6 steps for songwriters to improve intuition + make potential viral video.

Songwriters and students of the craft;

Here's a fun(ny) 2-in1 exercise for you to sharpen your artistic sensitivity, and create content for potential viral video at the same time.

1. Get guitar or piano handy. 

2. Setup laptop or tablet on music stand or display where you can toggle screen in between playing and singing. 

3. Open new tab or mobile application, pull up your Facebook profile wall.  

4. Begin to improvise setting compositions of music and melodies to each of the newest posts from friends in your newsfeed. 

5. Have a friend, or your mom, film this exercise. 

6. Upload and share your best, most hilarious clips of tunes with the hashtag #mytownMyFeed on Facebook, Twitter, or Insta and tag me and/or @MyTownMusic. 

Your welcome. 

Corey Ferrugia 

corey@mytownmusic.com 

@coreyferrugia

MyTown Music LA: onward the adventure.

It was just about a year and a half ago that I packed up pretty much everything I could jam into my car - keyboard, guitar, PA system, my dog.. oh yeah and some clothes... and left my hometown in Tucson to move to Southern California.
                         
Let me tell you, it's been the most exciting, scary, challenging and borderline insane journey of my life. Extreme highs, unfortunate lows and everything in between. But out of all that has changed or hasn't necessarily gone the way I expected, the one thing that has never waivered or been shaken at the end of the day; is my dream.
It was in my early 20s that this larger-than-life vision of being a professional musician, songwriter, and eventually a social entrepreneur began to take form. Ever since then I have been completely dedicated and relentless in the pursuit to see into fruition the purpose for my life I sensed deep in my heart. Now 28 years old, I couldn't be more passionate, motivated, committed and full of wonder of all that this vision is leading me to. It's been a wild ride over the years (to say the absolute least) up to this point. But I honestly wouldn't change or take anything back. Especially when it comes to pivotal, monumental milestones like what's about to go down very soon here in LA.
       

This coming weekend my incredible team of my talented friends and I will embark on spearheading a project that could potentially change everything as I or we have known about education, entertainment and culture. In all of the hundreds and hundreds of hours I have invested into developing young aspiring music artists as a craft, the manifestation of this weekend has the potential elevate that to a whole new level.

Four of my top student artists that I have been developing over the past year will enter into a major Hollywood recording studio alongside industry professionals to produce a commercial quality single of their original songs they wrote through the MyTown experience. This entire journey and their stories will be captured into a short but powerful documentary.
Now, meet the cast..
                    Spencer Flores: the humble, kind, yet incredibly gifted all around artist, piano player, composer & singer.
                     Ryan Ramirez: a passionate, charismatic, teen who shines like a star as a drummer in various bands and now as a solo artist.
                      Kate Cassiano: a lovable, open, bright and joyful little girl. One of my newest stars who has insight and vision for creativity that could inspire anyone young or old.
                       Rylee Gibson, a sweet spirit who is naturally very gifted and fearless to express herself as an artist far beyond her years. My very first private client in California, and to this day my most advanced student artist I have developed.
                        These two are basically the dynamic songwriting duo of the century.
                        Ryan Federico: major label artist turned music producer aficionado, successful entrepreneur and business leader.
                       Eric Von: rapidly up and coming music producer, engineer, and visionary leader. A creative mind with a big heart.
                                        Then there's this guy. My role?... Well, I just do my best to ask great questions, stay inspired, childlike, and motivate kids like the above to explore all their potential has to offer through music expression and the artistic process. Oh.. and I'm known to shake things up a bit. (I.e. via corny jokes like that one.)
Cheers to creative expression, pursuing your dreams, exploring individual potential, empowering others and making a difference.
Vlog: http://youtu.be/aOvFGLG8FPg
Onward the adventure...
-C

                       

Exploring the Power of A Song: more than music.

We all know what a song is... don’t we? I mean we hear them practically everywhere and anywhere we go in public. We’re constantly filling our ears with all sorts of tunes tailored to whatever best suits our likeness in all facets of life; be it the drive home from work, exercising at the gym, surfing the web at your favorite local cafe, or when you’re enjoying a peaceful moment in the privacy of your own home. Maybe if you’re like me, you might even feel like whenever you’re choosing your favorite album or compiling just the perfect playlist to listen to, you are choosing music that sets the “scene” of your life as it passes by as if it were a movie.

But what is it that makes a song, a song? ...we’ll get to that in just a bit. 

My name is Corey Ferrugia. Not only am I an avid music lover, but I have the privilege and honor to have a career as a full time music artist as well. I am a professional session player, performer, singer/songwriter and as an educator I teach and develop young artists ranging from early childhood to adult ages. In my earlier days as an aspiring musician, I fell into teaching both publically and privately to simply “make money” as I was figuring out what I “really wanted to do”. But as that journey continued, I had no idea what I was getting myself into... in the best way(s) imaginable. Specifically, in how the art of composing songs changed everything for me both personally and professionally.


I remember it very vividly the moment when I came to the revelation where I shifted swiftly from the traditional paradigm from “teaching music lessons”, to empowering students to experience music artistry through the lens of creating their own original works/songs. My students all still learned music language (theory), instrument and vocal technique... but over time, lessons and classes manifested into a catalog of works they had to show for with original pieces of their own. That was when I “retired” from teaching, at the age of 26. From then on, I have only been an artist; be it performing, composing, recording, or now... a learning artist. 

Finale photo of all student and professional artists that took the stage at the showcase in Southern California.

Click this link to see a short video as a glimpse of how this paradigm is being cultivated here in Southern California: Southern California Artist Showcase

As much as it’s truly amazing and completely fulfilling to to see all of my students experience what I am sharing with you now, I have come to discover...  there’s even more! Specifically as it relates to empowering human potential and growth, the power of a song is capable of teaching us about many other domains of life.

