Upon purchase you will receive access to:

• Session 2: July 7th-25th, 2025

• Monday, Wednesday, Friday 1-2 pm eastern time

• Three classes a week for 3 weeks 9 days total

Description of Live Music Composition Class:

This class is suitable for any student with an inclination towards music and songwriting. It doesn’t matter what genre is their favorite nor what instrument(s) they play. This class is for all genres and instruments - classical, jazz, rock, ethnic/world, country, folk, R & B, pop, funk, fusion, whatever! Even drummers are welcome! (Yes, I was a drummer, and as my old band director used to tell us, “Drummers are people who hang out with musicians.”)

The purpose of this class is to explore songwriting and musical composition, to study some of the great composers and genres, and to practice skills to build our craft. Below in the syllabus, I have listed some of the great songwriters and composers that we could study. However, as per students’ interest dictates, that is up for discussion! We can be flexible in who and what we study. The important thing is that students are enlivened and working on their craft.

Students need not have any prior experience writing songs; they will be invited, though not forced, to share their work with the group. They should have familiarity with music, however. 

*Note: this is a 12-week class, but the possibility is open to continue the group ongoingly after the 12 weeks. 

Structure of Each Class:

Warmup:

Brain gym and singing

Exercise:

Melody, harmony, and rhythm exercises

Sharing of homework:

Students share what they have composed over the past week

New composer/songwriter:

We will study a new legendary songwriter or genre each week, like Bob Marley or Joni Mitchell or Bach analyzing what calls to us from their work that we may be able to use in our own songwriting

Homework:

Students will be asked to create something using the new skill in the week between now and the next class

Syllabus :

1. Bob Dylan

2. Bob Marley

3. Joni Mitchell

4. Bach/ Beethoven/Vivaldi

5. Johnny Cash

6. Joseph (the band)

7. Jazz: Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington

8. Celtic music

9. African music

Areas for Future Development:

1. Focusing more on specific genres like folk, jazz, world/ethnic, classical, Celtic, etc.

2. Getting into specific compositional techniques like jigs, reels, and hornpipes