Vocal instructor Trish Wileman is banding together with singer-songwriter Butch Ross to offer “The Art of the Singer-Songwriter,” a six-week workshop being held at the MACC Tuesdays beginning June 3 from 6:45-8:30 p.m. Registration is now open and class space is limited.
“It’s best if you play an accompanying instrument, but you don’t have to play it well,” said Ross, who teaches guitar, ukulele and mountain dulcimer at the MACC and has been playing music full time for the past eight years.
Wileman is a voice coach at the MACC and has worked with Ross in the past.
The class will cover all aspects of being a performer and songwriter, from arranging songs to singing and performing on an instrument. Participants will learn to be better singers of their own songs and how to put on a show.
“The goal is to give people confidence,” Wileman said. “So much of writing and performing and singing is about confidence. I think there are a lot of people out there who want to do this but don’t feel they have the talent, skills or confidence to do it. We want to create a really fun and safe environment to do it. There will be a lot of encouragement as well as good, hard work.”
Guest singers will visit the workshop to talk about what they do, and the workshop will culminate with a performance in a coffeehouse setting.
“It’s an opportunity to really do what they’ve been learning,” Wileman said of the performance.
Open to participants age 14 and up, the class costs $225 for MACC members and $240 for nonmembers. Call the MACC, located at 809 Kentucky Ave., at 886-1959 for more information.