It's easier to learn new songs, pop, rock, jazz or whatever, if you understand progressions. Yes, there is sense to it all and Fred will explain chord movement and song structure, the circle of 5ths, progressions, scale-wise patterns and more! Bring your favorite tunes to analyze, and learn to play 'em in any key. An excellent workshop.

Fred Sokolow   3-4:30 pm, Sundays, Feb 19-Mar 4 (3 sessions)   $90

In this one-day workshop, Roy works with students' songs, complete or incomplete, to expand their palette of melodic, harmonic, rhythmic and lyrical options. What would make this song more compelling? More direct? Catchier? Funnier? Does it need a bridge? Is it really two songs in disguise? How does a thought, an inspiration, an experience, an emotion become a song? And how can the songwriting process be a liberating influence on other creative endeavors? Roy is a nationally known writer and performer of satirical songs. He wrote all the material for The Foremen, who recorded for Warner/Reprise Records. He's written hundreds of children's songs for the Walt Disney Company and Warner Brothers, and has taught songwriting for over twenty years.

Roy Zimmerman   3-4:30 pm  Sunday, Date Pending (1 session)   $40

Pete brings 25 years of songwriting experience to this exciting and popular workshop, which he's been leading since 2001. Beginning with an exploration of the craft involved in the classic songs of Dylan and the Beatles, to songs of the present day, we learn techniques for producing ideas, exercises for improving the vividness and power of our songs, and many tricks of the trade. Topics include song structure, bridges, guitar tunings as a compositional tool, and breaking through "writer's block." Every week there is a songwriting assignment designed to connect what we've been learning in the class with our own hearts and feelings. The workshop is an encouraging, friendly, and at times humorous environment. People are invited to play the assigned songs in the workshop, though performance is not mandatory. For further info, send e-mail to case_peter@hotmail.com.

This class is limited to 10 students. Pre-enrollment is highly recommended.

Peter Case   8-9:30 pm  Tuesdays, Dates Pending (6 sessions)   $325

For graduates of Peter Case's popular Songwriter's Workshop, this 6-week class continues and expands on the material presented in the first workshop. Songs will be written each week, and presented to the class. Subjects include imagery, rhyming, verse development, melodic ideas, chord changes, and generating songs from various sources. For further info, send e-mail to case_peter@hotmail.com.

This class is limited to 10 students. Pre-enrollment is highly recommended.

Peter Case   2-3:30 pm  Saturdays, Dates Pending (6 sessions)   $325

Learn how to recognize chord types, intervals, and chord progressions by ear, just like a — dare we say it? — musician. Fred gives you the theory and exercises you need to improve your listening skills and know what you're listening to. With a trained ear, you can learn songs more easily and play them in any key. Lead guitarists: you'll be better able to improvise solos when you understand and can recognize different chord progressions. Good for songwriters, too. Knowing music theory is one thing, but hearing and feeling it is a whole lot better.

Fred Sokolow   3-5 pm, Sundays, Dates Pending (2 sessions)   $70

Have you ever been looking for that mystery chord in your song, but can't seem to find it? Maybe the mystery chord is in a different key? Why does it still sound good? These and many other questions will be answered once and for all. Learn a lot of the rules for songwriting so you can break them. Know all the chords within a given key, and be able to figure out how to play your song in ANY key. Pete also covers basic theory of songwriting and song structure (AABA rhyme scheme, Verse/Pre-Chorus/Chorus/Bridge, etc.) and will analyze your songs, if you like.

Pete Snell   1-2:30 pm  Sundays, Dates Pending (6 sessions)   $150

Songwriter Paul Zollo is offering a 6-week workshop for songwriters of all levels. It's an opportunity to explore all facets of the art and craft of songwriting woven with Zollo's years of unique personal experience. In addition to publishing several books on the subject, for which he's interviewed many of the greatest songwriters of the last half-century (Dylan, Cohen, Bacharach, Zappa, Webb, and many, many more), Paul has led workshops and taught seminars about songwriting at the Berklee School of Music, the National Academy of Songwriters, and USC. He will guide you down a multitude of creative avenues that lead to the creation of a new song, and also discuss philosophies regarding the creative process. Whether you perform yourself, or write songs for others, this is a workshop that welcomes all songwriters in pursuit of what Van Dyke Parks has called "a triumph of the spirit" — the writing of songs.

Paul Zollo   10:30 am-12 pm, Saturdays, Dates Pending (6 sessions)   $200