Teaching Artist
Add Your Title Here
I am a teaching artist based in Rochester NY, servicing Western NY school districts. I provide songwriting workshops where all students get a chance to record the song they wrote.
Workshop Length
Workshop length depends on the number of students and desired outcomes while sessions last between 45 minutes to a full day.
Class Size
In larger classes students work in groups whereas in smaller classes students write individual songs.
Emotional Development
Students are encouraged to write about deeper topics like loss of someone, family issues, social justice, etc.
Daytime Classes
Workshops can be incorporated into daytime classes through objectives that are reflected in song topics and lyrics.
After School Programs
Workshops can be part of after school activities that fit specific objectives of the school like working with students that need behavior adjustments.
Learning Production
Students are used as behind the scenes assistants giving them an opportunity to learn audio and video production.
Testimonials
Songwriting Workshop Structure
Creative Writing
Students write lyrics to the assigned topic or a topic of their choice. They write new lyrics to existing songs/melodies or they write new songs and melodies to beats.
Instruction
I teach key songwriting concepts and help with writing lyrics. For scripted video projects I assist with script writing, producing and directing the video.
Recording
All students record their songs individually or in groups. All recording and lighting equipment is provided by me. Final projects are emailed or uploaded to Youtube (with permission.)
Examples of Projects
Cameron Ministries Afters School/Third Presbyterian Church Arts and Enrichment
Students re-wrote lyrics to Charlie Puth’s One call away and assisted with recording video, displaying lyrics.
Northwest Junior High School - Social Justice Class
7th grade students re-wrote lyrics of A Boogie’s Jungle song and wrote about school and graduating. This project was a part of their Social Justice class. All the actors were program participants or other students we recruited to be our extras.
Dr. Walter Cooper Academy School #10 - 3rd grade class
Part of 3rd grade’s curriculum at Cooper Academy includes learning about immigration, Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty, to name a few. Students were asked to pick their favorite song and re-write lyrics on the topic they’ve been learning about, namely immigration. They re-wrote lyrics of MC Hammer’s Can’t Touch This. Select students also helped with recording the video, displaying lyrics and helping behind the scenes.