Learn with me

For more info about any of these events, please email info (at) maryamato (dot) com.

Mary Amato’s Singing and Songwriting with/for Baby

Three Wednesday nights 6:15-7:15 pm September 5, 12, 19 at College Park Arts Exchange in College Park, MD. Note: This class will be offered again at the same time on November 28, Dec 5, Dec 12.

Explore the power and poignancy of your own voice in this special class for new parents and parents-to-be. We’ll learn chants and lullabies–some designed to soothe baby, others designed to soothe you! We’ll also learn songwriting techniques and each create our own signature songs. No musical experience necessary. For expecting and/or new moms and/or dads. You may bring the baby, but no older siblings or walking toddlers, please.

Mary Amato’s Songwriting Breakthrough

Three Wednesday nights 7:30-8:45 pm September 5, 12, 19  at College Park Arts Exchange in College Park, MD. Note: This class will be offered again at the same time on November 28, Dec 5, Dec 12.

Have you always wanted to write a song but have never given yourself permission? Or are you an experienced songwriter stuck with a stubborn case of writer’s block? Or are you a well-seasoned songwriter who wants a challenge? During this class, we will work with highly specific prompts to write one or more songs (either lyrics only or lyrics with music)–not from our own life experiences, but rather by adopting another point of view. Class will be tailored to meet the needs of participants with and without musical experience. Adults and teens welcome.

Creative Writing Skype Classes

Each three-session seminar will include focus on a different theme, such as character, dialogue, conflict, etc. Each session will include discussion, facilitated real-time writing, tips, strategies, and feedback. All of the seminar themes can be applied to the work of novelists, poets, essayists, playwrights, and songwriters. Since Skype sessions are one-on-one, any skill level from professional to beginner is welcome. Email info (at) maryamato (dot) com.

Songwriting Skype Classes

Each three-session seminar will include focus on a different type of song structure. No musical experience necessary and you don’t have to be able to play an instrument. Since Skype sessions are one-on-one, any skill level from professional to beginner is welcome. Email info (at) maryamato (dot) com.

One-time Workshops and Events

Page to Stage Workshop and Performance with College Park Arts Exchange

Join leaders Mary Amato and John Feffer and fellow writers and theater-lovers for a day-long mini playwriting workshops. During the day we’ll write short scenes exploring character, voice, and conflict. In the evening, we’ll perform the work we create in front of a live audience. This event is for writers, poets, storytellers, songwriters, comedians, and actors who want to learn more about the process of creating and giving voice to characters and who want an opportunity to hear/see work come alive in front of an audience. More info to come.

Uke-making Camp with Gadgetlab

Make your own cool (and quality) ukulele and learn how to play it. Gadgetlab’s Karen Giacopuzzi and Mary Amato team up to teach this camp. This camp is full.

Songwriting 101 Workshop with Carpe Diem Arts

Learn songwriting techniques in this 2-hour workshop taught by Mary Amato. No musical experience necessary and you don’t have to play an instrument. This class has passed.

Student Open Mic

This is your chance to sing your song, read your poem, or perform stand-up in front of a warm, friendly crowd. Potluck. Please bring a dish and whatever you’d like to drink. This will be an outdoor stage. No rain date. No payment required, but you must register to attend. This event has passed.

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Thanks to students, staff and parents who welcomed me to the Alexander Hamilton Elementary School for a busy day of author visits. I loved getting the chance to be on the AH morning news show. Another treat was the special lunch with student writers. The stories they wrote were interesting, funny, and surprising. Keep writing! Special thanks to librarian Linda Murphy for all her preparation and planning.

An enormous thank you to the PTO of TJ Elementary School in Morristown, NJ, to Mark Fluck, librarian extraordinaire, and to all the students and staff of this grades 3-5 school. I loved making up funny stories with all the grade levels and sharing the excitement of writing. Thanks also to the PTO for organizing the book sale. AND…drum roll, please… Mr. Fluck created a collaborative journal, based on my book Please Write in this Book, so now students can add their own writing! TJ students, make sure to read what I wrote in your journal and have fun writing!

The Humor Writing Workout, taught by Mary Amato
Four Mondays in November, 7:30 – 9:30 pm
at the Old Parish House, 4711 Knox Road, College Park
7:30pm – 9:30pm

Fee: $70 total

Editors are always on the lookout for laughs—even in serious work—so do yourself a huge favor and develop your humor-writing muscles. Through readings, discussion, and writing exercises, we’ll explore four distinct styles of humor, analyzing what works and why. This is not a joke-writing class; it’s a class that will push us to explore different styles of humor in our own writing, whether that be in fiction, poetry, song writing play writing, screen writing, or creative non-fiction.

Please register through College Park Arts Exchange at info@cpae.org

If you are an out-of-towner and you are dying for instruction, consider private Skype lessons. Contact me for more info.