Boring, MD Songwriting Lessons

Want to write your own music and songs? Learn about song structure, work on rhyming, and more, to create and polish your compositions. Do you have words that need musical accompaniment? Created your composition and need help finding the just the right words? Put your lyrics and beats together with some basic chords. Style your own compositions to be completely unique or model them after your favorite artist.

David enjoys teaching students from all different backgrounds and levels of proficiency. Whether you are just starting out or a virtuoso shredder in the making, he is happy to teach you! Over all, he is fairly laid back, as long as you practice. He usually combines work with reading off of the treble clef (what he likens to "eating your vegetables." You may not want to do it, but it will make you a healthier musician!) with learning more popular songs (or songs the student says they would like to learn) through tablature and chord charts, depending on the style of the song.

David is also very pro music theory. He usually incorporates music theory into the curriculum in conjunction with the material already being discussed. He is also very knowledgeable about composition/songwriting, and if the student is interested in learning more about this area, he is happy to share what he knows!

Songwriting is my favorite part of music! I teach every facet of songwriting, from what it means to create music down to advanced songwriting techniques

I can help you to tell your story through song: working with melody, lyrics, chords/accompaniment and/or interpretation to create a moving musical connection within yourself, and with your audience.

3 chord songs and more!

For about five years now, I have been actually completing playable music. The past couple years, my school's jazz combo has even taken a couple of my songs to compete with at local jazz festivals. I have studied primarily under the fantastic composer, guitarist and teacher, Tom Hynes the past couple years. Prior to my studies, I was self taught, as a way of expanding my improvisation. I write primarily for Chamber ensembles, Jazz small ensembles, and even some pop music. I use Handwritten, Finale and Logic pro for notation, so whichever is most convenient, I'll use. In lessons, I will ask students to bring in material they have written each week, which we will review together. I'll add some suggestions, but will not change the integrity of the music, just refine it. We shall look at composing in different styles, as well as expanding upon the styles in which the student is most interesting in pursuing.

With a dual background in songwriting and classical composition, I have the expertise necessary to help you take your songs to the next level. No set formulas or fill-in-the-blanks: instead, we'll talk about process, craft, and the meaning behind it all. Analyses of your favorite songs will help you understand how to do what you want to do without becoming a copycat.

I teach the basics of music theory and use these principles to write songs in MuseScore (a free composition software).

April is also a full time musician and performer currently working on her first full length album. Having worked with record labels and producers in the industry she has learned what it takes to make an industry worthy song.