Quick look: Fender, in partnership with Orange County Music & Dance, Arts Orange County and OCDE, will host a free songwriting workshop Sept. 20 in Irvine for high school students. The daylong program will cover guitar, bass and ukulele, guiding participants through the songwriting process and ending with original recordings.
Orange County high school students can explore their musical creativity during a free, daylong workshop on Saturday, Sept. 20 at Orange County Music & Dance in Irvine.
Presented by the Fender Play Foundation, Orange County Music & Dance, Arts Orange County and the Orange County Department of Education, the workshop will offer instruction from professional teaching artists, along with access to the Fender Play App, Fender Studio App and Mustang Micro headphone amplifiers. No experience or instruments are required, though students may bring their own.
Founded in Fullerton in the 1940s, Fender has grown into one of the world’s most recognized brands in music. The workshop continues that legacy locally by providing Orange County students with the opportunity to learn core songwriting skills, including rhythm, melody, chords, harmony, lyric writing and arranging, and record an original song by the end of the day.
“It is a wonderful time for us to consider elevating student voices through songwriting,” said Scott Fitzpatrick, arts coordinator for OCDE. “Creating in all art forms, including songwriting, supports student self-expression and connectedness. For my part, I’m looking forward to hearing the great ideas students will share and develop.”
“Orange County Music & Dance is excited to collaborate with Fender, Arts Orange County and OCDE to provide an opportunity for young people to learn how to express themselves through songwriting,” said David Dunford, president of Orange County Music & Dance.
Organizers say the workshop is designed to inspire creativity while equipping students with practical tools for songwriting.
“Fender is thrilled to offer this hands-on songwriting experience where students don’t just learn about music — they create it,” said Cliff Kim, president of the Fender Play Foundation. “Every participant will walk away with their own original recording, proving that every student has a unique musical voice waiting to be discovered.”
Lunch will be provided by Arts Orange County. At the end of the workshop, Fender will give away two Fender Acoustasonic Player Jazzmaster guitars, one to a student and one to a teacher who complete all sessions and tasks.
Space is limited. Students can register for free and learn more about this opportunity at https://tinyurl.com/FenderOC.
In the coming weeks, OCDE will also announce a new songwriting competition for high school students, offering another chance to showcase creativity through music. Organizers say the upcoming event and the workshop together will provide unique opportunities for students to develop and share their voices.