LMY0051 - Write Your Song! Songwriting for Beginners
Course Description
Have you ever wanted to write your own song but didn’t know where to begin? Join our two-week songwriting course designed for young musicians ages 11–14 and start your creative journey!
Every great song begins with an idea — we’ll show you how to turn yours into music. Learn the fundamentals of songwriting, including melody, rhythm, and chord progressions, through fun, hands-on activities. You’ll create original melodies on guitar or piano, explore your musical imagination, and develop the skills to craft a song that’s truly yours.
Bring your creativity and leave with a finished piece that reflects your unique voice!
Workshop Experience
Throughout the course, you will have the opportunity to workshop your songs in a supportive environment. Each participant will receive constructive feedback from peers and instructors, fostering collaboration and creativity. This is not just a class; it’s a community where your ideas can flourish!Daily Engagement
Our class meets every day for two weeks, ensuring that you remain engaged and inspired throughout the process. Each session is designed to build upon the last, helping you develop your skills progressively while keeping the excitement alive.Join Us!
Whether you're a complete beginner or have some experience with music, this course is tailored for you. Come ready to explore your creativity, make new friends, and most importantly—compose your very own song! Sign up today and take the first step toward becoming a songwriter!
Learner Outcomes
In this hands-on, interactive class, we will explore the art of songwriting through a variety of engaging activities. Here’s what you can expect to learn:- Melody and Harmony: Learn the basics of melody creation and how to set your lyrics to music. We'll delve into pitch, rhythm, and how to create memorable melodies that stick in your audience's mind.
- Chords and Progressions: Understand the role of chords in songwriting. You will explore various chord progressions and how they can enhance the mood and feel of your song.
- Song Structure: Familiarize yourself with common song forms such as verse-chorus structures, bridges, and hooks. You’ll learn how to organize your ideas into a cohesive piece that flows naturally.
- Arranging Your Song: Get creative with arranging! We’ll discuss instrumentation, dynamics, and how to add layers to your song for a fuller sound.
Notes
Ages 11 - 14
Petros Dragoumis is a multi-instrumentalist and multicultural professional musician, instructor, and author with over 35 years of experience. Throughout his international career he has performed, recorded, and collaborated within many different aspects of the music industry, such as live concerts, recording sessions, productions, TV shows, workshops, etc. As a performer, his music is influenced by Greek, Ethnic, as well as the Afro-American Jazz culture, with emphasis on odd meters and exotic scales. Petros has studied at the Macedonian Conservatory, the Bass Collective of New York, the Rotterdam Conservatory Codarts, and Arizona State University. His instructors included John Patitucci, Lincoln Goines, Mike Pope, and Matt Garrison. Petros is also the author of several music textbooks including instructional methods for bass guitar, guitar, and bouzouki, as well as music theory. Petros resides in Chicago and is involved in various music projects while teaching at Harper College and being the co-director of Odeion School of Music in Skokie.
Jeremie Witz is guitarist who has been playing for nearly 20 years. He has played professionally in numerous bands and ensembles ranging from jazz to folk to rock and has been writing music for the same length of time. He graduated from Columbia College Chicago in May 2014 with a BA in Music Composition. He studied under composers: Drew Baker, Kenn Kumpf, Ilya Levinson, and Marcos Balter. He performed and worked with members from the groups, Del Niente and Chicago's Composer's Collective. Jeremie teaches bass guitar, ukulele, songwriting, counterpoint, orchestrating, arranging, music theory, and composition. He is experienced with all kinds of music software, such as Pro Tools, Logic, Garage Band, Cubase, FL Studio, Finale, Sibelius. If you want to learn how to write, record, mixing, and master your own music, there's never been a better time to learn.