I had the pleasure of meeting acclaimed singer-songwriter and Beacon resident Dar Williams when I interviewed her for the July 2011 issue of Chronogram. Such a warm, sweet, and friendly soul. And now Williams is about to extend that warmth and sweetness—along with some key knowledge of her hit-making craft—to aspiring songwriters, with “Writing a Song That Matters,” a special retreat that takes place over four days next week in Garrison.
Williams was motivated to offer the retreat after doing a songwriting workshop at Jorma Kaukonen’s Fur Peace Ranch. In addition to talks and songwriting sessions led by Williams, the five-day retreat at the stunningly tranquil Garrison Institute features singing, morning yoga, inspirational interaction, fine vegetarian meals, and more.
“This workshop is for anyone who wants to write a song that counts: for ourselves, for the people (or pets) we love and for the world,” says Williams via her website. “Our songs can be funny, catchy, heavy, or sappy! We’ll just be looking for ways to say what we really want to say. We’ll explore everything from the bag of tricks we use in songwriting to discussions of why we need to write in the first place, how we can stay the course in writing, and how we can finish our songs, no matter how discouraging the voices in our heads might be.”
Here, she sings “It’s Alright” live on public radio in 2010:
Dar Williams’s “Writing a Song That Matters” retreat takes place at the Garrison Institute in Garrison, New York, June 24-27. To register and learn more, visit http://darwilliamsretreat.com/.
