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Bothners sent me a Facebook message about this, the Cape Town School of Songwriting has an eight module songwriting course. It seems worthwhile and I'm considering going for it, and it's not too expensive - just under R2K and includes a book and demo recording. I don't care much about the demo recording, I'd much rather watch from the control room while others are recording, so see what the recording engineer does.

One concern though, my knowledge of music theory is pretty basic. I'm hoping that the course will deal with general principles of songwriting rather than advanced musical theory concepts.

Anyone of you guys know anything about it, or done it?
    I'd never heard of the Cape Town School of Songwriting, Googled them and see it's Clive Ridgeway. Don't know what the course is like though.

    From his web site:
    Learn from accomplished songwriter Clive Ridgway, who has written songs for SA's biggest stars including:

    Jonathan Butler, Patricia Lewis, Dr Victor, Kurt Darren, Billy Forrest, Juanita du Plessis, Clive Bruce, Judith Sephuma, Rocking Horse, Cheree, Bev Scott-Brown, Freda Francis, Bobby Angel, The Boyz
      yeah in my experience of 'master class's and things like this..... sometimes they awessome and one can gleem tons on knowledge from it... others are just the artist making a fast buck....

      yeah and riaan i have studied composition at music school and would guess a fair bit of musical theory is neccessary to understand any songwriting course...

      at least to the level of undertsanding harmony and how chords relate to melody and keys ... i'm sure sight reading is not a criteria... but then i guess you need to be able to at least write down the melody signature riffs so i would guess a basic knowledge of writing charts ...or tabs is required.... but how do you transcribe a brass or string section part in tab????? so i guess charts it would have to be....

      best is contact the organiser and ask..........  can't do no harm

      peace and love
      keira
        I seem a bit like the guy in that old war movie who joins the Navy Divers and at the last minute announces "I can't swim"... ?

        I'll e-mail them and find out. I guess Clive Ridgeway is well know as a songwriter then?
          I think the best thing you can do is ask for a course synopsis including topics covered. Get an idea of what you'll be learning.
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