Learning to play an instrument can be a life-changing experience. Writing a song and performing it can be the ultimate creative process.
The Linc Youth Centre in Courtenay would like to help you kick start your musical skill, knowledge and creativity in a series of free workshops from Nov. 15 to Dec. 15.
For youth interested in learning to play an instrument, sing, dance or jam along on cowbell, the rhythm/percussion workshop will give you a great foundation of understanding around the fundamentals of rhythm and how beats are made. All the equipment is supplied including, hand drums, cowbells, shakers, gogo bells, woodblocks, tambourines and various other percussion instruments.
If you want to learn enough chords on the guitar to play thousands of songs, the beginners guitar workshop can help you. In four sessions, you will learn how to make several major chords and even a couple of minor chords using simple charts which you can use later to learn even more chords. The more you practise, the better you sound and the more songs you can play.
Bring your guitar and a tuner. If you don’t have your own guitar, you might be able to borrow one.
For aspiring songwriters, the songwriting workshop will give you all kinds of insight into the process of composing an original song. Lyric writing will be discussed. You’ll be able to talk about songwriting as a craft with a professional songwriter and producer and then write a song over four sessions. You’ll want to bring a pen and notebook and your instrument of choice.
Facilitating the songwriting workshop is Corwin Fox, an accomplished songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist who has worked with some of Canada’s most notable musical artists.
His band Morlove’s debut album was nominated for the Polaris Prize in 2010. Corwin records albums for many artists in Cumberland.
The rhythm and beginners guitar workshops will be facilitated by Bobby Herron. Bobby has had an extensive live and recording career as a singer, songwriter and percussionist in Canada, the States and Europe.
He now lives in Cumberland where he continues to compose and record his own music. Bobby has run the School of Rock program as well as other music workshops for youth for years in the Valley.
To register for any of these free music workshops, drop by the Linc across from Courtenay Recreation. For information, call 250-334-8138 or see the Kick Start Music page on Facebook.
— Linc Youth Centre