Penobscot Valley Senior College
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The American Songbook (A 6-week Zoom course)

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Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin listed twelve things that a great song must have:
     basically, it must be singable by ordinary people--both men and women, young and old
       it must have a "hook"--a phrase planted throughout the lyrics
       it must deal, freshly, with ideas that anyone can (and does) care about.

Between the end of the First World War and 1960, hundreds of songs were written to Berlin's criteria. They're called "standards" because they have a recognizable musical and poetic style; they're also performed in a way that we all recognize--they're made to swing.
So how is it all done? That's what we'll look at in this 6-week Zoom course.

Instructor: BOB TREDWELL
Bob has taught Senior College courses from code-breaking to herring fishing. Previously unknown to his fans, in his youth he took music lessons from the pit-pianist at the local burlesque theater and found sympathy throughout college by his piano playing. Now too old and stiff to play, he can at least reflect on the popular music of the first half of the last century - the work of such organizations as Food and Medicine.

* Adjustments and discounts will be applied during checkout if applicable. *

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