Songwriting: Creating together

Entry requirements: you sing and/or master an instrument well enough to play together. And you enjoy making music together! 

This musical course focuses on creating and performing together. With a group of 6 students, you will spend 10 weeks working on self-written lyrics, melodies and arranging song ideas. Guitarists, percussionists, pianists, singers, saxophone or ukelele, any instrument or voice is welcome!

In each class, teacher Helene Richter will provide a creative starting point, this could be a beat or sample, a melody, a bassline, a chord progression, or a piece of text. Together, we’ll use these building blocks to improvise, jam, and actively listen to one another, gradually shaping each idea into a complete piece. Everyone will take on a musical role in each song. 

We play (semi-)acoustic, and the sessions are unamplified, though guitar amps and microphones are available, we do not use drums or a full PA system.

What you will learn 

• How to write a song from different inputs 

• Creating music together 

• Overcoming creative blocks 

• A feel for arranging songs 

• Stage experience 

• Listening more consciously to yourself and others 

• An impression of how artists/composers work 

• Collaborate 

• Improvisation 

Registration and Availability

It’s a good idea to check in advance whether there is still a spot available for your instrument. You can do this by contacting the course administration at info.parnassos@uu.nl or by calling 030-2538441 during office hours. After completing your online registration, please send an email to the course administration indicating which instrument you play.

About the teacher

Helene Matthia Richter studied Jazz Vocals with piano as a secondary subject at the Prins Claus Conservatoire in Groningen. She has been teaching singing for over 10 years. Alongside teaching, she works on her own projects such as composing, organizing, and performing concerts (see https://www.hala.band). 

Through her own experience with Complete Vocal Technique, she can empathize with people facing vocal blockages. Helping to overcome these is her passion. In Singing Basics 1, 2, and 3, she focuses on voice, breath support, and the joy of singing together. 

For more information about the teacher, check Instagram.