p.m. — Viennese Visions – Betsy Schwarm –

Beethoven symphonies, Strauss waltzes, Mozart serenades—all from Vienna. Why that city? Join classical music specialist Betsy Schwarm as she examines why, for centuries, Vienna served as the font of inspiration for musical Europe, and beyond its borders, as well.

Tuesday, January 12

7 p.m. — New Historicism – April Chapman-Ludwig –

Films, literature, fairy tales and the like are products of their historical moment. That’s the premise of new historicism. Examples: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein reflects class status, feminist ideologies, familial ties and enlightenment; and the movie Shrek parodies a fight between Disney and Dreamworks. Join writer and researcher April Chapman-Ludwig to learn how art reflects and makes history.

8 p.m. — Finland: The Happiest Place on Earth – Ann Mäkikalli –

Why has Finland become synonymous with happiness? Join former Finland resident Ann Mäkikalli as she offers a culture sampler of this little Nordic gem. Learn how the Finns use music for wellness. Discover how their commitment to sports plays out in the r lives, and see how Finland’s language connects speakers to each other. Happy is as happy does!

Wednesday, January 13

7 p.m. — Delta Blues to Rock and Roll Gold – Paul Turelli –

From Elvis Presley to the British Invasion, the Rolling Stones to Eric Clapton, discover the surprising connection between the Delta blues and rock and roll. Join music historian Paul Turelli as he explains why what you thought was Jim Morrison was actually Willie Dixon or Howlin’ Wolf, Mick Jagger was Mississippi Fred McDowell and Janis Joplin was Bessie Smith.

8 p.m. — The Winter Ecology of Birds Around Denver – Ted Floyd –

It’s said that birds fly south for the winter, but not all birds get the memo. Join noted birder Ted Floyd for a lively and illustrated tour to learn who these birds are and what they do. Plus, consider these questions: How do they find food? How do they stay warm? And how do they flourish?

Thursday, January 14

7 p.m. — Rebuilding a Civil Society – Tripp Baltz –

One look at any newscast and you’re asking yourself: “What will it take for Americans to get along?” Today, our discourse desperately needs a healthy shot of cooperation and common human decency, but can we achieve either as our nation tears itself apart? Join Journalist Tripp Baltz for a constructive dialogue on restoring civility, collegiality and a sense that “we’re all in this together.”

8 p.m. — Sinatra! ‘Nuff Said – Marc Shugold –

Ah yes, Old Blue Eyes and the Chairman of the Board. Beloved singing-and-acting matinee idol, Frank Sinatra was a powerful figure in the cutthroat world of show biz. But oh, what a voice. Join music expert Marc Shulgold as he traces Sinatra’s wild life, covering a near-tragic birth, the wives, movie stars—even a president. Plus, enjoy plenty of his classics and then eavesdrop on a recording session.