Songwriting Classes

Telling Your Story In Song

People are walking stories, and it is human to tell stories. Storytelling is one way we navigate and locate ourselves in the fabric of time and relationship. When we write a song, we stop and look closely at all the details that rush past us in our hurried lives. We take the time to celebrate, grieve, listen, rest, or discover. When we sing our song, we create a kind of space where others and ourselves are welcomed – a kind of habitat of hospitality where we allow ourselves to remember together what’s hard and beautiful about where we’ve been, where we are, and where we are going.

I’ve been writing songs for over 15 years now and playing guitar for more than 20. They say the best way to learn is to teach, so my approach to teaching songwriting is one of mutual benefit. I know I always have more to learn.

The classes will be held one night a week for a month. Each section of the course will be limited to 8 students. This way I can keep the class times conversational, informative and relaxed. We’ll cover the following topics during the course.

1. Week One: Basic Song Structure

2. Week Two: Lyrical Storytelling

3. Week Three: Collaboration and Editing

4. Week Four: Sharing Your Songs

My goal, by the end of the month, is to have walked you through the process of choosing a story you want to tell and taking it all the way to a finished song that you can share with others.  This will be a lot of fun and very fulfilling!

Questions:

Q: I’ve never written a song before, can I take this class? 

A. Sure! This is for all skill levels. I want this class to be a safe, non-competitive setting for anyone to explore telling a story in song, whether they have been at it for a while or are just taking the first step.

Q: What if I don’t play an instrument? 

A: It is true that in this class there will not be any instruction on instruments. However, there will be at least one guitar player present (me) if you need help creating instrumental accompaniment. So come on and write a song!

Q: Am I going to feel like an idiot if I’m not good at songwriting? 

A:  The truth is any kind of creative endeavor involves vulnerability, so it’s completely natural to feel that apprehension. Even the most seasoned writers feel it! (That’s a comfort to me!)  Another truth is that in order to make good art, we have to start somewhere making ‘bad’ art. This class is an opportunity to go on an adventure exploring a new territory – if it’s new there’s no expectation that you should already be good at it.