PITTSBURGH - April 7, 2004 - Pittsburgh magician Tom Interval is offering lessons in sleight of hand, misdirection and magic performance this spring to serious magic enthusiasts.

Private and small-group lessons, held in Interval’s Sewickley apartment, are designed for adults and children (minimum age eight) and cover three skill levels:

• Spring into Magic (beginner): Easy-to-master close-up illusions
• Apprentice (intermediate): Basic sleight-of-hand skills
• Wonderworker (advanced): More complex sleight of hand

“One of the great things about magic is that people can apply it to so many areas of their lives,” says Interval. “Many students simply want to entertain family and friends, while others, including salespeople, teachers, doctors and other professionals, want to incorporate it into their work.”

Some key benefits of learning magic include:

• Improved hand-eye coordination and dexterity
• Enhanced creative ability to look at a problem from several perspectives
• Increased self-esteem
• Improved presentational skills
• Heightened awareness of human behavior and perception
• Reduced stress and improved quality of life from a fun, productive hobby

Interval, 37, has taught magic and sleight of hand for about 19 years. In addition to training magic-shop employees at Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, he has conducted hundreds of private lessons and has taught locally at Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC), the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) and the Jewish Community Center. Tom also has published some of his sleight-of-hand tricks in MUM, the Society of American Magicians (SAM) national trade magazine.