Whether you’re a seasoned songwriter or someone who’s always wanted to write that special song but is just not sure where to begin, this class offers you the tools, time, and support to mine your innate songwriting talent.

We’ll learn to build lyrics starting from a powerful song charter and discover how to locate and highlight that charter in the song's different sections. We’ll explore ways to create melody, set the right rhythm and tempo, and attend to the dynamics in your song that will give it the appropriate energy and flavor. We’ll learn ways to spark new ideas, try out a variety of lyric writing elements, and develop effective tools to create the vital emotional connections that will make your song unique and strong.

After identifying and exploring a variety of song forms — from hymns to solos, jingles to rhymes to rounds, and traditional and contemporary folk songs, you will pick a genre that resonates for you, and spend time each day creating your song to share. Coaching and feedback takes place in a safe and trustful circle. Instruments welcome!

Meet your Instructor

Deb Hensley

Deb Hensley is the Program Director for the Belfast Creative Coalition in Belfast, Maine where she lives, works, and plays. Deb is a songwriter and community song leader, an educational consultant for The High Scope Educational Research Foundation, The Restorative Justice Project, and an active member of Restorative Art Works, R.A.W--a theatre ensemble at the Maine Coastal Regional Reentry Center in Belfast. She has a Master’s degree in Transformative Language Arts.