Intermediate Songwriting Class for Queer & Trans Folks & Allies (Online)

Tuesdays, August 26th - November 4th

No Class September 2nd or September 23rd (Rosh Hashanah)

6 - 8 pm Pacific / 9 - 11 pm Eastern

Online on Zoom

Get your creative juices flowing in this online songwriting class for queer and trans folks and allies! We'll explore techniques for writing memorable melodies, crafting compelling chord progressions, composing an effective bridge, and setting up the verses so your songs deepen in meaning as they go on. Along the way there will be in class writing exercises, songwriting prompts, and space to share about songs you love.

Every other session will be a workshop day where participants share songs-in-progress and the teacher and the group help each writer strengthen their work in a warm, supportive setting.

No formal musical training is needed, but participants should have some previous background with songwriting. It is recommended (but not required) that participants be able to sing a simple song and play an instrument at the same time, or create and sing over their own beats/musical backing tracks.

The class culminates with a celebratory online performance on November 4th. Glitter will be optional but highly encouraged!

About the Teacher

Eli Conley is a singer-songwriter and teaching artist based in Sacramento, California. He is a certified teacher of Somatic Voicework - The LoVetri Method™ who continues to study to deepen his approach to contemporary vocal pedagogy. He performs and tours as a folk/country artist, and is a former member of the Grammy award-winning San Francisco Symphony Chorus. In addition to group classes and workshops, Eli also offers private voice lessons and songwriting coaching for people of all identities, ages 13 and up.

Testimonials

"Eli is such a wonderful teacher! I feel like I grow with each lesson he gives. His feedback is specific and kind and he's always open to whatever style you bring to the table."

"Eli is a warm and skilled teacher who also sometimes acts as a community healer. His ability to create space for all the baggage and trauma that often inspires or informs our music is sensitive and accessible and kind. It is so much more than just learning tips for songwriting. It's also about sharing our gifts and stories with members of our community and holding our precious experiences with love and gratitude. The space he created for us has helped me in ways I couldn't have imagined."

"This class has been a tremendous help in building my confidence and discipline as a songwriter as well as a sense of community. I can't recommend it highly enough."

"This class helped make music make sense to me in a way it never has before. It felt a little like a magician showing me how to pull the rabbit out of the hat, and Eli Conley is a master magician. The combination of teaching the theory of songwriting and the practice of songwriting was great, with Eli showing us actual examples of the theory through other people's songs as well as our own. Eli creates a very safe space to explore songwriting, and I will always be grateful to him."

"Eli holds safe space for messy, human existence. It was a great environment to share my vulnerable creativity, in any stage."

Accessibility

Neurodivergent and disabled folks are very welcome and encouraged to join us! Autocaptions will be enabled in Zoom, and a transcript will be available. Live attendance is encouraged, but all classes will also be recorded and available to watch for one week after each session. Please let me know about your specific access needs when you register. You're also welcome to reach out with any questions about accessibility.

Cost (Sliding Scale)

The cost of this class is on a sliding scale, and payment is due in two installments:

- 50% when you register, to hold your spot

- 50% on the first day of class

At Cost: $376 (Unlimited spots)

This is the true cost of the class, and the minimum rate I need most people to pay in order to cover my costs and pay myself a living wage. Consider paying this amount if doing so would be an investment, but not create hardship for you. For example, please choose this rate if you are regularly able to meet your basic needs (food, housing, healthcare, transportation, childcare) and have some expendable income, you can travel every few years without burden, and you have some debt but are able to pay it regularly.

Higher Rate: $476 (Unlimited spots)

This is a pay-it-forward rate. It's an opportunity to not only take this class, but also support your fellow community members in doing so too. Consider paying this amount if you are comfortably able to meet your basic needs (food, housing, healthcare, transportation, childcare), own the home your live in or rent a higher end property, have access to financial savings and/or investments, have paid or pay for private education, have reliable work or do not need to work to meet your needs, have inherited wealth, and/or can afford to travel every year.

Lower Rate: $276 (2 spots)

This is a discounted rate. Consider paying this amount if you have limited expendable income, little or no access to savings, significant debt, and little or no access to financial support from family.

Pay What You Can (2 spots)

Two pay-what-you-can spots are available in this class. If you are trans femme, Black, Indigenous, a Person of Color, and/or Disabled and paying more would be a significant hardship, this option is for you.​

I am grateful to Alexis J. Cunningfolk of Worts and Cunning Apothecary and Hadassah Damien of Ride Free Fearless Money for inspiring my approach to sliding scale.

More Info

See all Eli's upcoming offerings for queer and trans folks and allies

Questions? SingWithEli@gmail.com