From aspiring musicians to regular performers, there is something for everyone interested in the Girls & Guitars songwriting course 2022.
Back online this year, the program will run for four weeks in January, taking a small group of participants through the process of writing a song from start to finish. The course will be held Friday evening from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Doris Folkens, a Guelph-based award-winning singer-songwriter, has been running the course for around several years, and is leading this year's program with Hillside Festival executive director, Marie Zimmerman. Folkens said Girls & Guitars is for all ages and abilities.
“We’ll take you through the process of writing a song, editing it, make it as best as it can be, as memorable as it can be,” said Folkens. “They will get the ability to perform it live, or at the very least, perform it virtually.”
Working with three to eight individuals at a time, Folkens said the small groups allow for individual attention. With virtual classes, people from outside the area can also participate.
“It does allow for more people who are not local to participate as well, which is an upside, because before we were limited to Guelph only,” she said.
Folkens mentions some program participants have gone on to win awards and make albums, while other groups continue to meet up and jam together.
“I find for myself, it’s really rewarding to teach creative skills,” said Folkens about helping participants. “A lot of people think that creative skills are either something that you have or you don’t.”
Once they learn the skills, Folkens said many participants go on to write meaningful songs.
“We’re finding most of the songs are quite rich in meaning and are something they have wanted to express for a long time, but don’t know how.”
Those interested can get more info at hillsidefestival.ca.
