Bring your prose and poetry to life in song! We’ll examine what differentiates song from poetry, and what the two have in common, and reference “How to Write One Song” by Jeff Tweedy. After going over some basic understanding of songs, we will open up to discussion on what song is and what creates lyrical form. Joshua will introduce basic chord structure, rhythm and cadence in songwriting.
We will briefly look at the operatic and baroque genre, of which has been adapting poetry to song since pre-Romantic era, and will look at how this has moved to modern song. Come with three or more pieces of prose or poetry you’re interested in adapting into music and we’ll experiment with the pieces that will most adequately translate to song.
Audience: Those interested in song and lyric writing who already have poetry experience. No music experience required, just a desire to learn and experiment!
Pre-requisite: Must come to workshop prepared with three or more pieces of prose/poetry you are interested in adapting to song. If possible and you’ve got one, bring your keyboard or guitar along.
$35 or included in festival pass
Joshua Mendrala is the author of The Unity Disorder, a poet, songwriter, and recorded musician with a degree in Writing from Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO. He has spent the last few months as an intern with the Crested Butte Center for the Arts, and is currently a gigging and recording musician, as well as a contracted ghostwriter and copywriter. Mendrala spends his time in the playground of the Colorado mountains, playing with creative new sounds and lyrics, or venturing into the fantastical realm of the written word.