91短视频 junior Maggie Garber has been playing guitar since she was 13. Between school choirs and worship bands, she also has an extensive history of performing publicly. However, spring 2022 marked the first time she performed her original compositions.
The occasion was a 鈥渟ongwriting showcase鈥� hosted by 91短视频 faculty member and alumnus Trent Wagler ’02, the lead singer and songwriter for the nationally recognized Shenandoah Valley-based roots music band The . Wagler earned degrees in and peace, justice, and conflict studies (now ) at 91短视频 in 2002. Spring 2022 marked his debut as an 91短视频 instructor.
Wagler鈥檚 first students were Garber, graduate student Tyler Goss, and junior Joseph Whetzel. Having a teacher of his caliber was an exciting surprise for all three of them. Garber said she 鈥渨ill forever be astounded by the way that the 91短视频 Music Department contributes to an incredible education of its students by bringing in talented teachers and performers to lead us.鈥�
The addition of Wagler to the faculty broadens avenues for students to explore genres, styles and forms of artistic expression, said Professor David Berry, music program director. 鈥淲hat many people don鈥檛 realize is that in addition to being an amazing and accomplished musician, Trent Wagler is also an excellent teacher. We are very fortunate to now have him here on faculty at 91短视频, inspiring and helping to shape the next generation of songwriters.鈥�
In addition to Wagler’s class, 91短视频 music also offers digital songwriting and production lessons with local producer and recording studio owner/engineer .
Berry says there are plans to add more sections of these songwriting classes in the future focusing on different styles and genres of music.
Leaving judgment behind
Wagler has taught songwriting classes in the past through the in Charlottesville, as well as guitar and banjo lessons. 鈥淪ongwriting is a unique pleasure to teach,鈥� he said. 鈥淢any people come to a class with a bashful writing identity and a lot of self-judgment about their writing abilities. I like watching people gain confidence as they share their songs and I marvel at the many directions people can take a writing prompt to create something imaginative and new.鈥�
Garber felt both excited and nervous to work with Wagler, but Wagler 鈥渋s seriously so supportive and a really wonderful performer, writer and teacher,鈥� Garber said. 鈥淏efore this class, I was so afraid of creating anything because the pressure of making anything subpar was so crippling. Through this class, I’ve learned that making something imperfect is better than making nothing at all.鈥�
Goss echoed this sentiment; he loves songwriting because it is out of his comfort zone. 鈥淚 wanted to stretch myself and try something new, find some new way of processing, creating, and expressing,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 have gained such a rich understanding of song structure and lyricism, things like learning how to show it rather than say it.
Sessions cultivate artistic expression
Having one-on-ones with Wagler interspersed with group sessions 鈥渨as a great balance of learning to write songs and also learning to listen and provide helpful feedback on songs others write,鈥� said Goss. He also appreciated Wagler as a teacher. 鈥淗e is so skilled yet humble, and he meets each of us where we are. I never felt embarrassed for my limited skill set. He always had something constructive and helpful to say after each play-through,鈥� Goss said.
This style of class was also ideal for Whetzel. 鈥淚 love to write stories, and often those stories tend to be thinly veiled memories of my own life,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 think songwriting is the ultimate medium for that. I came into this class with only a little songwriting experience on my own, and it’s been really nice to sit down and workshop my pieces with Trent and the other students. It’s really easy to be overly critical of your own work and I think this class has been helpful in just letting ideas flow.鈥�
Whetzel learned through his private guitar lessons that 91短视频 was offering private lessons in songwriting, and jumped at the opportunity. He didn鈥檛 know Wagler would be his instructor. 鈥淭rent is awesome,鈥� he said. 鈥淸and] great about digging into each aspect of the songwriting process to make you question your work, in a good way.鈥� Whetzel appreciates the way Wagler gives suggestions without micromanaging, so that 鈥渢he writer can move the way they want to.鈥�
Songs 鈥榖orn and raised鈥� in class
This songwriting class was meant to be practice-based, said Wagler. 鈥淲riters write, and sometimes we improve through repetition and practice.鈥� Wagler likes to think of it as he would think of a yoga class. 鈥淲e鈥檙e all practicing together, writing, exploring, and growing.鈥�
The academic portion of the class included discussing classic popular song forms and listening and critiquing songs. There was often a weekly writing prompt and class time 鈥渋ncreasingly became about sharing new works and critiquing them with the goal of building each student鈥檚 repertoire towards the final performance,鈥� said Wagler.
Wagler cherishes getting to perform with the students and being present for their public sharing. 鈥淓ach student has their own unique writing voice and has grown throughout the semester,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 something really satisfying about hearing a song performed that was born and raised in the class.鈥�
Having Wagler as an instructor was extra meaningful for Garber鈥攁s an early high school student, she 鈥渇irst watched The Steel Wheels play at the Redwing Roots Festival on a sticky night with a crowd standing shoulder to shoulder at Natural Chimneys campground,鈥� Garber said. 鈥淪ince then, I have wanted to be on that stage, playing my music.鈥