To kick off another round of Composing Ourselves, a series of online workshops that encourage musical creativity and play, Paul Vasile will offer an introductory webinar on Wednesday, April 26 from 2 to 4 p.m. ET focused on writing congregational songs. With examples drawn from his experiences as a song leader and composer, as well as music from varied cultures and traditions, he'll invite participants to explore:

• Rhythm and meter rooted in the text

• Melodic shapes and musical syntax

• The expressive potential of vowels and consonants

• Song structures and their connection to liturgical function

There will be lots of singing together, opportunities for reflection and questions, and break out space to experiment and play together.

In the weeks and months following the webinar, MMC will offer additional opportunities to learn from guest composers and text writers in our community. We'll host gatherings where you can share what you're writing and even offer one-on-one coaching for those who might welcome a more personal opportunity to share their work and receive feedback. 

The webinar is offered on a sliding scale, between $80 and $40. The registration fee includes a video recording and a link to songs and resources shared throughout the webinar. We ask you to pay what is generous and affordable for you, with gratitude for the time and skill of our presenters. Scholarship support is also available, if needed, so please reach out if cost will prevent your participation.