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Songwriting and the creative process is a full-body experience. In this workshop with SF Bay Area band Heart Matter, co-led by vocalist Amy D and vibraphonist Dillon Vado, participants will explore somatic practices to enhance musical instincts.Whether you’ve studied music extensively or are just starting out, you can access embodied knowledge (anything you’ve felt, played, listened to, etc.) to create an intentional journey through song. Knowing that it is common to feel blocked or experience self-doubt in the process, this workshop will help you overcome these challenges, with your body as the primary resource.
Songwriters and collaborative groups of all levels are welcome. Topics will include improvisation and free writing as tools for flow, silencing the critical brain and opening the heart, how your listening practice affects your compositional practice, and how to make a song sound more “like itself.”
We will explore how to feel forward into the mystery and trust your felt sense for melody, rhythm, harmony, and lyrics beyond technical or stylistic means. Participants are invited to bring their instrument(s), a notebook, and a song or ‘work-in-progress’ to share (not required), if time allows.
Heart Matter
is a dynamic ensemble co-led by vocalist Amy D and vibraphonist Dillon Vado, known for their emotionally charged performances that blend the improvisatory spirit of jazz with the precision of chamber music. Their music creates a unique sonic landscape with vibraphone, electric bass, and drums, forming a potent foundation for Amy D’s powerful, timeless vocals.
Heart Matter’s original compositions take audiences on emotionally-chromatic journeys, often leaving them in deep reflection, and eliciting laughter, tears, and a profound connection to the human experience. Drawing comparisons to artists like Joni Mitchell, Becca Stevens, Steely Dan, and Esperanza Spalding, the band is praised for its lyrical depth and virtuosic arrangements.
Heart Matter’s mission is to share transformative music that offers a remedy for the trance of modern life, providing a sacred space for listeners to feel and reflect deeply. The band has performed at prestigious venues and festivals, including The Sound Room in Oakland, Keys Jazz Bistro, and the Healdsburg Jazz Festival.
Cost: $75 Advance/$90 Day Of
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
California Jazz Conservatory (Jazzschool at CJC), 2087 Addison Street,Berkeley,CA,United States
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