2008 Woodie Awards
Be the next Springsteen
Class challenges students to find their inner songwriter
Jeff Bruckwicki
Issue date: 3/12/07 Section: Arts & Entertainment
- Page 1 of 1
Have you ever longed to write romantic ballads for the person you care most, or perhaps a blues song about the love you've lost? Reverend Marvin Miller is the man you want to see. A teacher of multiple disciplines within the music department for the last 32 years here at WCC, The Rev., as his students loving call him, is passing on his knowledge of songwriting to all that attend his enlightening class.
In the early years of his teaching career he was under the instruction of Morris Lawrence, the man that has his name posted on the out side of the music and performance arts building. Along with the Songwriting and Creative Improvisation class he is teaching, he has also taught other classes such as: Gospel Chorus, Jazz Combo, Music Appreciation and Jazz Blues Piano just to name a few. Reverend Miller has been teaching this particular class for over ten years and is still going strong.
With his current songwriting class Miller has the students diving head first into their creative juices and expressing it with a song written in ballad form. Ballads are not the only genre that students are taught to write; there are also assignments in blues, R&B, rap, country, gospel, and show tunes.
But the fun doesn't end with merely writing down the confessions of the subconscious. After the students have it all down on paper they are petitioned to read aloud and also, I know this is scary for many, SING!
Miller encourages his students to find a melody and pour their heart out to the open ears of their classmates. "Bringing them out of their comfort zone and seeing them express their spontaneity...," Miller said.
Keep in mind this class isn't only for someone that has been a musician for years, it's for anyone who wants to learn how to successfully write a song. Miller works very hard on expanding the students' abilities as writers and broadening their horizons musically, according to some of his current students.
One of those students, Sara Griffin, said, "The class challenges you to listen and learn to critique your own work." She also pointed out that Miller allows the use of your own individual style in the assignments. From all of the students polled, not one negative thing was said about the class or the enthusiastic instructor.
Perhaps songwriting isn't your bag; there are plenty of other choices in the ML building. From students interested in anything from guitar to voice, entertainment law to recording technology, or MACRO requirements like music appreciation or music theory, there are a plethora of experiences available. To find more information on any of the courses available in the Music and Performing Arts department visit an academic advisor in the Student Center, or simply log on to http://www.wccnet.edu, and start your musical adventure.
In the early years of his teaching career he was under the instruction of Morris Lawrence, the man that has his name posted on the out side of the music and performance arts building. Along with the Songwriting and Creative Improvisation class he is teaching, he has also taught other classes such as: Gospel Chorus, Jazz Combo, Music Appreciation and Jazz Blues Piano just to name a few. Reverend Miller has been teaching this particular class for over ten years and is still going strong.
With his current songwriting class Miller has the students diving head first into their creative juices and expressing it with a song written in ballad form. Ballads are not the only genre that students are taught to write; there are also assignments in blues, R&B, rap, country, gospel, and show tunes.
But the fun doesn't end with merely writing down the confessions of the subconscious. After the students have it all down on paper they are petitioned to read aloud and also, I know this is scary for many, SING!
Miller encourages his students to find a melody and pour their heart out to the open ears of their classmates. "Bringing them out of their comfort zone and seeing them express their spontaneity...," Miller said.
Keep in mind this class isn't only for someone that has been a musician for years, it's for anyone who wants to learn how to successfully write a song. Miller works very hard on expanding the students' abilities as writers and broadening their horizons musically, according to some of his current students.
One of those students, Sara Griffin, said, "The class challenges you to listen and learn to critique your own work." She also pointed out that Miller allows the use of your own individual style in the assignments. From all of the students polled, not one negative thing was said about the class or the enthusiastic instructor.
Perhaps songwriting isn't your bag; there are plenty of other choices in the ML building. From students interested in anything from guitar to voice, entertainment law to recording technology, or MACRO requirements like music appreciation or music theory, there are a plethora of experiences available. To find more information on any of the courses available in the Music and Performing Arts department visit an academic advisor in the Student Center, or simply log on to http://www.wccnet.edu, and start your musical adventure.
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