Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I will be teaching lessons exclusively via video (Zoom) during the winter 2020/2021. More info about video lesson here. And more about my coronavirus response here. I offered outside socially-distanced lessons at my location during warm weather in 2020 and will be doing so again in 2021 until the pandemic subsides. Please contact me for more details about outside socially-distanced lessons.
hideI'm adding an Online Community, Online Group Cohort Workshops, Online Self-Study Courses and Inspiring Interviews, Videos & Articles as part of my process of overtly merging of my connections to music and transformational work. Find out more at: transformusical.co & evolvesing.co New live-online group cohorts for songwriting workshop and home studio workshop start regularly. More info and registration at my other site: transformusical.co
hideSinging. Songwriting. Recording. Guitar. Piano. Bass. Ukulele.
Online Community | Online Group Cohort Workshops & Self-Study Courses
Private Lessons | Inspiring Interviews, Videos & Articles
LIVE ONLINE GROUP SINGING WORKSHOPS (COMING EARLY 2021)
EVOLVESING.CO: Transformational Singing Lessons
You may notice this site is looking unfinished. Here's the story:
My name is John Shapiro. I've been teaching singing, guitar, piano, ukulele & bass lessons AND songwriting & recording workshops out of my studio in Denver, Colorado (and since the pandemic online) since 2004 via Make Great Music
Meanwhile, I've long since been a big meditator, super interested my own evolution and ever increasingly desirous to help others. Though various continuing ed explorations and trying on some additional professional options (like mediation and running a universal health care non-profit startup), I landed on some stuff I really love, which I would name simply as "helping groups and people get unstuck". I do that through one-to-one coaching, group conflict resolution/facilitation and "personal growth" workshops via Evolving Up
Over my years of teaching, I noticed the students I felt the most satisfaction working with and vice versa where those who were open to address the whole of their experience. With them, I could bring full set of skills beyond music into the room. And not only where they able to improve musically, our work together echoed positively across their whole lives. And by work, I mean everything from building healthy self-esteem via a child's piano lessons that greatly improves their ability in school and foster a genuine love of music to addressing an adult ukulele student's challenges in lessons that expanded into reclaiming their long-lost "badass-ness" and leading them to make giant life changes that they'd wanted to make for years. Now I'm starting to do the same.
transformusical is my overt merging of my connections to music and transformational work. And it's a work in progress: Right now I'm offering live, online, small group workshops in songwriting or home studio recording. And I'm in process building a super fancy website (eta February 2021) that has an online community, online video self and cohort courses for singing, guitar, songwriting and recording, and a video/writing series about people's transformational experiences via music.
For Never-Ever to Experienced Songwriters
Unless we are born songwriting geniuses, to improve, we need to practice the art and skill of writing songs. And.. If we want to maximize our satisfaction and potential, we need to address where we might be stuck and step into our full authenticity.
I've been writing songs since 1987, and my first songs were "terrible". But unless I started in the first place and finished those first songs, as well experimented, learned, practiced, and looked at my motivations and challenges, I would not have evolved to my current ability. You can hear a couple live versions of some songs I've written in the last ten years here, here and here.
If you feel a desire to write songs, my number one recommendation is to start AND finish a song. Like most of the rest of us, you are probably not a songwriting genius. So write some "bad" songs, learn from them and practice seeing your process as necessary road to travel towards the outcome you want. And if you'd like some professional guidance along the way, here's what to expect from the songwriting workshop:
“I am so grateful I took John's songwriting class! I am, or thought I was, a song writing wannabe. I have lyrics that are begging for a way out but have long thought I didn't know enough theory, have enough skill (my repertoire of guitar and chords is a short list), enough voice to bring them out in any meaningful or fulfilling way. John's open, unconditional acceptance, guidance and knowledge base along with the group process helped open doors to my own creativity and ability. Listening to the individuals in the group, their questions, John's explanations (no question too basic), individual's struggles and then hear their works blew me away! We laughed, cried, supported and applauded each other. I looked forward to hearing how each individual would interpret the assignments. Performing and then receiving their feedback on my work was a testament to the personal growth that this class presented me with the opportunity to reveal to myself. I truly didn't want this class to end! I felt like each member of the group revealed a personal and vulnerable aspect of themselves in a safe and welcoming environment and more than just music was being made by each of us. I feel like I was able to reveal a personal and vulnerable aspect of MYself in a safe and welcoming environment and more than music was made.”
~ J Tracy – Occupational Therapist, self employed ~
Basic, intermediate and advanced aspects taught in a way that anyone with basic musical skills can understand
BIG PICTURE
PRACTICAL, SONGWRITING-BASED MUSIC THEORY
SONG COMPONENTS
CREATIVE PROCESS & WORKFLOW
PROJECTS & EXERCISES
“I can happily recommend this workshop for anyone who is interested in songwriting! I was nervous coming into the workshop because of the group aspect but was pleasantly surprised by how great of an experience it was. Having a group keeps you accountable to completing the assignments that are designed to get you closer to writing your own complete songs. The group can provide feedback to the songs you write in whatever amount you're comfortable with, whether it's completely open ended, nothing at all, or anything in between. John is an excellent teacher and strives to foster a safe space for all students to feel comfortable in sharing and discussing regardless of their skill level. I felt encouraged to continue learning and improving throughout the course because of the group dynamics that John crafted, as well as through John himself. I now feel like I have the necessary tools, confidence, and courage to continue writing songs!”
