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Some students are natural poets or experienced songwriters, which is a great boon to our cause. Others are completely inexperienced, but learn fast and end up contributing effectively. Second City conservatory students are sharp cookies, naturally. Continue reading Collaborative Comedy Songwriting: "Craigslist Rocks" 
Is there a God? No one can prove it, but the experience I’m about to describe suggests that there might be, and that He/She likes me. I always enjoy teaching in Las Vegas because the students are of a different stripe. I call them “glitzy carnies” with no disrespect intended – on the contrary, I think they’re uniquely cool. The showbiz they’re in is a certain world of its own, and this is reflected in their humor and approach to performing. Each is what some would call “a piece of work.” On this last day of class we all were eager for the culminating Continue reading The Musical Improv Show That Providence Made Possible 
The holiday season is traditionally a hectic time for musicians, scrambling to cover the wealth of available gigs. I did a lot of piano playing as usual, and this time I also got a job writing music for Marc Warzecha’s ”Kwame a River: the Chronicles of Detroit’s Hip-Hop Mayor.” The show is a satirical look at Kwame Kilpatrick’s colorful reign as mayor. Marc Warzecha wrote the book and lyrics, and in November he asked me to be the composer. Rehearsals began on December 15, 2008 and the show opened on New Year’s Eve. Jenaya Jones Reynolds as Carlita Kilpatrick takes a swing at Connell Brown Jr.s Kwame Kilpatrick. Photo Credit: WILLIAM ARCHIE/Detroit Free Press The Detroit Free Press describes it as: “show boasts witty writing, gifted cast … a LOL funny overview of the past decade in Detroit politics, sparked by clever writing and a talented, homegrown, six-person cast.” Continue reading \”Kwame A River: The Chronicles of Detroit’s Hip-Hop Mayor\” » 
This is an example of excitingly organic musical improv expertly tempered with solid technique to create a well-organized, theatrical piece. The sections are very clear: A “preamble,” during which Lani fishes for a catchy idea that she can turn into a chorus. Then the “chorus” materializes, followed by A “spoken interlude” which launches cleanly into the recurrence of that chorus. A “bridge” section comes along and takes us climactically RIGHT back into a final section, the chorus. This time around, the chorus becomes a soaring conclusion to the song. Overall, it’s no particular “song form” or formula; it’s just Continue reading Great Use of a Chorus in an Improvised Song |
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