I recently asked my Michael's about their fondant and gumpaste class and was told that you had to take the basic cake decorating class first.

Have any of you heard of this before? I called another store today and was put on hold forever so I just hung up.

Thanks!
Melissa

Yes, the prerequisite is Course 1. If you feel that you can do everything in Course 1, then you can always talk to the instructor and see what he or she says.

...it depends on the instructor...you'll need to speak with them...I didnt have to have anything completed prior because I knew about fondant already...

ok- thanks. She was pretty insistant that everyone had to have Course 1 first and very nasty at that! I feel that I would be ok, been doing cakes and cookies for a long time, just wanted some more experience - no biggie.

Thanks again.

If you feel that you have a good grasp on the basics of cake decorating then take the fondant cource. When I took that course the only thing that I need to know from course one was how to ice the cake and what some of the basic cake decorating tools. As for that crab on the phone, ignore her. They just want you to spend money on a class you dont need.

I am a Instructor at Michaels, and course one is required for the gum paste class. If you can ice a cake well, make a shell border, use the star tip, and make a rose, you should be fine for course 4. I would reccomend that you speak with the instructor individually. If whom ever you spoke with is still rude, you should call the store manager. Michaels does not have a policy of being rude to customers. I'm sorry that this employee was rude to you!!

Interesting, my cousin just asked me to take this class with her. Since she stopped decorating 20 years ago and I stopped about 35 years ago myself, and neither of us have ever taken a Wilton course, I wonder if they would let us in. However both of us have taken non- wilton courses years ago and both of us are rusty but competent with both BC and RI. Neither of us have ever messed with fondant or gumpaste.

I am a Wilton intructor and right now half of the intructors I've spoken with are saying that the new class is such a basic class that course 1 is not nessesary. At the Michaels that I teach at we don't require you to take course 1 first. We have even had people start with course 3 and work their way down to course 1! If you have been decorating for a while that should be good enough. I would talk directly to the instuctor and not the people at the front counter; or I would talk to the store manager.

I took a course 20 years ago from a lady that owned her own shop not Wilton and they let me take the class. I had a very laid back instructor, she did well. So asking doesn't hurt and if you know those things why would they care? I was thrilled cause all I had to do was buy a kit or the tool holder to get the gumpaste class free so I bought another holder and got the sessions free for the month of March. Michael's did Ok by me.

I also am an instructor. The prerequisites are in place so that the students will come in with the basic knowledge covered in course one. Worst case, a student might show and not be familiar with certain techniques or vocabulary, and require time away from other students in the class, for a quick rehash.

I have suggested the prereq, but how is one to know for certain? I simply take their word. Lack thereof will reveal itself. And as instructors, we are guided to approach such a student in a certain polite manner. Many years experience in cake decorating should more than suffice as a prereq.

I can't tell you how much I appreciate all of your feedback. I'll stop by there today and ask to talk to the instructor. I didn't realize that it depended on the teacher. I can understand that they want you to understand the basics.

Thanks again.
Melissa

As an Instructor I would suggest talking to the instructor about it. Wilton says you have to have Course 1 to do the class, but if the instructor is comfortable with you doing it with out having Course 1 then that is fine.

I can see why they would like you to have some experince with cakes in this course. And I have always suggested students start with Course 1 even if they do have decorating experince.

As far as any questions about the courses you will get alot more answers going directly to the instructor at the store than you will from the cashiers. Most stores can give you the instructors number or can leave a message for him/her.