The Songwriters Guitar
Course Description
Summary
Self-taught guitar playing often begins with the recognition of simple patterns, evolving into complexity. These patterns, while helping us gain familiarity, can eventually become a constrictive box, requiring new material to refresh the old. How do we make a song more effective through focusing on guitar, how can we make a song find its destination? This course develops each student’s guitar practice in tandem with songwriting, while challenging players to hear all notes, chords, rhythms, and breaks as viable. Each student will write one “long song“ that pushes their playing outside their comfort zone and into a more dynamic relationship with their instrument. An emphasis will be put on listening skills, with a soft focus on music theory as well.
Learning Outcomes
- Identify and break habitual playing patterns to discover new harmonic, melodic, and rhythmic possibilities.
- Develop a more dynamic and personal relationship with the guitar through expanded technical and expressive approaches.
- Recognize how form, texture, and pacing contribute to a song’s sense of direction or “destination.”
Prerequisites
Contact the faculty member.
Please contact the faculty member : omeedgoodarzi@bennington.edu