Songwriting for Middle School, taught by Nathan Reyna, is a fun, thought-provoking, and collaborative class that introduces students to the essential ideas and skills of writing, recording, and releasing songs. The class covers song structure, crafting musical and lyrical motifs, basic music theory, and the most challenging aspect of songwriting: finishing the song. Students will develop mindfulness skills as they learn to look deep within for inspiration and engage in practices that allow the subconscious mind to make connections that spark innovative ideas. 

The course covers topics such as what makes a great melody, how to write music that highlights your vocal range and style, how to achieve authenticity as an artist, what is "good" or "bad" music, how to emulate without plagiarizing, how to use openness and curiosity, how to collaborate with other artists, and what "done" looks like for your projects.

Through collaborative lessons, hard-earned advice from 15 years of songwriting experience, hands-on activities, and a fun and supportive environment, students will build a strong songwriting foundation that enables them to express themselves and become the best artists they can be

Benefits of Middle School Songwriting:

• Develops a deeper connection to oneself – Enhances self-understanding and confidence with mindfulness and introspective practices.

• Prepares for collaboration with others – Instills communication principles that lead to group synergy and avoid arguing.

• Improves the ability to overcome overthinking – Encourages students to abandon perfectionism and focus on fulfillment and the process.

• Applies to persuasive writing – Helps in understanding storytelling principles and the process of refining a point or central idea.

• Boosts academic and career readiness – Provides strong collaboration and storytelling skills to stand out and be a leader in an organization.

Results of Middle School Songwriting:

• By the end of the course, students will have gained confidence in their songwriting abilities and will be well-prepared for more advanced songwriting ideas in the future.

• The students will complete a minimum of 10 finished songs and will have the opportunity to perform one of them at the semester-end Showcase.

Materials:

• Journal and pencil

• Any songwriting work you've already done

• A list of your aspirations and goals as a songwriter

• Your curiosity and openness :) 

Do not bring an instrument; a few acoustic instruments and a full keyboard will be provided for the music writing portions.

Pre-Requisites:

None.

Homework Requirements:

According to the Center's recommendation, it is advised to allocate 20 minutes for homework, 4 days a week. This duration is suitable for maintaining a balanced workload and allowing students to reinforce their learning outside of the classroom. By dedicating this amount of time to homework, students can effectively review and practice the concepts taught in class, resulting in a better understanding and retention of the material.