Songwriter’s Day: Songwriting workshop with Susan Werner & Natalia Zukerman

The Folk Project’s second annual Songwriter’s Day features master songwriters Susan Werner and Natalia Zukerman for a full day of instructional workshops, followed by an outstanding concert, open to the public.

These two fascinating and nationally-acclaimed performing artists will be teaching and performing at the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship in Morristown, NJ on Saturday, April 13, 2024 in Morristown, workshops start at 9:30 a.m. and concert at 7:30 pm.

This day-long songwriting event – including lunch, dinner, and an evening concert by the two instructors – is designed for everyone from the aspiring beginner to the accomplished professional, and is suitable for writers in any genre. It’s an intensive day of study with two seasoned and accomplished professionals that will improve your knowledge, skill and understanding of how to write a great song.

Werner has been a touring performer for 25 years. Her songs are noted for their poetry and sharp wit, and also for their astonishing stylistic and emotional range. She has written entire albums in the styles of Gershwin and Cole Porter, gospel, traditional Cuban “son,” and New Orleans junk piano.

Zukerman is an international performer and recording artist who has shared the stage with many noted musicians. Glide Magazine wrote, “Zukerman’s somewhat wry sense of humor, impeccable timing and thoughtful observation coalesce and she’s able to be assertive without coming across as combative.”

The individual workshop sessions will include:

• Creativity Boot Camp – This session will give a series of exercises to help shake loose your muse and open up your creative mind.
• Character songs – Several exercises related to character development: Character Sketching Game … participants interviewing each other, beginning with a list of seed questions … free writing.
• Song Feedback Loop – Play a song you’re working on, stuck on, or not satisfied with, and the leader will work with you to dial in on the musical and lyrical elements already present, to help you solve the puzzle of the song.
• Group Writing – The group will go through the process of writing a song. It will brainstorm topics and select one … develop a melody by listening to the natural pitch and rhythm of speech … choose a style for the song. Then, once the first section is written, the group will continue to write a contrasting section of music and lyrics (verse, chorus, bridge).

At 7:30 pm, the concert with Werner and Zukerman will be open to the general public.

For information and registration for either the full-day program or just the concert, go to www.folkproject.org

The Folk Project is New Jersey’s leading acoustic music and dance organization, and has been showcasing acoustic and traditional music in North Jersey for over 45 years.

Funding has been made possible in part by funds from Morris Arts through the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Get More Information and Register for Songwriter’s Day Here