Welcome Penny!
Try the Buttercream or snowwhite buttercream:
http://www.wilton.com/recipes/browse.cfm?category_id=16
These are good starter icing to practice with. Once you get the hang of it there are lots of other recipes that I find tastier than these. Some people love the taste of these recipes but they just aren't for me but they are good to practice with. If you are also taking the Wilton course, you'll most likely see one of these in your book for Course I! Have fun! 
Just a note on this.....when I took classes, there were several in our class that didn't like the taste of the "class buttercream" that wilton suggests that you use. They brought their "own recipe" of something they liked. Well, to make a long story short.....they never could get the decorations right....the stuff they brough just would not hold up. Everytime they made something, it would just melt away. Those of us who brought the class buttercream had no issues at all. It worked like a dream. I think for learning, that is definately the way to go.
If your class is a wilton class, you should probably be using their recipe for buttercream from the lesson book. It helps beginners and even experienced students with consistency. Does make a difference in making roses. I always require my students in the Course 1 to use that recipe. After that they can do whatever they would like.
I agree--make the Wilton buttercream for the classes. You'll save yourself a lot of frustration because the consistancy will be right on to learn the different techniques. Have fun!
I use the recipe my instructor gave me to use....I've been using it ever since......As far as the other icings go, My main problem is with Royal icing.....
Good luck in your class!
Betty
I agree to use the recipe in the lesson book in order to learn. If you don't like it after you get the decorations down, then experiment but first thing's first.. learn. You'll get more frustrated learning how to do things if you start off with bad icing.
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