Coming Home: Young Songwriters Workshop

When: Saturday, June 17th. Workshop / 10:00 – 5:00 pm, Registration required

Show case / 6:00 – 9:00 pm, open to the public

Where: Headwaters School of Music and the Arts | 519 Minnesota Ave NW, Bemidji, MN 56601

Who: Workshop / Ages 13-21. $25 per person

Showcase / Open to the public

Why: Participants will leave the 7-hour day feeling inspired, with a basic understanding of methods that have kept the creativity flowing for professional songwriters for ages. Participants will also leave with a few pieces of original and collaborated work to add to their repertoire.

Berit Dybing is drawing on her recent experiences in Norway as a performer and songwriter to host a Songwriting Workshop Saturday June 17th, 10:00 - 5:00 pm at Headwaters Music and Arts. She will be joined by fellow instructors Erlend Odnes Kløvning, Caige Jambor, and Cory Medina. Together they will encourage participants to explore and draw upon their own heritage and culture throughout the workshop.

In the morning the Workshop will focus on Lyrics, working in groups to collaborate on texts and melodies that fit together, while exploring technique that the individual can tailor to themselves, they discover which works best for their own specific writing style.

The afternoon will be spent focusing on the full picture: Composition. The group will work together to create a backbone for the texts that were written, and shape the melody with harmonies and rhythms that will turn any simple “song” into an expressive work of art.

Following the workshop the participants will have an opportunity to take part in a songwriters showcase. The

Showcase is meant to present the young writers with an opportunity to perform their work for an audience.

The showcase is open to the public, and starts at 7:00PM.

This activity is funded, in part, by an appropriation from the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the State’s General Fund through a grant awarded by the Region 2 Arts Councill.