Classes
Jai Josefs Songwriting Class - NEW DATE - Sunday, June 2nd
GETTING INTO THE GROOVE
Class is held in San Anselmo from 11am - 4:30pm. $65 in advance and $75 at the door for WCS members. $75 in advance and $85 at the door for non-members
Why are some songwriters getting placements in film and TV on a regular basis? Why do their songs sound more “contemporary?” What’s the difference between the songs being cut in Nashville today and more traditional country? What makes a melody more appropriate for the pop, folk, rock, or country market?
The answer to all these questions and many more lies in an understanding of the rhythmic GROOVE – the foundation on which modern melody and lyric writing are based. In this workshop, Jai will show you how learning these underlying principles of rhythm can make a major difference in your songwriting. Using 
examples from well-known music in the pop, rock, singer-songwriter, and country genres, he will show you how working with groove can dramatically impact your melodies – and your lyrics – with a special emphasis on how you can immediately apply what you learn to your next song.
The class will begin with a lecture/presentation in the morning that includes listening to current successful songs and analyzing how the groove gives them their unique sound. In the afternoon, Jai will listen to songs and give you specific feedback on how the principles of groove could be used to make them sound fresher and more accessible so your message reaches a wider audience.
Jai Josefs is a nationally renowned songwriting coach who has taught songwriting at UCLA, as well as at dozens of seminars and conferences throughout North America He has also been a successful songwriter and producer in his own right with songs recorded by artists from Jose Feliciano to Pam Tillis, with such companies as Universal, RCA, Motown, and Disney, and in over 60 TV shows and feature films with stars like Harrison Ford and Billy Bob Thornton. He is currently coach and mentor of the Northern California SongShop. Under his guidance members have released several CD’s with national radio airplay and had over a dozen placements in film and television within the last year.
WCS MEMBERS SIGN UP HERE NON MEMBERS SIGN UP HERE
Steve Seskin Songwriting Class in Richmond CA
New class starts TBA. Held at Steve's home in Richmond. There will be two lecture and four critique classes from 7pm-10pm on the dates above. Cost for the course is $250. SIGN UP HERE
Steve Seskin is a successful songwriter who has written seven number one songs, including Grammy-nominated “Grown Men Don’t Cry,” recorded by Tim McGraw, and “Don’t Laugh at Me,” winner of NSAI Song of the Year and Music Row Magazine Song of the Year in 1999 as recorded by Mark Wills. His other #1 hits are “No Doubt About It” and “For a Change,” both recorded by Neal McCoy, “No Man’s Land” and “If You’ve Got Love,” both recorded by John Michael Montgomery, and “Daddy’s Money,” recorded by Ricochet. Other chart toppers include “I Think About You,” recorded by Collin Raye, and “All I Need To Know,” recorded by Kenny Chesney. The video for Raye’s “I Think About You” single was named the Academy of Country Music’s Video of the Year in 1997, and the song and video were also given an award by the Tennessee Task Force Against Domestic Violence. Recent recordings of his songs include “Pictures,” by John Michael Montgomery, “We Shook Hands,” by Tebey, and “I’ll Always Be There For You,” by Brian McComas.
