Throughout history, the full gamut of human emotions and concerns has been expressed in song. During this 90 min program, participants will be immersed in the basics of songwriting, music production, and how to communicate powerful emotion. Participants will also learn about the tradition of protest songs in the United States and the role that Motown Records played in societal change.

By participating in this workshop, participants will explore the traditional songwriting and music production process using the Motown Hit “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye. They will then explore their own voices and emotions through a series of activities that will result with them writing their own lyrics or poetry. They will be able to share ideas, receive feedback, and collaborate with their peers through this workshop while being guided and supported by a Detroit Teaching Artist.