The first North Carolina Veterans Songwriting Workshop will be held Saturday, May 4 and Sunday, May 5 on the Outer Banks as part of the Dare County Arts Council’s Veterans Arts Program.
The free workshop will be led by Ron Capps, founder of the Veterans Writing Project, a national nonprofit organization that has provided more than 3,500 veterans, service members and military families the skills and confidence needed to tell their stories through the written word.
The hands-on workshop will cover the creation of music through melody, harmony and song structure as well as the development of lyrics through the study of forms and structures, rhyme schemes, and narrative function. There will be time to practice and an opportunity to share work to receive feedback.
From beginners who play by ear to musicians who read music, everyone will gain new insight into the art of songwriting at the workshop, which is open to veterans, active-duty military and their families.
Participants should have some familiarity with an instrument and are encouraged to bring their instruments to the workshop.
Registration is now underway. Tuition for the two-day workshop is funded by the North Carolina Arts Council’sMilitary and Veterans Healing Arts Grants program. Travel stipends are also available on a case-by-case basis. Please email dcacvetprograms@gmail.com for more information on travel assistance.
The workshops will take place at First Flight High School in Kill Devil Hills from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A complimentary breakfast starts at 8 a.m., and a complimentary lunch will be provided both days.
Participants are encouraged to arrive on Friday night to enjoy a performance by veteran songwriter and musician Jonny Waters, who will play from 6 to 8 p.m. at Dare County Arts Council, as part of the First Friday celebration in downtown Manteo.
For more information about the project click here or call the Dare County Arts Council at (252) 473-5558.
About the North Carolina Arts Council The North Carolina Arts Council builds on our state’s long-standing love of the arts, leading the way to a more vibrant future. The Arts Council is an economic catalyst, fueling a thriving nonprofit creative sector that generates $2.12 billion in annual direct economic activity. The Arts Council also sustains diverse arts expression and traditions while investing in innovative approaches to art-making. The North Carolina Arts Council has proven to be a champion for youth by cultivating tomorrow’s creative citizens through arts education. NCArts.org.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (NCDNCR) is the state agency with a vision to be the leader in using the state's natural and cultural resources to build the social, cultural, educational and economic future of North Carolina. NCDNCR's mission is to improve the quality of life in our state by creating opportunities to experience excellence in the arts, history, libraries and nature in North Carolina by stimulating learning, inspiring creativity, preserving the state's history, conserving the state's natural heritage, encouraging recreation and cultural tourism, and promoting economic development.
NCDNCR includes 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, two science museums, three aquariums and Jennette's Pier, 39 state parks and recreation areas, the N.C. Zoo, the nation's first state-supported Symphony Orchestra, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, State Preservation Office and the Office of State Archaeology, along with the Division of Land and Water Stewardship. For more information, please call (919) 807-7300 or visit www.ncdcr.gov.