5 Things for the Week Ahead: Auditions, Authors and Reading Men

1. Music Appreciation classes are being held at the on Tuesday Jan. 10 from 11 a.m. to noon. This is just one class in a series of music appreciation classes being held through May 2012. Professional musician Joyce Balint leads these classes in the "what" and "how" of listening and enjoying classical music.  Enjoyable for everyone, no previous knowledge of classical music needed.  No reservations needed.

2. American Idol is so 2011. Sing your way into 2012 with classical music. There will be open rehearsals and auditions when the Westchester Choral Society conducted by Frank Nemhauser welcomes new members to all voice sections, especially male voices, for an April 29 performance of Brahms' A German Requiem. Open rehearsals and singer-friendly auditions are held on Tuesday evenings from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Jan. 10 and Jan. 17 at the at 216 Central Avenue, White Plains. The rehearsals and auditions are free; the applause, priceless. Call 914-761-3900.

3. If you would rather sing pop tunes, stick with American Idol and possibly get discovered during "Open Mic Night" at the Gnarly Vine, 501 Main St. in New Rochelle, Monday, Jan. 9, 9 p.m. Call 914-355-2541.

4. Feeling particularly artsy? Take in a foreign film at the when Protektor will be the featured film during the Independent Film Festival. In the film set in Prague at the end of World War I, a Czech journalist joins a radio station that broadcasts Nazi propaganda in order to protect his Jewish wife. Wednesday, Jan, 11, 6:30-9 p.m. Free.

5. The ladies have them so why not the men? The Just for Guys Book Club will meet at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 11, at the Greenburgh Public Library in Elmsford. The book to be discussed will be City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. Join this club just for guys to exchange good reads and gaming match-ups. Registration is required. Call 914-721-8224. This is a free event.