Thursday, March 28, 2024

Making music together

Professor leads integrative studies songwriting class for musicians, non-musicians alike

December 7, 2005
Stephen Leonard, a senior in advertising, sings a song he wrote himself at Aroma Gourmet Coffee and Tea. He performed two songs before some of his fellow classmates. Leonard, who is considering a musical career on the side, is enrolled in IAH 241E, a songwriting class. Professor John Kratus started the program, now in its first semester. Currently, 19 students are enrolled in the course, but that number will increase to 44, as of now, for next semester. —

Writing and performing original songs for a class grade might be normal for a music major, but others interested in music could only dream about having that option — until recently.

Music Professor John Kratus wanted to give MSU students who weren't music majors an opportunity to take a music class and got his chance when the Integrative Studies Department was asking for ideas for new courses.

"The assumption that the only musicians on campus are music majors is wrong," he said. "Often non-music major writers are the most successful."

Kratus said the class has worked out well and students get really caught up in their songwriting.

"One of the most interesting things I've seen is the passion students have for it," he said. "Songs are the most pervasive type of art in society. Learning to express yourself through songs is something that can serve people throughout their lives."

This semester's songwriting students have decided to start a campuswide songwriting club, tentatively called State Gigs, Kratus said. The group plans to meet twice a month and wants students to be able to share songs with others for feedback.

Josh Waddell, a retailing senior, has been writing songs for the last few years and when he noticed a songwriting class would fulfill his Integrative Studies in Arts and Humanities requirement, he immediately signed up.

"It's given me a chance to hone my skills," Waddell said. "I'm loving this class. It's helped me out a lot in my music."

He said prior to the class, he had basic ideas for what he wanted to do with his songs and how he wanted them to sound, but had a tough time making it all come together. He also said the class helps students prepare to perform.

"Performing and getting critiques back in class so you can improve is great," Waddell said. "The performance part is the best."

Although Waddell already played the guitar before joining the class, he said he hates to sing.

"It blew my mind the first day of class when I found out we had to sing and perform the songs we wrote," he said. "I've definitely improved my singing and it's more in-depth now with melodies."

The class, a section of IAH 241E Creative Process, requires students to write eight complete songs and perform at least twice outside of the classroom at places such as Aroma Gourmet Coffee and Tea, 110 Charles St., where Kratus scheduled a couple of performance opportunities during the semester. The students' final project is to record at least 20 minutes of their own material.

There are 19 students in this semester's class, but Kratus said he has 44 students enrolled for next semester. Kratus said he only has one requirement for students interested in taking the class — they have to already play an instrument such as guitar or keyboard.

Kratus said students who have already fulfilled their IAH requirement and want to take the class can do so in Arts and Letters 491.

Erinn Pegan, a psychology junior, has been playing the keyboard, singing, and writing songs since she was in second grade, so the class was the perfect chance for her to better her music skills.

"It forced me to actually finish songs and work at it since before I would always have bits and pieces of songs," she said. "It's also good to get feedback. The class is like a music workshop. Everyone in the class has gotten more open about what they write about since the beginning of the semester."

Pegan said the class is excellent for people who have musical talent but aren't music majors because they wouldn't be able to take a class about music otherwise.

Unlike most of the other students in the class, Scott Nadzam, a studio art sophomore, had never written a single song before taking the class, but he had been playing the piano for years.

"It was very intimidating to come into a class where everyone else already had songs written," Nadzam said. "People already had notebooks filled with ideas, but the class was definitely worth taking."

He said he decided to take the class because he really likes music, but the songwriting is "grueling at times." What has helped Nadzam get through the class are the critiques from other classmates.

"Everyone always has something positive to say after you perform," he said. "Even if you think you suck, they tell you that you don't. It's energizing."

Kratus said one of the last classes of the semester was "just amazing" because the two small sections of the class became almost like a family with everyone getting to know one another through their songs.

"One student had written a song about every other student in the class," he said. "Everyone was crying; the small sections have become almost a therapy session."

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