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Community musicians of all types and abilities will have the opportunity to flex their creative muscle at the University of Manitoba this year as the school offers its Micro-Certificate in Songmaking for a third year. Participants will be able to learn skills in a wide variety of disciplines to help realize their artistic and musical visions.
“There’s so many different ways that people can approach making music,” says Lana Winterhalt, one of the program’s instructors.
An award-winning singer-songwriter and producer, Winterhalt explains that the difference between songmaking and songwriting is one that captures the many different ways in which people create music. “We wanted to take this broader approach for folks who maybe don’t have any musical training. Lots of people write songs, make songs without knowing music theory, so we wanted to make this program that’s a little more accessible for folks who really want to create their music [and] get it out there.”
One thing that unites beginner musicians and seasoned professionals alike is the constant need to overcome feelings of inadequacy or imposter syndrome when it comes to sharing music. Winterhalt notes that the micro-certificate works to dispel notions that music is something that comes easily to some artists, and that everyone’s music is worth sharing.
“One of the biggest things is starting with the students and saying, ‘You have valuable music to make,’” Winterhalt says. “This is not some secret thing that we can never figure out. There are tools, there are skills we can learn for you to improve your craft if you would like to. So, taking that approach of yes, there’s ways to improve and grow and let’s learn some of those things, but also trust your story. Trust that the music you are making and want to make and want to put out there is important. That’s just how we value human beings.”
Some of the skills that the micro-certificate program teaches include co-writing songs together with other participants, understanding the business of music, and basic production. “You’re getting this one-on-one time, you’re getting this really hands-on learning, so it can be really tailored to you and your journey and where you’re at as an artist,” says Winterhalt. “I think this is the course that’s going to make you take that next step forward.”
More information on the University of Manitoba’s Micro-Certificate in Songmaking can be found at the university’s website.