You too -- yes, you --can write and improvise songs

Learning by doing: ways to improvise songs and to write them, even if you "can't sing" or "aren't creative." Anyone can learn to do this, and it's great fun. It can be for yourself, or to share with others. It's good for self-confidence and self-expression. We're living in a renaissance -- come be part of it!

details

• when: sunday, april 17th, 2011, from 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
• to attend: Please see the info page for more information on attending any of the workshops at the 2011 Boston Skillshare.
• facilitated by: Martha Older

lesson plan

We will work together to create songs in ways you can also do alone. For example, we will write new words to an old song. We will also take turns contributing lines for a new song, for which we will then create a melody. Then new songs, line by line and in other ways. I will also solicit and welcome ideas from the participants.

facilitator experience

I am good at song improvisation as well as formal song-writing. While any style is fine, folk, hip-hop and parodies are particularly easy to start with. My personal style is folk music, and I tend to write witty songs about political and social issues. I especially write songs when I experience things for which I don't already know one, or when I am asked to write a song on a particular topic.

I have worked with children in daycare, showing them how to write songs and that it normally can be done. By the average age of three, all of them can write songs -- words and music -- when asked to do so. I have found 4th grade children can still do it. But adults sometimes need to unlearn the idea that they can't write songs.

intended audience

Anyone, including children and elders.

other resources suggested by the facilitator

Any musical instrument, including percussion instruments.