Retreat Workshop Descriptions

Many of the workshops will occur multiple times throughout the retreat. Please see the SCHEDULE.
Workshops are organized in alphabetical order by teacher’s first name. To learn more about each teacher, check out our TEACHER BIOS.

You do not have to sign up for the workshops. You are free to go to whichever workshop calls to you that day.

Songwriting: The Magic of Melody | Beth Wood | All Levels | Thursday 11:30-1:30 The Annex

What makes a memorable melody? How can we play with melody to tell stories and convey emotions? Why are Beatles songs so catchy? We’ll dive into melody and ways to wield its magic in songs!

Poetry Is Storytelling Workshop/Playshop | Beth Wood | All Levels | Wednesday 1:40-3:20 Macy Chapel

Are you curious about poetry? Do you have memories of trying to connect to old poems in school, but feeling confused and uninspired? I am here to invite you to think about poetry in a different way. Poetry is everywhere! And just like songs, poems can lead us to healing, convey stories, help us process emotions and connect with others, all while having fun. We will dive into the world of poetry with writing exercises, games, and wordplay. How do words suggest rhythm and melody, and vice versa? What makes a great story, a memorable character? You do not have to be a wordsmith to enjoy the world of poetry. And as songwriters, we can carry forth into our songwriting practice some of our discoveries through poetry.

Vocal Workshop: Easy Warmups and Tips for Natural, Dynamic Singing | Beth Wood | All Levels |Tuesday 1:40-3:20 Lower Friendship Center (LFC)

A quick refresher on the basics of dynamic, natural, free singing along with simple warmups you can use any time you sing!

How to JAM for absolute beginners | Jason Krivo Flores | All Levels | Tuesday 1:40-3:20 Soiree Central (UFC)

Curious how “seasoned musicians” can just jump in and play with each other or anyone without knowing or rehearsing the songs beforehand? How can you make space for an instrumentalist to improvise a “solo” over your song? How can you easily communicate the basics of your song to other musicians and instruments? How does “soloing” even work anyway?! This workshop will cover many shortcuts, secrets, and tricks of the trade that any musician at any level can use to JAM. Even if you think you have a “tin ear” or think you are “tone deaf” this workshop will have you jamming in no time. You will learn some of the basics and have a roadmap of what to work on if you aspire to be a jam session pro.

Evening the Odds and “Odding” the Evens…exploring different scales, rhythms and tonalities—even if you only know three chords! | Jason Krivo Flores | Intermediate | Wednesday 1:40-3:20 The Annex

What if you were trapped in a box in your musicianship and you didn’t even know it?
Did you know that you can imply ANY scale, or tonality with just two basic chord shapes? By juxtaposing different pairs of chords you can imply new and inspiring melodies and take your songwriting out of the folksy and into the global. For example, a typical folk chord sequence will be D Major to C major, however if you simply change the C major to a C minor you suddenly evoke a Middle Eastern or Jewish sound—pretty cool!

Also, What if you’d been limiting yourself to tic-tac-toe when you could be playing chess? And, what does any of this have to do with songwriting?! Well probably unbeknownst to you, every song you’ve ever written is very likely in 4/4 or 3/4—i.e., waltz—time. But, did you know that outside of America most cultures play music in many other fascinating and interesting meters such as 7/8, 5/16, 5/4, 9/8, and the possibilities are endless. Take your songwriting to new and exotic places in this workshop, which will cover the basics of time signatures including: what’s a time signature? How can I change the meter of my song and how do I choose which meter might work best? How can I fit my lyrics and strumming patterns to the new meter? In this workshop you’ll have a chance to take a song you’ve already written, discover what meter it’s in and change it to something cool and different. No prior music theory knowledge is needed. All will be illuminated

Music Theory for Absolute Beginners, or: Do I Really Need to Know Any of This Stuff? | Jason Krivo Flores | Beginners | Wednesday 10:15-12:15 Lower Friendship Center (LFC)

“Ok so this tune is just a One, four, Five, progression… In the Key of G Major… in 3/4 time… and on the Bridge it goes to the Relative minor for 8 measures, with a Two-Five back to the Tonic… Sing a harmony up a third… Then on the last chorus we’ll Bump it up a Whole Step… and end with a Dominant 7th on the One chord…” Ever wondered what the hell musicians are talking about? Does all of the above sound like Greek, Sanskrit, or just plain gibberish to you? Are you mystified by the arcane symbols and impenetrable jargon of —GASP! MUSIC THEORY? If so then this workshop is for you, I will give you a basic crash-course initiation into the mysterious occult world of MUSIC THEORY.

In all seriousness however, would you try to become an artist without knowing the words for different colors? Can you imagine an architect not knowing the fundamentals of geometry (e.g., the Pythagorean theorem and when and how to apply it?). Imagine trying to study dance from a skilled teacher but having no concept of left or right or forward and backward, or up and down—sure you could still dance but it would be very very challenging for your teacher to instruct you efficiently—she’d be limited to saying DO this! No I mean THIS! Not like THAT—THIS!!! But if she could say: “raise your left shoulder as you step back and shift your weight to your left foot…and lower your chin…” you could learn a lot faster. Moreover you could take notes and then quickly explain to your friends back home how to do the dance too. You could learn dance from books. Music theory is a language for orienting ourselves in sonic space and time just like spatial language orients our bodies in physical space and allows us to communicate directional knowledge without having to physically demonstrate every position and movement.

