Songwriting
Instructor: Cori Brewster
Songwriting
Instructor: Cori Brewster
Course Description:
Level: Not Applicable
Bring your curiosity, courage and open heart to this class. Along with your enthusiasm and passion to dig deep… oh and maybe an instrument, pencil and a bunch of paper.
Our need to express ourselves is an archetypal desire, firstly for ourselves and then possibly if we are feeling brave to share it with others. I hope I can provide some encouragement and helpful suggestions to point you in the direction to improve your stories, songs and share your discoveries.
Songs are a marriage of creativity and craft; if it’s a good marriage it has a few common elements that work. They start in the heart, move to the head, then if you’re lucky back to the heart. Just like a good marriage, it takes work, but mostly it’s about LOVE.
I love songs, often I’ll analyse the great ones (that’s what Virgo’s do…we analyse). In this class we will discuss what makes a song work…structure, rhyme, melody, groove, re-writing. We will spend time on writing exercises to get the juices flowing.
Bring a song you would like some feedback on – we can listen to as many as time permits.
Cori Brewster
Cori is happy to be invited back to teach songwriting. She can’t wait to hang out with enthusiastic creative souls.
Cori released her 5th studio project, Four Horses in 2017, a roots-alt-country, Canadiana offering with a co-write with Ian Tyson, guest performance by John Wort Hannam and production duties by Canadian roots rocker Leeroy Stagger.
She is working on a new project called `55~ 5 Stories- 5 songs: Tales of bravery, beer and Buddhism’.
Website: Cori Brewster
Playing Experience Levels
These guidelines aim to ensure that all camp participants have an enjoyable experience. They represent what your playing capability should be before you take the class (prerequisites).
Classes are generally designed to pace themselves to match the participants' abilities. Level 1 classes aim to proceed at the pace of the slower students in the class. Level 2 and 3 classes aim to move at the pace of the majority of students in the class. Level 4 classes are designed to push the capabilities of all students and will target the pace of the more capable students Class descriptions that show a range (Levels 2-3) means the material presented is broadly applicable across that range.
LEVEL 1: You are new or relatively new to your instrument. You may be able to play basic chords or scales slowly. You want to learn the basics of the instrument. You have very little experience playing with others.
LEVEL 2: You are competent with basic chords and/or basic scales. You can keep rhythm and/or play basic melodies and/or sing and play at the same time if the song is familiar. You generally need the chords or melody to be written out in order to play along. You have some experience playing with others.
LEVEL 3: You are reasonably comfortable with most chords, basic major and minor scales, and can play at an appropriate tempo for songs. You are aware of time signatures, song keys, and know that there are chords called 6th, 7th, 11th, etc even if you can’t play them all. You are comfortable maintaining good rhythm and are willing to taking breaks while jamming with others, even if the breaks don't always turn out the way you planned. You may be hoping to take your playing up to the next level of performing with a group or band (beyond jamming) and you want to further improve your technique and speed.
LEVEL 4: You are skilled on your instrument and have a good understanding of musical concepts including scales, arrangements, harmonies and some improvisation. You play lead and back-up with a steady rhythm and can play skillfully with others. You know there is life further up the neck on your instrument and have some capability in that world. You have performing experience, can hold a tune, and can harmonize.