~ Phong Nguyen – Software Engineer ~
Practices & processes to open up the full potential of your songwriting & influence the whole of your life
AUTHENTICITY: You are doing this for you. Owning your authenticity will bring out the gift of what you offer.
EXPRESSION: Unless we are natural performers, we tend to under-express. Nurturing your full expression will support why you are doing this in the first place.
INTUITION: We want our songs to feel "right". Cultivating your intuition is critical to writing songs that you love.
UNSTICKING: We all have places where we are stuck. Working with them will help our songwriting (and our lives) move forward.
ALLOWING: Creativity can’t be forced. Using mindfulness and other practices will help it emerge.
CONNECTION: We do this as a healthy group… To learn from, support & be inspired by one another.
COMMUNITY: Ongoing support & encouragement can make a big difference. Continuing community of fellow songwriters is available after the workshop.
“John's songwriting workshop is a must-take for anybody interested in making music. I learned so many things: practical musical theory that helped de-mystify song writing, the building blocks of songs and how I can use them, how to tap into my own creativity, and confidence. It was extremely informative, fun, engaging, and really felt like a community. I cannot thank John enough for this experience!!!”
~ Ian H. – Policy Researcher ~
COST: $320 (This workshop is accessible to those with various means. If needed, please contact me to arrange for a discount or alternative exchange.)
SCHEDULE: We will decide the schedule as a group within these parameters:
LOCATION: Zoom video meeting (Details sent after registration)
PREREQUISITES: 1) Basic skill level on an instrument that can play chords: guitar, piano, etc. 2) Basic ability to sing a melody i.e. "hold a tune"
OTHER NOTES:
“I have been trying to write songs for a long time and it was hard for me to put the pieces together. This course helped me learn how to structure my song writing process and complete my first full song. The group setting was also beneficial in helping me open up and share my creativity with others.”
~ Carlton N Hanna – Software Engineer ~
(text or call)
“The course provided inspiration to take what I learned to continue the songwriting adventure. It helped to hear how others could take the same assignment and use their creativity to come up with their own songs. It was definitely worth the time and effort.”
~ Saverio Maglio – many years experience in different bands ~
Live workshops happen once every two to three months. If you missed this one, let me know and I will let you know when the next one is AND I'll let you know when the self-study course is available.
For Never-Ever to Experienced Recorders
It's possible to make world class recordings at home with a modest financial investment. It's also easy to get overwhelmed and lost in the setup and technicalities of modern recording. This workshop is designed to help you easily understand and master the most common and important aspects of recording, while guiding you through the tricky process of getting started and avoiding common pitfalls throughout the process. So your process can be as easeful as possible and your recordings sound great!
I've been a recording geek since my high school four-track cassette recorder, single mic and synthesizer to my modern home studio setup. In this workshop, I share lots of quick-and-easy tips I've learned along the way. And how to: Fill in the gaps of your knowledge. Improve the sound of your songs and your experience recording. Mitigate technical details that can get in the way of creativity. Capture your best performance. We merge the nuts-and-bolts details with creative, personal & group evolution + unsticking (all listed below).
What about your specific setup?
DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations), which is usually software on a computer and audio interface to connect mics and instruments, work essentially the same way. During the workshop, I will use Cubase (my main software), Live & Reaper, and we will screen share any one else's DAW software as questions arise. You can see list of current DAW software here: https://www.musicradar.com/news/the-best-daws-2020-the-best-music-production-software-for-pc-and-mac
Basic, intermediate and advanced aspects taught in a way that anyone with basic musical skills can understand
OVERVIEW
DAW SETUP
OVERALL WORKFLOW
PROJECT SETUP
TRACK SETUP
MICS & PRE-AMPS
RECORDING TRACKS
ARRANGEMENT & PRODUCTION
OTHER MID-WORKSHOP STUFF
TWEAKING TRACKS
EFFECTS & PLUGINS
MIXING
MASTERING
OTHER FINAL WORKSHOP STUFF
Practices & processes to open up the full recording potential & influence the whole of your life
AUTHENTICITY: You are doing this for you. Owning your authenticity will bring out the gift of what you offer.
EXPRESSION: Unless we are natural performers, we tend to under-express. Nurturing your full expression will support why you are doing this in the first place.
INTUITION: We don't want to get bogged down in the infinite choices of modern recording. Cultivating your intuition is critical to keeping out creativity front & center.
UNSTICKING: We all have places where we are stuck. Working with them will help our recordings (and our lives) move forward.
ALLOWING: Creativity & ideal performances can’t be forced. Using mindfulness and other practices will help it emerge.
CONNECTION: We do this as a healthy group… To learn from, support & be inspired by one another.
COMMUNITY: Ongoing support & encouragement can make a big difference. Continuing community of fellow recorders is available after the workshop.
"I learned more in a four-hour class with you, than a five day long recording workshop I took last year."
"I'm not super technical, and I appreciate the straight forward way you explain things that make a lot of sense to me."
"The four-hour workshop length was just right: A lot of new stuff for me to go home and try out, but not too much information overload."
"I had a lot of fun!"
"Thanks again for the class. I have a good direction in my mind now on the hardware and software as well as many great tips to keep it simple. Count me in on the next tier class."
COST: $320 (This workshop is accessible to those with various means. If needed, please contact me to arrange for a discount or alternative exchange.)
SCHEDULE: We will decide the schedule as a group within these parameters:
LOCATION: Zoom video meeting (Details sent after registration)
PREREQUISITES: 1) Own (or be willing to buy or borrow) a DAW setup: computer with DAW software, interface, microphone/stand/cord, instrument(s). IF YOU DON'T OWN A DAW, CONTACT ME FOR FREE HELP WITH FIGURING OUT WHAT TO BUY.
OPTIONAL BUT IDEAL: 1) Basic skill level on an instrument that can play chords: guitar, piano, etc. 2) Basic ability to sing a melody i.e. "hold a tune"
OTHER NOTES:
(text or call)
Live workshops happen once every two to three months. If you missed this one, let me know and I will let you know when the next one is AND I'll let you know when the self-study course is available.
MUSIC HAS BEEN A VEHICLE FOR PROFOUND EVOLUTION
I grew up in a difficult, neglectful, addiction-riddled situation. I had no innate ability to sing, and I began to teach myself music in high school: singing, playing, writing and recording. Little did I know, that creative and emotional expression allowed me to process some of the pain I was experiencing. For the love of it, and with no practical plan for the future, I decided to go to college for music. But using the un-wholistic guidance of our culture, I decided to attend the "best" music school. At Berklee College of Music, I felt my vitality for music being sucked away, which combined with other big life challenges to form a storm that was the darkest time of my life. But I am deeply grateful, as that storm cracked me open and made me receptive to real spiritual and personal development and healing. It set my life on a totally different trajectory: I began practicing mindfulness meditation, doing deep personal and psychological work and switched to Naropa University: a mindfulness-based, wholisticly-focused college in Boulder. When I turned thirty, after another difficult life period, and after was laid off from my software engineer job, I began teaching music. And again, music provided me with direct and indirect evolutionary experiences: I felt supported by my low-stress, high-benefit-to-others music teaching business. It allowed me to take huge steps in my own healing, while helping others in various ways. As my teaching progressed, I began to teach more and more wholistically to those who wanted that experience. While I also still teach music in a more traditional way via my business: Make Great Music , transformusical is the overt merging of transformational work with innovative singing technique.
I'm a "master" music teacher with over 17,000 hours teaching private lessons via my teaching business: Make Great Music . I teach an innovative, effective, practical, wholistic and fun method that I developed. I teach lessons in: singing~voice~vocal , acoustic & electric guitar , piano & keyboard , bass guitar and ukulele , as well as classes and workshops in: Mindful Music , songwriting and home studio recording . I've been playing, studying, recording, writing and performing music for over 35 years and teaching full-time for 17 years. I have a BA in Music from Naropa University and also studied at Berklee College of Music and CU-Boulder. I teach out of my Professional Studio & Music School in the West Highlands neighborhood of Denver, Colorado.
I'm deeply committed to my own personal evolution through a variety of methods, while mindfulness remains my central practice. I'm a long term Vipassana meditator having spent over a year total in silent meditation retreat. I'm a passionate about groups-done-well and have invested in a variety of trainings. I consult with groups to help them navigate through conflict, and I'm a certified mediator. I'm a Catalyst Coach, Group Unsticking Guide & Workshop Facilitator my business: Evolving Up LLC: Catalyst Coaching, Group Unsticking & Transformational Workshops. . I've had extensive training in Authentic Leadership, Family Constellations, political leadership, Playback theater, power & privilege and various forms of coaching. And I draw heavily from Hakomi principles.
John Shapiro: teacher, coach & owner of transformusical. Additionly, I teach music in a more traditional way via: Make Great Music . I'm a Catalyst Coach, Group Unsticking Guide & Workshop Facilitator my business: Evolving Up LLC: Catalyst Coaching, Group Unsticking & Transformational Workshops. .
If you would like to schedule a free intro lesson, I need a little info: Please email me the week you would like to schedule your lesson (i.e. this week, next week or...) and your availability for your lesson: The earliest time you can arrive and latest time you can leave for each day: Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday. I teach on these days from late morning until 10pm. Since I usually have around 35 students on my schedule, I have found that the best way to schedule your lesson is for you to let me know your availability. Once I have that info, I will get back to you with the day and time of your session and the rest of the info you need.
PLEASE NOTE: My studio is located in my private home and is open by appointment only.
I reply to all inquiries in 24 hours or less... Usually the same day. But... If you don't hear back from me, somehow your message didn't get through to me. It might have been marked as spam, lost in the interwebs or otherwise. So please try to send it again! Or just call! Thanks!
Get updates once every few months on classes, events and other cool stuff!