Songwriting Workshop
at Boyd Arthurs Middle School in Trenton, MI
 Photos By Lori Juncaj

"Thanks, Dave, for coming out to Arthurs MS this week!  Your presentation on Songwriting was a huge hit - all of my students were full of questions for me about their experience with you - in fact, many of them talked about you to their parents who remember the Caruso Band days!  It was a great experience and exactly what I hoped it would be."

Peter Kopera, Band Director
Boyd Arthurs Middle School / Trenton, MI
 
On Thursday, March 14th, 2002, Dave Caruso offered a songwriting workshop for the students of Boyd Arthurs Middle School in Trenton, MI.

The clinic lasted all day as Dave spoke to each of the 6th-, 7th-, and 8th-grade band and choir classes at the school he once attended.
Dave used tracks which were pre-recorded and loaded onto his portable MP3 player to demonstrate how a song can be enhanced into fuller arrangements.  The kids were asked to identify all of the instruments used in the backing track.
Explanations were punctuated by demonstration.  Some of the students also got the chance to write a song on the spot with Dave.  Lyric ideas were jotted down on the board as suggested by members of the class. For their theme, they chose "a day off from school."  After the main ideas were collected, Dave explained how the ideas might be expanded and organized.  The class chose a title, "Snow Day."  After the song was completed, Dave sang the finished product.

Dave shared some of his original music, including his latest, "Big Dark Secret," on which Boyd Arthurs Band Director Peter Kopera accompanied Dave on piano.

At the end of each class, Dave fielded questions about songwriting from the students.  A few asked for autographs.
Instructors Pat Stuart (left) and Peter Kopera were pleased and considered the day a big success.

Trenton School Reporter Article
 
You can hire Dave to work with your students on the crafts of lyric and song writing.   Dave's Songwriting Workshop is a fun and effective way to cultivate creativity and collaboration.  The program will be customized to your class size and your students' ages and skill levels.  For more information, E-mail Dave.