Johannes (10yo) crating lyrics for the melody he just created for his original songs.

Allow me to take a stab at framing a bit more of what I mean with this simple table chart below. On the left column you’ll see my definitions of the key elements of a song. I am aware that there are other parts of a song that could easily and justifiably be included, but for the purposes of showing the parallel correlation to life skills, please accept my definition for now. I’d welcome your ideas however!

Key Element of a Song	Life Learning	Application
Melody is the most unique property of a song. In all of the varieties within the pop context of music anyway, it’s a combination of lyrics (words) and a tune; primarily one that stands out and is more memorable above all other musical elements.	Individuality and Personality - in all of the valuable lessons and skills we could teach our younger generations, identity seems to be the most difficult truths to get young people to discover and find peace with.	By understanding the importance of a melody in a song, It is a perfect conceptual relationship to help a young individual realize the value of their own uniqueness.
Harmony is the blending of multiple notes into one cohesive sound in order to establish a base or foundation for the melody to be supported by.	Community or Oneness of Group - with mass marketing messages communicating strongly for individuals to focus on self-serving and islanding ideals, the reality is that we are better together and and most of life begs that we function in communities.	By connecting the powerful relationship amongst complementing sounds, instruments, and voices, it’s a clear and simple tool to help elevate awareness and sense of community.
Form is the structure of the song. Just like in any story, it has to begin and go somewhere, and have something in between. It’s the process or journey of how a certain “musical story” is told and how it frames what is being communicated.	Order - there’s order and structure in all of life. Be it in a school, work, family, or relational environment... there’s always a framework, for us to then freely explore and operate in. But with no order, a potentially unproductive, destructive, and harmful environment is created.	Through experiencing the success that comes from a craftful awareness and use form and how it functions in the songwriting process, that connection can be easily leveraged to show the value of structure, or order in all facets of life.
Genre - the unique style or specific kind presentation of the song. Think about how you organize and access all of the kinds of music on your favorite digital media player or device.	Culture - though culture is commonly thought of in the context of geographical, societal, and religious segmentations of people (though very important), it can also be understood in other domains like in businesses, churches, homes, schools and communities.	By listening to different kinds of music and being able to identify where its’ origins and relatedness together, it would make way for an easy introduction and powerful lens to teach an individual or group about any kind of culture.

One of my best friends and mentor, Dr. Carroll Rinehart, has always led and empowered me best not with great answers, but with great questions. Allow me to attempt to do the same... whether or not you are a musician or songwriter, I’d like to pose to you the following questions to see what might be your revelations and discoveries could be as it relates to how the power of a song can create a significant impact on individuals, from your perspective. 

• How can a song be connected to other domains of learning and life?
• What is actually happening in the process of writing song from a neurological standpoint?
• What are all of the social issues that could be solved through the power of a song?
• What might be your question regarding the power of a song that could potentially evoke a change you might be seeking?

Would love your ideas, questions, and feedback. I look forward to hearing from you! 

___________________________________

Corey J. Ferrgugia

Artist | Founder & Leader of MyTown Music®

corey@mytownmusic.com

MyTown's strong commitment to early childhood development. Why?

"85% of brain development occurs before the age of 5, but only 14% of public education dollars are spent on early childhood education in the U.S." -National Institute for Early Education Research

5yo Eli performs an original song he created through guided critical thinking and free expression.  

6yo Madison performing an original song she created that was inspired by her about her joy of summer. 

Mia (7yo) and Ava (8yo) perform their "Family Theme Song" that they wrote together about each member of their family.


What are all of the ways that the process of music artistry empowerment can inspire, enrich, and release individuals throughout their communities?... 

That's our mission. 

Dreamt into life; The Inaugural Southern California Artist Showcase

In less than 1 year since moving the MyTown vision with me to California, it really happened... and I still can't even believe it. 

Set on the prestigious and historic oceanfront venue, the Long Beach Museum of Art, 14 student artist performers ranging in age from 5-20 along side some if the best professionals from the music industry like Shoshana Bean (lead role in "Wicked"), Mat Devine (frontman & singer/songwriter of "Kill Hannah") and Julia Price (up and coming LA singer/songwriter). 

Since I first setup shop here in Long Beach before I even met my first student client, not only was this showcase a dream come true, but even down to the exact location where I had envisioned my "future" students and colleagues coming together at a space so picturesque and gorgeous. The joy on each young artist's face all celebrated by friends, family, and one another... couldn't put a price tag on moments so magical. I couldn't have asked for a better opportunity to show Southern California what the essence of MyTown is truly all about. 

And the best part, this was only just the beginning... 

Recap Video:

http://youtu.be/IEPH2KKQxpQ

Corey Ferrugia

Founder | Leader 

corey@mytownmusic.com

The Inaugural Southern California Artist Showcase!

An encouraging word.

It sounds basic, but I really thrive off of text messages and affirming words from parents of my students like this one below.

The reality is, you can't pay or convince anyone to do that - and you wouldn't want to. I figure even if I'm putting my best effort forward and doing my part to the best of my ability to connect music artistry to my student, yet don't get the validation from my clients it's actually happening... I'm missing the mark somewhere. It begs that something would need to change or improve until a response like this happens naturally & organically. I am not necessarily motivated by the "response", but it's a vital byproduct tin the service industry; let alone mentoring & educating young people.

I love what I do so much. Every lesson is a challenge and a thrill. It is my mission to set the standard and rise a bar so high within our model so that every student who will ever encounter the MtM learning system with any given instructor, anywhere ...will have the most memorable and valuable experience, compared to none. I won't rest until it is so...

-C