ONLINE SONGWRITERS WORKSHOP

My name is Dennis Ellsworth. I have been writing songs for 30 years. Song writing has always been a way for me to express myself. I have found, over the years, that it gives me a perspective on life that nothing else can. It allows me to create something beautiful or angry but it always brings peace and healing. I believe anyone holding on to pain can find relief in the expression and crafting of songs. This course is aimed at anyone suffering from PTSD. The only pre-requisite for taking this course is an interest in learning how to write songs. You don’t need to be able to play an instrument, or even sing. You only have to possess a desire to form creative thoughts into songs and my hope is that creative expression becomes an element of your healing journey.

In 2019, I had the pleasure of producing a record for a Canadian Military Veteran named Dennis MacKenzie. Through the process of working on the songs for his record, I learned very quickly about how songwriting was have an extremely positive effect on this young man’s struggles with PTSD from his experiences in Afghanistan. Dennis wanted to tell his story in song, from the point where he joined the military to his discharge. I’ve always appreciated the power of a song but this was a new level for me. After working with Dennis on his record Guardian Angel Platoon, I started thinking about how I could offer a songwriting course to anyone else who may be feeling similar to how he was feeling. After discussing the idea with him, I started working on the flesh and bones of this course, applying my 3o years of experience and attempting to distill that knowledge into a 12 hour course.

This course is comprised of four 3-hour classes on Zoom. It digs deep into the power of song writing and aims to bring relief, hope, pride, and beauty to lives that have been affected by trauma and who carry pain through their days. It’s not the be all end all solution to these issues, but it is a step into the light. I will teach anyone who wants to learn how write songs.   

Each week will start with a 30 minute lecture on a different theme/topic. For the final 15-30 mins of the first hour, I will play one of my songs and give some insight into how it was written, what it means to me, where it comes from, and we will discuss and dissect it together.

For hours 2 and 3, we will do a workshop where members of the class present a song to the group and I will work on it with them, one on one, but while the others observe.

At the end of every week, I will present the class with an assignment for the next week.

My goal with this course is to provide a platform for learning, expression, creativity, positivity and healing. For the variety of students, it could be a starting point, reinforcement, a confidence boost, or just a chance to escape a day’s thought cycle. It will be constructive and supportive and hopefully provide an outlet for the future and ultimately allow for healing.

Each class will be recorded and at the end of the course, each student will get a download of these classes for reference.

At the end of the course, there will be one scheduled 1-hour solo session with each student. During this one on one session we will work together on any idea they want.   

VAC FUNDING

For reimbursement options through the Veterans Affairs Canada, please see the following resources.