If you’ve written a few songs, played some cover tunes and maybe even performed at an open mic, and you want to take the next step with your songwriting, the Original Song Workshop is for you. Our Original Song Workshop offers more sophisticated songwriting lessons to level up your craft.
In this Original Song Workshop, you will:
- have a higher-level songwriting lesson every week by a professional songwriter
- have a chance every week to co-write with another student*
- get written feedback from the instructor and other members of the class on two of your original songs (which can be recent or older compositions)
*If you’re secretly scared of co-writing, don’t be – it’s easily the best and most fun thing about the class, and it’s a great skill to cultivate.
Participants learn new songwriting techniques throughout the course, and have a forum to present and get feedback on their original songs. For those who find they never get around to writing new material, the course can also serve as a deadline to write new songs.
The atmosphere in the class is always fun and supportive. You’ll finish the class with your songwriting kicked into high gear and with a new set of friendships that often turn into long-term co-writing partnerships after the class is over. The class provides you with deadlines to finish songs you’ve been working on, and can act as a springboard to recording an EP or album. Many songwriters who record at the Toronto Songwriting School Studio originally workshopped their songs in our Intermediate course.
The class meets weekly on Zoom from 7-9pm ET for four weeks.
Original Song Workshop Requirements
A question we’re often asked is, “Am I ready to take Original Song Workshop?” It’s a fair question –
some people think that the Original Song Workshop must be filled with people who are better songwriters than they are. They’re worried they’ll be in over their head. So here’s a quick checklist to give you an idea of whether you’re ready:
- Have you written a few songs (like, five) on your own, without a co-writer?
- Do you have a basic proficiency on an instrument you can write and accompany yourself on (this generally means guitar or piano, but ukulele is cool too!)
- Are you comfortable sharing your songs and giving and receiving feedback?
- BONUS: Do you know a few cover songs that you’re comfortable performing?
This is the basic snapshot of an Original Song Workshop participant – someone who has a grasp of the basics of songwriting but is looking to add some depth and complexity to their craft.
(And even if you ARE this person, doing one Beginner course before moving to Original Song Workshop is still not a bad idea. You’ll learn a number of songwriting basics that aren’t covered in the workshop, and you’ll be more comfortable with the class format when you finally make the move to Original Song Workshop.)
About the Instructor
Classes are taught by Murray Foster. Best known for his role in the bands Great Big Sea and Moxy Fruvous, he is a Juno-nominated songwriter, producer, and performer with songwriting credits on multiple certified gold and platinum recordings. One of the most notable songwriting instructors in Canada, Murray has taught all levels of songwriters at both Seneca College and the Trebas Institute.
Register:
All class times are ET.