The Louisiana Office of Cultural Development, in concert with Baton Rouge Music Studios, and the National Endowment for the Arts, announces two newly-scheduled workshops designed to provide veterans with the opportunity to learn the craft of songwriting. The Songs of Survivors workshops will be led by professional educators, songwriters, and touring musicians. The first two workshops, held in Baton Rouge and Lake Charles, helped veterans tell their stories through music. Newly-scheduled Songs for Survivors workshops will be held in Alexandria on Saturday, September 14, and Shreveport on Saturday, September 21.
“The first two workshops proved to be very helpful to our veterans who attended. It was a chance for them to tell their service-related stories in a supportive environment through music and lyrics as a way to express feelings that are sometimes hard to put into words,” said Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser. “We are honored to be able to provide an avenue for the men and women who protect our freedom to find healing through music as they face the pressures of reintegrating to civilian life.”
Alexandra native David St. Romain will lead the participants in creating content for the songs and developing them by drawing out information from their experiences then organizing those ideas into verses and choruses. Sarah Burke, director and lead teacher at Baton Rouge Music Studios, will work with participants on creative writing and rhyming in order to structure their lyrics so the message comes across in just the right way. Doug Gay, founder of Baton Rouge Music Studios, will record the songs, creating additional music tracks to bring the songs to life then mixing the songs to distribute to participants.
The Songs of Survivors workshops are made possible through grant funds in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. Each workshop is 5 hours long, and is free to any military veteran who would like to register and attend.
Songs of Survivors workshops:
- Saturday, September 14, 2019
Hearn Stage/Kress Theater
1102 3rd Street
Alexandria, LA 71301
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Saturday, September 21, 2019
Shreveport Regional Arts Council
801 Crockett Street
Shreveport, LA 71101
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.