1^st lesson free

Ira

Rate R812
Response 1h
Students
Number of students Ira has accompanied since joining Superprof
22
Number of students Ira has accompanied since joining Superprof

R812/h

1^st lesson free

Songwriting

Experienced tutor in Songwriting in Berkeley, Ira offers private lessons tailored to your needs.

Songwriting

Lesson location

- online

About Ira

I teach songwriting at UC Berkeley and have taught at Blue Bear in SF and have many private students. I believe the best creative impulses come from our unconscious minds. I help students get past blocks, tune into their own instincts, and then use specific skills to shape rough ideas into finished songs that succeed in communicating their tideas and emotions. Unlike many teachers, I focus on composition as well as lyrics: Melody is HUGELY important and I teach tricks to create fresh interest in the ears of your listeners. I don't believe in rules or generalizations--every song is different and songwriting concepts are only useful when they're tied to specific examples. My songs have been heard on NPR, KFOG, the Dr. Demento Show (yes, I write funny as well as serious songs) and I've won numerous contests. In 2016 I challeneged myself to write and record a new song every week. You can hear a variety of examples here:

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I love helping students get past their creative inhibitions and blossom as songwriters. I love watching them go from generic melodies to melodies full of color and pleasant surprises. I love helping them write more vivid, visual lyrics.

Back in the 90's someone heard me performing at the old Owl & Monkey Cafe, loved my songs, asked for lessons. I've been going ever since, and I feel like I become a better and better teacher over time. Last year I was honored to be selected by the UC Berkeley Music Department to teach the songwriting portion of their Songs and Songwriting course.

I am largely self-taught and I believe this is a great strength. I don't get lost in minutia and unnecessary theory and I help students develop their own INTUITVE approach to writing. I've read books on songwriting that are so steeped in analysis and left-brained thinking that I find myself amazed these people have ever written a decent song. (Many times, they haven't! :)

About the lesson

We talk about the student's goals, their experience, their taste in music. We often start with a few great songs they wish they'd written and we look at these -- what makes them work, what other choices the writers might have made. Almost every great song has something specific you can learn from and I encourage students to steal shamelessly -- then cover their tracks so no one would ever guess where the song got its start!

From age 10 to senior citizens.

Meet them in person, or at least talk on the phone before committing. Songwriting is hugely personal and you need to feel a strong rapport with your teacher. Nasty, "tough love" teachers work great in movies, but in real life they will leave you running for the hills!

When I teach a group songwriting class at The Monkey House, the Berkeley performance space I own, we celebrate with a performance/party at the end, sharing the students' new songs. I am always so proud and amazed at the quality of work I hear.

Rates

Rate

R812

Package rates

5h: R4060
10h: R8120

free lesson

The free first lesson with Ira allows you to get to know the tutor and discuss your needs and expectations.

online

R812/h

Details

Sliding scale, $80-100/hour.

Experienced tutor in Songwriting in Berkeley, Ira offers private lessons tailored to your needs.

Lesson location

About Ira

About the lesson

Rates

Rate

Package rates

free lesson

online

Details

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Experienced tutor in Songwriting in Berkeley, Ira offers private lessons tailored to your needs.

Lesson location

About Ira

About the lesson

Rates

Rate

Package rates

free lesson

online

Details

Similar Songwriting tutor profiles

Mbali

Tamryn

Lavicha

Luan

Kristi

Jeanlie

Wayne

Lionel

Kelsey

Arche-Angel

Dave

Vernon

Malindi

Morné

Valerio

Kieran

Dr Ethan Lustig

Sierra

Ari

JAMES

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