In this class I will give you the language and concepts you need to communicate basic musical ideas effectively and to orient yourself and your songs in the musical landscape. Music is not a random heap of unrelated notes, chords, and rhythms: everything in music makes perfect logical sense and is part of an amazingly beautiful and coherent system of natural grace and beauty. It is my goal to help you begin to see the structure that has been hidden to you

Songcircle | Lewis Childs | All Levels | Tuesday 10:15-12:15 Soiree Central (UFC), Tuesday 1:40-3:20 Pacific Woods Lodge, Wednesday 10:15-12:15 Soiree Central (UFC)

Borrowing from the songwriter in the round format, this workshop offers participants a unique opportunity to share their songs and a bit about their creative process. It’s also an opportunity to get feedback from the group on songs that you are currently working on and we’ll talk about developing strategies for overcoming challenges that come up during the creative process.

(This workshop will be capped at about 15 participants)

Recording Basics: Essential Skills & Tools for Songwriters | Lewis Childs | All Levels | Wednesday 1:40-3:20 Lower Friendship Center

This course offered by Lewis Childs will cover the basics of the recording process, and talk about different tools that are available to creators. First we will talk about strategies for creating a good sounding demo. We will also explore how you can use your DAW as a songwriting tool, talk about the value of reference recordings and take a look at different ways to craft an engaging arrangement for your song. We will also demonstrate how we use eq, reverb, delay, panning and dynamics, in our productions, and connect you with resources that have helped us in our production process. Ultimately we want to empower you to reach a larger audience, and have the skills, resources and community to create something that you are proud to share!

Songwriting Stuff That Works | Linda McRae | Mid-Level to Advanced | Tuesday 10:15-12:15 Lower Friendship Center (LFC) and Wednesday 1:40-3:20 Pacific Woods Lodge

Are you running out of ideas? Do you want to improve your songs? Everybody has a story to tell. We’ll explore ways to find your unique voice and create your own stories. Writer’s Block? Bah Humbug. We’ll try a raft of tips and tricks to get things flowing again. There are song ideas all around us, all you have to do is listen, really listen, and catch ’em.

Co-Writing | Linda McRae | All Levels | Wednesday 10:15-12:15 Macy Chapel

Calling all writers! Are you a songwriter who has never written with anyone else but would like to try? Are you a writer but don’t play an instrument? Do you play an instrument but find it really hard to write the words? Do you just want to find some new ideas lyrically and/or musically? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then this class is for you! Bring a pen or pencil and some paper and come do some co-writing.

Lyrics: The Power of Rhyme | Matt Meighan |  All Levels | Tuesday 1:40-3:20 The Annex

Through writing exercises, listening to songs, and discussion, we’ll explore the power of rhyme – in the broadest sense of any kind of sound-play between words – to affect the emotion, meaning, and rhythm of a song. We’ll have fun playing with different varieties and placements of rhyme, tune our ears, and come away with new ways to use rhyme in lyrics. For anyone interested in writing songs or in a deeper appreciation of rhyme when listening.

Emergent Songwriting | Matt Meighan | All Levels | Tuesday 10:15-12:15 The Annex and Thursday 11:30-1:30 Lower Friendship Center (LFC)

Songs arise naturally from our own depths and from the world around us. Along with craft, songwriting involves learning to trust the songs that come to us and trust our voices to give them a shape in the world. We’ll explore tools to discover and give voice to songs that are true to your unique perspective and experiences – songs that only you can write. We’ll do writing exercises and explore approaches to starting and finishing songs, getting unstuck, using your authentic musical voice, and cultivating inspiration through deep listening and songwriting community. For anyone interested in writing songs.

Stage Presence: Work through Stage Fright and Enjoy more Connection on Stage| Matt Meighan | All Levels | Wednesday 10:15-12:15 Pacific Woods Lodge

The experience we label stage fright is the body’s natural reaction to the influx of energy we receive from an audience’s attention. Through a series of exercises, we’ll explore a number of ways to move through this experience and come into deeper contact with ourselves, the song, and people listening. We’ll explore some common responses to stage fright that tend to make it worse, and practice alternatives that allow us to drop into a more present, more enjoyable flow on stage.

Intuitive Improvisation for Guitar: First Steps Toward Soloing | Micaela Kingslight | All Levels | Tuesday 1:40-3:20 Macy Chapel and Thursday 11:30-1:30 Soiree Central (UFC)

Are you mystified with the concept of “soloing” or “improvising”? Ever wondered how those hotshots can just jump up and play a lead or melody over a song or sequence of chords?

In this class I will show you a simple and intuitive way to begin to play melody lines over chords you likely already know and explain how just a few easily memorized “boxes” can be connected together on your fretboard. These simple shapes can be quickly related to the most common chord progressions and you’ll take your first “solo” in minutes. I’ll also cover the basics of finger dexterity, blues licks, tricks and “bending” to get that soulful sound.

