EXpress Yourself: Creative Empowerment for Women - Songwriting Wksp

Buffalo NY

10 March, 2021

Description

Expression Creativity Experimental Learning Laboratory, led by musicians Tiffany Du Mouchelle and Leanne Darling lead a creative empowerment, virtual songwriting workshop for women in Buffalo for Women’s History month. When: March 10-April 5. Monday and Wednesday Evenings, 7:30-8:30pm. Where: Virtual - ZOOM Cost: $175 for 8 session workshop. Need-based assistance is available. Inspire and empower yourself and others through songwriting! In honor of Women’s History month, EX.C.E.L.L. offers women, ages 18 and older, an opportunity to nurture their creativity and expression, honor creative impulses, acknowledge and quiet their inner critic, and open up to the expressive possibilities of sound and words. Whether a beginner or an experienced musician, everyone has the ability to create songs that can inspire. Du Mouchelle and Darling will guide participants in accessing their imagination and creativity while giving voice to their thoughts through song. Through simple, fun exercises, participants are guided through an easy process to empower themselves and make meaningful music. The challenges of the pandemic have taken a particularly hard toll on women. Inability to socialize, pressures from parenting, work, and school can lead to feelings of isolation and hopelessness. Songwriting is a powerful antidote to this by expressing these feelings artistically, creating something beautiful and unique, and finding support and connection with one’s peers. The goal of the songwriting workshop is to create a fun and supportive environment where participants are empowered to create their own music together, free from judgment while finding their own voice. It is open to all gender-identifying women: instrumentalists, vocalists, poets, and anyone curious about expressing themselves through song. Dr. Tiffany Du Mouchelle, director of vocal performance and opera at the University at Buffalo, is the founder of Expression Creativity Experimental Learning Laboratory (EX.C.E.L.L.), a collective that gives workshops for everyone to help empower their creative selves. Du Mouchelle draws from her own process of overcoming her own anxieties as a performer through creative exercises and her work with her voice students to help others explore their artistic side. “It is a false belief that some people are creative and others aren't.” Du Mouchelle states. “Creativity is an integral part of human nature. Most people have as much potential as any professional artist. The question is: how do we help an inner creative finally believe in their own worth.” Leanne Darling, UB viola professor and co-facilitator went through a similar process as an artist from traditional classical musician to composer and teacher of improvisation. “It is especially important to have a creative outlet, and music is a powerful medium for personal expression. I turn to creative music making often when I’m feeling down or isolated, and it always energizes and inspires me.” Students have expressed their appreciation and inspiration for EX.C.E.L.L.’s workshops: "Excellent strategies on self thought, expression and creativity.” “It was a really inspiring class for me, and something I really needed. It helped motivate me and really helped break me out of this shell of being afraid of rejection, putting myself out there, and failure. I learned a lot from the class! “I felt it was a safe place for me to express my music and I loved listening to what everyone came up with each class.” “It was fun and it really helped my creativity by making me think outside the box! I thought everyone's songs were great and they gave me some cool ideas for the future.” Those interested can apply online at. Tuition is $175. Need-based assistance is available. For further information visit: Facebook: