Individual clients or groups can choose to take any number of SPECIFICALLY tailored lessons with songwriting exercises as well as critique sessions. Rick will perform at the end of any seminar upon request. Seminars are one to three hours or one to three days with an optional concert at the end of the day or event.

C O U R S E T O P I C S

SONGWRITING ELEMENTS AND FINDING YOUR STYLE
Learn the basic parameters of lyric and music. This knowledge will not only create more songwriting possibilities but will allow us all to discover our individual style, be it emotional, symbolic or detail driven.

FINDING GREAT SONG IDEAS
Techniques for searching out interesting ideas and testing these ideas to see if they will be compelling and complete enough to form a central theme for a song by
writing "treatments" and headlining.

EMOTIONAL BRAINSTORMING
We know how to deepen our real world by sharpening our details but how do we explore and deepen our emotions? Through symbols and the senses! Emotional History Exercise will aid in this endeavor.

ADVANCED LYRIC DEVELOPMENT
This lecture teaches the tricks of chorus vs. non-chorus song structure, character development, hook placement and plot variations used in the trenches of professional commercial songwriting. The importance of contrast and repetition are explored in all facets of songwriting. Shifts in meaning and where to shift are discussed.

ADVANCED RHYME AND
RHYTHM TECHNIQUE
Learn the rhyme tricks of the pros. Polish your songs with interesting rhyme variations. Learn the hip new rhythm variations as well as the basics to expand your groove opportunities. Scansion and Meter Breaking are taught.

SYMBOLIC WRITING AND POETIC LEVELS
Learning the language of lyric from spoken conversation to poetic styles will keep songs sounding honest while increasing lyric options. Symbolic writing will be analyzed and defined. Metaphor exercises.

MUSIC MANIPULATION
Understand the powerful natural dynamics and emotion in your melodies and chords. Learn to explore your lyric for the most effective music possibilities. Tension and release, symmetric and asymmetric lines are defined. Prosody, notes against chord variations, key changing and chord substitutions are explored.

POWER PLACEMENT CONTRAST & REPITITION
After inspiration, contrast and repetition could be our most valuable tool in creating powerful songs. Contrast creates interest while repetition creates bonding and memorable songs. Learn all the ways to create contrast and repetition in lyric as well as music. Learning about beginnings and endings, opening lines and lead-in lines, the art of power placement. Knowing about WHERE AND WHEN to shift concepts or person.

CREATIVITY EXPANSION
Become closer to our inner songwriting power. Know we all are successful songwriters. Get deeper into your creative well through a series of exercises designed to open up your wild creative inner self. Go where the hit ideas live. ART exercise. Cluster Exercise.