Lyric Writing Workshop
Jen Chapin's song lyrics have been praised by critics as "soulfully poetic" (NPR), "thoughtful" (People), "intelligent and socially- conscious" (Gotham), and "amusing" (Baltimore Sun).
Entertainment Weekly has noted her "uncommon wit" and The USA Songwriting Competition honored her in 2000 with its 1st Prize in the Lyrics Category (and 3rd place overall) for her song "Indispensable." This recognition combined with her background in teaching students in high school classrooms, conference workshops, and college lectures make this workshop a valuable resource for beginning to advanced lyricists and poets.
Music & Social Action: Can Music Make a Difference?
(can be combined with Lyric Writing)
Examining a variety of significant songs from different styles and time periods, this workshop asks the question: Can a song affect social change? If so, how? A closer look at songs from major social movements in the USA reveals how irony, metaphor, humor and confrontation in words and in music have been used to make powerful statements about working people, civil/human rights, war, gender/ethnic/sexual identity, and other compelling issues. After looking to songs from our past, the workshop goes on to ask: Can music still make a difference?
Master Class in Improvisation and Jazz/Popular Music Performance
A master of his instrument and an endlessly imaginative improviser and composer, Jamie Fox has toured with legendary acts like Joan Baez and Blood, Sweat and Tears, and has instructed students of guitar at New York University, The Sherwood School of Music in San Francisco,Trinity School and the Mt. Kisco School in NY. Jamie has also led seminars at the Hawaii International Jazz Festival and the Stanford Jazz Workshop.
"Eloquent instrumentalist" (Berkshire Eagle) Stephan Crump has led master classes and workshops at the University of Virginia, Amherst College, and the Great Valley School District (PA), as well as being a respected private instructor of the acoustic and electric basses. Stephan has been honored with the Sundquist Prize for composition and performance and has performed throughout Europe and the US with up-and-coming jazz talents like Vijay Iyer and Liberty Ellman.
The HOWs and WHYs of Hunger
WHY do we tolerate hunger in a world of plenty?
What innovative solutions to hunger and poverty are being implemented across the country?
How does the fight against hunger and poverty connect to the movements for a clean environment, better schools, healthy eating, human rights and economic and social justice?
How does being part of these efforts enrich our own lives as individuals?
WHY NOT do what we can to make a difference?
As Chair of the Board of Directors of WHY (World Hunger Year), Jen Chapin knows firsthand about the exciting work being done to fight hunger and poverty at the grassroots level across the country and the world. As a young person with a lifelong involvement in the WHY and the HOW questions of hunger and its solutions, Jen inspires and empowers other young people to see how they can make a difference every day, right in their own communities. Jen asks provoking questions about politics and economics of hunger and poverty, while also tapping into WHY's Reinvesting in America network to highlight the work of community-based organizations near you -- groups that are doing ground-breaking work to help individuals and communities gain self-reliance.