Workshops, Classes & Online Classes


Workshops on the Craft of Songwriting  I'll come in person to your organization, or circle of friends .  Each workshop is 3 hours for a $180 fee plus transportation.

Also offered online songwriting workshop: 

10 weekly sessions for $160, includes 3 song critiques. Discounts for Dallas Songwriters Association Members. Follow along with the Collin College Class each week by receiving class materials and assignments through a yahoo group, which also offers Q and A and discussions.



Songwriting I Part 1: Writing Better Lyrics, Part 2 Melody Writing
1.  Introduction to Songwriting: 
  • How to talk about music
  • Good Vs. Bad vs. Marketable Music
  • Authenticity
  • How to Evaluate a Song
  • Anatomy of a Song Copyright
  • Professional Organizations
  • Music Conferences - Why Attend?

2. Developing the Flow of Creativity
  • Writing from a Title
  • Object Writing
  • Finding Ideas
  • Analyzing your Favorite Pop Song

3.  Enhancing the Communication of Your Lyric
  • Literary Devices: Making Metaphors and Similes
  • Clichés
  • Learning to Say “No”; Rhyming
  • Rhyme Forms
  • Lyric Meter

4. Meeting the Expectations of Your Listener
  • Popular Song Forms, Past and Present
  • Hooks

5. Keeping Your Listener Interested
  • Verse Development
  • Power Positions
  • Repetition

6.  Polishing Your Final Draft
  • Points of View 
  • Song Evaluation check sheet
  • Travelogues
7. Introduction to Composition
  • Meter in Music 
  • Setting Lyrics to Music 
  • Expectations of the listener 
  • Authenticity 
  • A Study of Melodic Scales 
  • Major 
  • Minor 
  • Pentatonic 
  • Dorian 
8. Theme Development 
  • Theme and Variations 
  • Simplicity 
  • Range and Sing-ability 
  • Contrast 
  • Timbre 
  • Text Painting 


9. Chord Progressions
     •  Popular Chord Progressions, Past and Present
     •  Signature Licks

10.  Producing Your Demo
  • When to Record a Demo 
  • How to Record a Demo 
  • Writing Your Music Down 
  • Lead Sheets 
  • TAB/ Notation 
  • Music Notation Software 
  • Song Evaluation check sheet 
All courses come with course handouts
Recommended reading list
A list of key information sources
Examples of works to emulate
Templates and writing guides.


Quote from Ratemyprofessor.com, "Wow! What a teacher. Her songwriting class is SO MUCH FUN! She allows the class to sing and play their original songs. She is always in a good mood and is very enjoyable to listen to lecture. What a breath of fresh air. All teachers should be like this, i.e. making it FUN to learn. She is a professional, quite knowledgeable in ALL types of music. A+"

SURVEY OF MUSIC BUSINESS CLASS OUTLINE


1. Course Overview: Organization, “State of the Union” 
2. Artist Development, Artist Management, Publicity and Branding 
3. Songwriting and Copyright 
4. Music Publishing , PROS 
5. Record Labels, Mega Entertainment Corps 
6. Recording, Unions and Guilds 
7. Marketing, Marketing Plans, Advertising, Promotion
8. Distribution, Merchandising 
9. Concerts and Live Performance

10. Tour Merchandise, International


 SONGWRITING 
offered at 



Songwriting Class at Colin College - Spring Semester - starts Aug 24th - 
Enroll Now
NEW OPTION THIS YEAR
You can sign up on Monday night through continuing ed also for first time this year.
You can now enroll in a continuing education class and get into my Monday evening 6-8:45 Songwriting Class at Colin College. Yes, no transcript transfer, no shots. They will cross section the class if I have some CE enrollment. You will be in the class with regular students. It's not in the official CE catalog but you can get in by email to Allison Venuto  avenuto@collin.edu subject Monday Night Songwriting Class through continuing education and ask about getting into the Monday Night Songwriting Class through continuing education.

CLASSES OFFERED AT COLLIN COLLEGE SPRING CREEK CAMPUS
FALL SONGWRITING CLASSES at Collin College
If you are interested in taking a class but want to do it as Continuing Ed, let me know and I will direct you to the right person.
CRN:
Duration: Aug 24, 2020 - Dec 13, 2020
6:00 pm - 8:45 pm
Monday
Plano Campus-Spring Creek B154


CRN:
Duration:
Aug 24, 2020 - Dec 13, 2020
11:30 am - 12:45 pm
TR
Plano Campus-Spring Creek B154