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Songwriters: Sidebars & Courses
During the past 8 semesters,
I've created and led 15 original songwriting courses, in classrooms in
southeastern Michigan communities as well as online with songwriters
across the U.S.
These classes incorporate
everything I've learned in my decades as a songwriter, and as the host
of the Songwriter Stories podcast. If classes aren't your thing,
you can book me for a 1-on-1 Songwriter Sidebar. Read on for
details on sidebars and courses!
Songwriter Sidebar
At one time or another, most songwriters
experience:
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unfinished songs, being in a rut or
having writer's block
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a dissatisfaction with their writing quality or style
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a desire for more skills like music theory, ear training
-
the need for a song doctor
I can help you break through all of these issues
and more, with my Songwriter Sidebars on Facebook Messenger or Zoom.
Tell me your challenges and we'll apply proven concepts and techniques to help you open up your flow and
tackle whatever's been bogging down your writing. As a song
doctor, I don't ask for a writing credit, so your songs
remain your own.
If you can stream movies,
then your Internet speed is fast enough to connect with me live, using
your smart phone, tablet or computer.
-- Dave Caruso,
Songwriter / Instructor
Book your sidebar today!
Songwriting Courses
In this inspiring collection of courses, I'll share the tips, insight
and resources you'll need to turn your ideas into songs. Every
week we'll explore, discuss, write and perform music while helping you
become a better songwriter.
-- Dave Caruso, Songwriter / Instructor
Register for the
current session today!
Songwriting Essentials
(Experience is
optional.) We'll focus on writing catchy titles, strong first
lines, verses, and choruses. We'll learn about the components of a
song, how they fit together, and how simple song forms can help us write
more quickly and easily. You'll be encouraged to create different
song components every week of class.
Creative Songwriting
(Intermediate-Advanced.) Weekly tips and ideas for better rhyming,
more interesting schemes, writing better music and lyrics, overcoming writer's block, avoiding songwriting ruts and making your songs more memorable.
Includes creative instruction, songwriting assignments and live
performance
Collaborative Songwriting
(Intermediate-Advanced.) Expand your collaborative songwriting
skills with creative instruction, live demonstration, writing assignments
and in-class performance. Co-write words and music with classmates and
the instructor with
partners and teams.
Music Theory & Ear
Training for
Songwriters
(Having a piano keyboard at home is recommended.) Understand how scales,
intervals and chords apply to melody, harmony and chord changes.
The more you know about how music works, the more tools you'll develop
to use in your songwriting.
Rewriting to Improve
Your Songs
(Intermediate-Advanced.) Free yourself from the perceived
constraints of your early and unfinished drafts. This course will
let you rewrite your songwriting heroes, rewrite your own material and
learn the secrets to how I've rewritten mine. We'll focus on
making your songwriting more adaptable, flexible and easy.
Songwriting CSI
Each week we'll investigate the words and
music to a variety of killer songs
and apply some of the techniques we uncover to new songs by
participating members of the class.
Arranging for Songwriters
This course is all about the
presentation of your songs. As we cover the elements of style,
instrumentation, arrangement and music production, we'll
apply these techniques to your own songs that you choose to share with
the class.
Promoting and Marketing
Your Songs
Get
your music heard and noticed! A detailed look at how to promote your
songs on web sites & social media, plus how to submit music to
reviewers, blogs, radio shows & podcasts. Includes a crash course in
graphics.
Write 7
Songs in 8 Weeks
(Intermediate-Advanced.) Compose a song on a different assigned
topic or theme every week. Experiment with different writing
techniques. Brainstorm your premise and develop your song
form during class. Play your song the following week and get immediate,
constructive feedback.
Setting Your Lyrics To Music
(Music experience helps, but isn't required.) For songwriters who
may write their lyrics first or who have only written lyrics, but have
trouble writing music for them. Bring your lyrics. We'll find inherent rhythms within your phrases, then
use production models, guitar, keyboard, bass, computer and/or apps to
explore possible melodies, chord changes, bass lines, beats and styles
for your song.
Songwriting With a Sense of Humor
(A basic understanding of songwriting is encouraged.) Each week, we'll hear and discuss songs
that are witty, nonsensical, slapstick, storytelling, parodies,
politically charged, outrageous and more. Then, using a wide range
of comic techniques, we'll pen humorous songs of our own, optionally to
share with the class.
Write 7
Songs in 8 Weeks
(Session B)
(Intermediate-Advanced.) New topics! Compose a song on a different assigned
topic or theme every week. Experiment with different writing
techniques. Brainstorm your premise and develop your song
form during class. Play your song the following week and get immediate,
constructive feedback.
Writing Lyrics for Your Music
For songwriters who may write their music first, then struggle to write
lyrics to go with it, or those who can write some lyrics to their music
but get stuck and can't finish. Bring your music to class and
we'll explore different techniques for developing compelling first
lines, catchy titles, interesting themes & stories, and how to apply
these in your verses, choruses, and bridges.
Songwriting
Course Sampler
(Intermediate-Advanced.) Each week, we'll cover material from different
courses in Dave's series "The Secrets to Better Songwriting." You'll
gain valuable insight and practice on a variety of different songwriting
topics. Includes creative instruction, songwriting assignments and live
performance.
Techniques of
Successful Songwriters
Each week in
this LIVE video class we'll explore music and lyric techniques used by
notable pop songwriters. We'll listen to songs that demonstrate these
ideas, you'll write a song that combines one or more of these techniques
with a given theme. Optionally to share your new song with the class
the following week. Attend these group classes remotely with the
Facebook Messenger app.
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Testimonials
"I'd sign up for it again. That's how much it’s improved my
writing."
"I feel like I got WAY more than
my money's worth." |
Each
registrant receives handouts, examples and assignments from every week
of class. Courses are offered
live online.
If you can stream movies,
then your Internet speed is fast enough to join our video class with
your smart phone, tablet or computer.
Register for the
current session today!
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