Creating a Mini-Musical
with Carolyn Curry
In the first session of this two-part workshop, students will work together to compose lyrics for their mini-musical. The workshop will also explore lyric writing, song form, and song types particular to musicals. Participants will use the tools and exercises they learn to write lyrics for key moments in a story, each group will be responsible for coming up with lyrics for a different moment in the show, together laying the foundation for a mini-musical. The session will end with time for individuals and groups to present their lyrics to the class for feedback.
In the second session, participants will add music to their lyric from part one. Students will be introduced to music theory basics like tempo, feel, key and common chord progressions, to help guide them in their song writing. By combining modelling and randomized methods for melody writing, as well as group effort, participants will complete their mini-musical. The session will end with time for individuals and groups to present their lyrics to the class for feedback.
All DramaFest workshops have limited availability. Availability may also be limited due to bookings by other classes.
Outcomes for Drama 10 and Drama 11:
- Students will be able to respond with sensitivity and respect for the ideas of others.
- Students will listen to others, work collaboratively with others or independently alongside others, and/or work to build consensus.
- Students will build on the ideas of others.
Carolyn Curry is a teacher, performer and music director in Nova Scotia. Carolyn has a Master of Music in Jazz Performance from the University of North Texas. Since returning to Nova Scotia, she has performed and recorded with ECMA nominated funk group Unidentified Funk Object. She also played synth and background vocals in its spin-off projects “Dr. G Goes to Space!” which was nominated for Children’s Entertainer of the Year by Music Nova Scotia in 2019 and by the East Coast Music Awards in 2021. Her musical adaptation of Russian fairy tale “Tsarevitch Ivan, The Firebird and The Grey Wolf” was produced by Terra Novella Theatre in 2012 as “Firebird: The Musical”, and was nominated for Outstanding Score. View Carolyn’s profile.
- This workshop is offered as a two-part series. Both parts of the series can be booked on our Bookings page.
- Students remain seated throughout this workshop.
- This workshop can include take-home work.
- This workshop is interactive and includes group work.
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Please note: Theatre Nova Scotia respectfully requests that schools and community groups ideally do not cancel workshops once they are booked, unless absolutely necessary. If a group must cancel or reschedule, please give us a week of prior notice. In these precarious days for arts workers, TNS is going to great lengths to provide schools with exceptional theatre education and local artists with paid work in our industry. Please be aware that artists may have turned down other paid work to accommodate these workshop bookings. Thank you for your understanding.
This workshop is offered as a two-part series.
Students stay seated throughout this workshop.
This workshop includes take-home work.
This workshop includes some group work.
