July 17 – 23

Songs are magic spells. They can start a revolution or lull a baby to sleep. They’ll whisk you through space and time much faster than your standard magic carpet. With a song, you can converse with the dead, pace the halls of Heaven and Hell, and bring those listening along for the ride.

In this course, we’ll examine the linguistic mechanisms that make this possible. After all, a consonant can be a mystical thing. A series of open vowels can take your breath away. Meter broken in a precise moment can break your heart, too. We’ll geek out over breathing, explore the human instrument, and journal and free write our pencils to nubs. And at the end, we’ll all walk away with a song or two to whistle on the road home.

What will class time be like?

Each day will start with a warm up: breath work, meditation, gentle stretches of our bodies and voices. We’ll play some word games and read some poetry out loud. After that, we’ll set writing prompt. You’ll have time to find your happy corner of the Guild and write, then we’ll come back to share our findings and our progress, take the exercise deeper, or collaborate and troubleshoot together.

Will I need to work outside of class?

No, but if you choose more complex music, you may spend time outside of class working.

What can I expect to create?

Expect to finish at least one song, and have a few song starts to take home.

Do I need experience to take this class?

All experience levels welcome, including beginners.

What do I need to bring to class?

Any favorite writing materials you’d like to have – be that a journal and a quill pen or an ipad. Comfy clothes that don’t restrict your breathing. If you have an instrument, bring that along too, although don’t stress about it – some of the best songs ever are a cappella.

This class is a part of the Guild’s Summer 2022 Program.

Register here for this class: