A three-hour songwriting workshop led by musician and writer Matt Powell is set to take place at the Donald W. Reynolds Library Serving Baxter County. Scheduled for later this month, the event will delve into songwriting techniques including form, rhyme, meter, melody, harmony, and lyric writing.
The workshop will feature written materials, a lecture with demonstrations, and opportunities for participants to receive personalized feedback and in-person critiques. Organizers note that the workshop is open to writers of all skill levels and musical styles. Attendees are encouraged to bring a piece they’ve written, an idea they’re developing, an instrument, or simply an eagerness to learn.
Matt Powell, who brings more than three decades of songwriting experience, has had a multifaceted career in music and publishing. He was a founding member of bands such as Dago Red Revival, The Incredible Heavies, and Mable Jo & the Jealous Hearts, whose single “Supernatural Man” was featured in the CW television series “Supernatural.” Powell also managed Nashville’s iconic Ernest Tubb Record Shop in his twenties and holds a bachelor’s degree in music from Berklee College of Music in Boston. Additionally, he earned a law degree from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, where he served as a research editor for the *International and Comparative Law Review*.
Powell's extensive writing portfolio spans contributions to publications such as *Variety*, *No Depression*, and *StyleBlueprint*, among others. From 2012 to 2017, he served as music editor for *Humor in America*, a blog affiliated with the University of Texas at Austin’s English department. Locally, Powell teaches at Arkansas State University Mountain Home, which is also hosting a new six-week songwriting workshop this month.
Space for the library workshop is limited, and registration is required. Those who register but are unable to attend are encouraged to cancel in advance to accommodate waitlisted participants. Individuals on the waitlist are advised to monitor their email on the day of the event for potential openings. Questions about the workshop can be directed to jamie.v@baxlib.org.