As humans, we were made for creating. Are you passionate about sharing your life experiences, thoughts, ideas, and emotions through song? It can be one of the most rewarding things to be able to turn your experiences into something meaningful that others can relate to.
Class Time:
9 hours of learning!
This class is about studying the craft and art of songwriting, and how the process can unravel in many different forms. The first thing to get right is your mindset going into it. It will take vulnerability and a willingness to engage honestly with yourself and the world around you. It's a pursuit of exploration, and being daring enough to seek and grab a hold of something meaningful amongst the seeming chaos of the world and the human condition. I like to think of songwriting like sculpting. When you first grab the ball of clay, that's like writing down all that comes to mind in whatever topic you are interested in. As you begin carving away chunks of the clay, it's the same as getting rid of unnecessary words or lines that may be saying the same thing, or aren't adding to the overall message. The ball of clay, or song starts to take shape as you continue to dial in the pieces that your started with, adding and subtracting until all that you are left with is a finished piece of art. In this class, students will learn the basics of songwriting, including how to be an effective storyteller, what different rhyme schemes look like, popular song structures, how to dial in rhythm, how to come up with hooks and melodies, and how different chord progressions relate to the emotional drive of a song. Students will exercise the process of writing a song beginning to end, learning how to translate their ideas effectively to the ears of whoever listens.I am the ideal instructor for this topic because I have been songwriting for over 10 years and my passion for the craft has continued to grow. I embarked on my songwriting journey when I was 15, and I didn't have any clue what I was doing. All I had was my guitar, a desire to share my thoughts and ideas, and little bit of musical intuition. I made a CD of about 10 songs when I was in high school, and in college I started gaining a lot more experiences that inspired me to start writing the first album I would release on all streaming platforms. I got my Bachelor's degree in Humanities/philosophy, with a minor in creative writing, and I learned how to be a deep thinker, form ideas and communicate them through the written form, and was a part of many creative writing workshops throughout my college career. I wrote a few songs with a band near the end of college just for fun. I have now 2 albums ( 10 songs each) and 5 singles that I've released and fortunately, and unfortunately, I had to play all the hats in the creation process. I did an 8-month sound engineering program and learned how to produce, mix, and master my songs and now I am working with a team of producers, musicians, and other songwriters in Los Angeles who have helped me dial in and fine tune my craft as a songwriter. I have been on an endless pursuit of continuing to grow as a singer/songwriter while having to figure it out all on my own, to having a team of talented people around me to help speed up the process. I want to help other people get equipped with all the tools and knowledge they need to get a jumpstart on their songwriting journey, whether it be just for fun, or if they are trying to pursue a career in it.I am a 27 year old singer/songwriter living in Los Angeles, California. I grew up in Colorado and got my Bachelor's degree at the University of Colorado at Boulder. I studied Humanities with an emphasis in Philosophy and a minor in Creative Writing. I've been songwriting since I was 15 and have released multiple projects on all streaming platforms including 2 albums, and 5 singles. I'm currently working on a 5 song EP. I have always had a passion for writing and sharing my "diary" with the world through songs. Songwriting is truly where my passions and burdens collide because a song is the place where I find a solution and am able to create meaning out of the chaos that goes on in the world. I would love to help other students explore their potential in songwriting and walk them through the process because it is such a rewarding experience to finish a song. I believe I have a lot of knowledge and experience in this topic that I would love to share with others.
