Master Class: Joe Ortiz – Writing a Song

Insights on composing lyrics, chord progressions, motifs, and rhythms.

Baker, author, artist, and composer Joe Ortiz has come to songwriting from the disciplines of theater and cabaret, having written and produced such musicals as Bread!, Smoke Cabaret, and Escaping Queens. Through the use of methods used by artists like Rogers and Hammerstein, Cole Porter, Miles Davis, Michael McDonald, and Stephen Sondheim, he will share how songwriting can come from any number of writing approaches by composing from either a motif (or riff), a rhythmic figure, a complete song lyric, or just by strumming one’s guitar and singing along. Through these insightful techniques, both beginning and experienced songwriters can learn numerous approaches to what it takes to create an original song. Ortiz will be joined by fellow musicians Lori Rivera and Jon Dryden to cap off the evening with renditions of several of his original compositions.

Can’t make it in-person? You can join virtually! Click here to register.