Students who have a bent for songwriting can benefit from an after-school program taught by critically-acclaimed teacher Kevin Briody.
As part of The Ridgefield Playhouse 10th anniversary season, a new class is being offered to students who have an interest in songwriting. Soon after students start back to school, Emmy award-winning musician Kevin Briody will teach songwriting on Mondays, beginning September 20. The classes have been configured to fit students’ busy schedules.
With support from Janis and Alan Menken, “Songwriting with Kevin Briody” will teach students the fundamentals of songwriting including structuring ideas in music and developing melody, lyrics and instrumentation. The class culminates with each student recording an original song. Eight one-hour sessions offered Mondays from September 20 to November 15 (with no class on Columbus Day, October 11) are geared to two age groups: Classes for 6th – 8th graders are 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.; classes for 4th – 5th graders are 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
“When the Playhouse celebrated its first anniversary in 2001, Ridgefield neighbors and good friends of the Playhouse Alan and Janis Menken were on board to share their support and talents with us. We are honored that by underwriting our new songwriting classes, they are helping to pave the way for the next generation of songwriters. Alan’s career as a composer/lyricist has been honored many times over with numerous awards and Oscars for his works such as “Enchanted”, “Aladdin”, “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Little Mermaid”, said Allison Stockel, Executive Director of The Ridgefield Playhouse. This season the Playhouse is also offering an afterschool master acting class taught by professional actor/director Beau Gravitte.
For more information on how to enroll in the songwriting class ($240),
call the box office at 203-438-5795 or go online at ridgefieldplayhouse.org. The Ridgefield Playhouse is a not-for-profit performing arts center located at 80 East Ridge, parallel to Main Street, Ridgefield, CT.