Vocal Embodiment Workshop | Micaela Kingslight | All Levels | Wednesday 10:15-12:15 Meeting House

Micaela Kingslight became a certified Hatha yoga instructor in 2003 and became a certified Vocal Yoga™ instructor under Heather Lyle in 2021. Drawing from her rich lifetime of music performance, teaching, and yoga practice Micaela has developed a unique and powerful modality of Somatic Vocal Embodiment: which uses a combination of asanas (body postures) and intuitive vocal toning to open the body into greater avenues of expression and confidence by healing blockages and trauma and releasing stagnant energy patterns thereby enabling you to embody your true voice.

Free Your Voice with Voicestra! | Robin Jackson | All Levels | Tuesday 10:15-12:15 Macy Chapel

Use the power of your voice and body to create a silly cypher of voicestra magic! Learn vocal warm ups and fun ways to expand your voice with confidence and ease. Learn to beatbox, create sounds and unleash your inner vocal freak and then jam with others as we co-create songs on the spot! All in a supportive and deeply encouraging container. This workshop is ALL about loosening up and letting your wild, wacky and weird flag fly high! All levels! Guaranteed to expand your confidence and your consciousness!

How to Jam for Intermediate Players | Robin Jackson | Intermediate/Advanced | Wednesday, 1:40-3:20pm | UFC

Yea let’s jam! Looking to take your jams to the next level? Want to make your musical conversations more potent, more meaningful and get a righteous nod from the Ghost of Jerry Garcia?   Join this highly experimental and experiential workshop for intermediate songwriters and instrumentalists designed to turn nervous players into confident jammers!  Through short demos, hands-on breakouts, and playful listening games, you’ll learn the conversation-based skills that make groups sound musical: how to support, evolve, or lead; how to listen with “big ears”; and simple tools (one-note parts, pentatonic shapes, rhythmic motifs and chord-outlining) that anyone can use on the spot. Expect safe, practical exercises, quick feedback, and immediately usable skills — bring your instrument and an open ear (and low expectations!)

Speak Drum/Embody Rhythm | Saffire Bouchelion | All Levels | Tuesday 1:40-3:20 Meeting House

This work centers around first creating a deeper sense of embodiment, self empowerment and self expression through the use of sound, voice and movement together. This is very freeing, opening and deeply self-revealing. We create music together, dance together, and allow ourselves to see and be seen by others, exploring the energies of transmitting and receiving. We also work with pulse, beat, and rhythm. As long as we are each in relationship with the same pulse, we are in relationship with each other, the essence of true community.

Intro to hearing and playing Rhythm as Melody – Level 1 | Sara Tone | All Levels | Tuesday 10:15-12:15 and Wednesday 1:40-3:20 Meeting House

Explorations in 4, 6, and 8.
Exercises to strengthen our rhythmic capacity, learning to hear and feel rhythm in our bodies while expanding our creative expressions. This will support rhythmic understanding, influencing songwriting and technique in supportive percussion roles.
Level 1 will conclude with an introduction into polyrhythm through West African traditional music.
Full size drums are welcome, there will be drums provided. Come drum, we’ll have so much fun!! This class is for all people, no experience necessary :)

Intro to hearing and playing Rhythm as Melody – Level 2 | Sara Tone | All Levels | Thursday 11:30-1:30 Meeting House

Level 2 will follow up and expand upon the introduction to Polyrhythm learned in level 1.
This class will be geared towards students that have taken level 1, or those who have some percussion experience.
In this class we’ll learn how the interlocking parts of polyrhythm make up the big song that is played collectively.
We’ll listen and work towards playing songs with 3-5 parts(and more), making a beautiful rhythmic song that is not supposed to be played alone.
Polyrhythm is a powerful experience rooted in the depths of how music brings us together, and has for time immemorial.
We’re gonna go deep, come drum, I’d love to share this with you!!

Alternative Tunings Fluency on Guitar | Samara Jade | Intermediate/All |Wednesday 10:15-12:15 The Annex

It can be easy to fall into ruts using the same chords in standard tuning on guitar, and stepping into the world of alternate tunings is like opening up an infinite portal of possibility! In this workshop, we’ll focus on two of my favorite and most commonly used tunings – DADGAD and CGBDBD (open G). We’ll learn how to play the basic chord shapes in these tunings, and how to find the chords for songs you’ve already written and cover songs. This is a game changer for anyone wanting to diversify the sounds of their guitar accompaniment. For intermediate guitarists.

Medicinal “Pocket Songs” | Samara Jade | All Levels | Tuesday 10:15-12:15 and Thursday 11:30-1:30 Pacific Woods Lodge

There are as many reasons to write songs as there are songs. But one of my favorite things about songwriting is that it can be an amazing tool for personal growth, reflection, and emotional comfort. What better way to anchor an intention or reminder deep into your soul than by singing it? Songs that help you do this can come in all shapes and sizes, but in this workshop we’ll focus on writing short, mantra-style songs that are the distillation of your truth medicine into a memorable nugget you can carry in your pocket for moments when they’re needed.