Today, Mark S. Meritt began training to become a licensed teacher of the revolutionary Simply Music piano method.

With the Simply Music playing-based method, students will learn a great amount of high quality music, quickly and easily, learning to play with both hands starting from their first lessons. Students will develop a repertoire of fun-to-play pop, blues, classical and accompaniment pieces within just a few months of starting the program.

There’s lots more to say about this remarkable program, so watch for changes here at the Potluck Creative Arts website once Mark’s training is complete. In the meantime, to learn more about the program, visit SimplyMusic.com and Contact Us to let us know you’re interested!

Potluck Creative Arts proudly presents these workshop offerings for the Summer 2008 term, Monday 7/7/2008 to Friday 8/29/2008 (off 8/11/08-8/15/08).

• Songwriting Workshops for Kids — Wednesdays 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
• Singalong Workshops for All Ages — Thursdays 10:00 a.m.-10:45 a.m.

Enrollment Options

• Individual classes or term enrollments — Attend individual classes at your convenience, or receive a 5% tuition discount for a complete workshop series!
• Family discounts available! — However many members of your family enroll in however many current workshop offerings, you’ll receive a 10% discount on all tuition fees after one! And for Singalong Workshops, an adult enrolls for free with each child, and siblings 12 months or younger are also free!
• Tailor schedules, groups and fake books — Interested in a day or time not scheduled? Want a regularly scheduled workshop series at Mark’s studio just for your group, whatever their ages? If you can find others to enroll with, Mark will be happy to add an offering to his regular schedule, just for you! And for Singalong Workshops, your group can even choose its own fake book!

Registration by one week prior to your first workshop date is recommended. Late term enrollments with prorated tuition will be considered.

Songwriting Workshops for Kids

Great for your elementary school-aged child! Offerings for Summer 2008:

Songwriting for Kids — Offering OH08004
Day/Time: Wednesdays 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
Dates: 7/9/2008-8/27/2008, off 8/13/2008 (7 workshops)
Location: The Potluck Creative Arts studio in the Village of Red Hook, NY
Tuition: $133.00, or $20.00 each for individual classes
Podcast Link: Songwriting Workshop OH08004 Podcast
Archive Link: Songwriting Workshop OH08004 Archive

Materials to Bring:

• None!

At the last workshop for all songwriting offerings, enjoy a recital of the group’s entire repertoire of original works, followed by a talk on how you can apply the workshop process to bring creativity to any area of life or work.

To enroll, just print, complete and deliver this agreement for each participant along with your tuition payment.

Learn more about Songwriting Workshops for kids.

Singalong Workshops for All Ages

Ideal for parents and their young children from infants through preschoolers, but great for anyone! Offerings for Summer 2008:

Singalong for All Ages — Offering OC08005
Day/Time: Thursdays 10:00 a.m.-10:45 a.m.
Dates: 7/10/2008-8/28/2008, off 8/14/2008 (7 workshops)
Location: The Potluck Creative Arts studio in the Village of Red Hook, NY
Tuition: $99.75, or $15.00 each for individual classes

Materials to Bring:

• The Best Fake Book Ever • If you don’t already have it, ask to have it purchased for you along with your enrollment, or purchase it yourself at:
  
  
• Your choice of up to three non-melodic instruments (optional)

To enroll, just print, complete and deliver this agreement for each participant along with your tuition payment.

Learn more about Singalong Workshops.

Potluck Creative Arts proudly announces the presentation of Songwriting Workshops through Red Hook Continuing Education during Spring 2008. This is a unique opportunity to experience the Songwriting Workshops at a dramatically reduced cost!

Collaborative Songwriting Workshop through Red Hook Continuing Education — Offering OH08003
Day/Time: Tuesdays 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
Dates: 4/1/2008-5/13/2008, off 4/15/08 (6 workshops)
Location: TBD (check this page for updates)
Tuition: $65.00 to be paid directly to RHCSD
Podcast Link: Songwriting Workshop OH08003 Podcast
Archive Link: Songwriting Workshop OH08003 Archive

Materials to Bring:

• None!

To enroll:

• Register through Continuing Education at the Red Hook Central School District.
• Print, complete and bring to the first workshop this agreement for each participant. Because the class is administered by the Red Hook Central School District, tuition is to be paid directly and only to RHCSD — therefore, for the purpose of completing and submitting this participation agreement, there is no enrollment fee for this offering.

Learn more about Songwriting Workshops.

This song was written from scratch on December 29, 2007, during a Potluck Creative Arts Songwriting Workshop commissioned as a Christmas present for ABB to participate in with her grandchildren. It took 90 minutes, starting only with the topic of Wynterwade, a house on Nantucket Island where the family has vacationed for many years. Learn more about the Songwriting Workshop which uses Appreciative Inquiry to foster collaborative creativity.

Music and lyrics by ABB & Grandkids, with Mark S. Meritt (facilitator)

The original workshop performance was by ABB & Grandkids and Mark on December 29, 2007.

Listen to the Podcast MP3.

Watch the video right here by just pressing Play immediately below. Or, visit YouTube to see the video or post a comment.

Lyrics

Pack the car, hit the highway, we’re ready to go
To the steamship ferry, and the whistle will blow
Three lighthouses and cobblestone streets
And sandy beaches for all our bare feet

You, me, the whole family
On the porch in the rain or out in the sun
Me, you, the animals, too
Wynterwade’s the place for family fun

Lucky stones and jingle shells, jellyfish, too
A horseshoe crab is waiting for you
On the boat we go clamming — ready about!
Hope the shellfish warden doesn’t find out

You, me, the whole family
On the porch in the rain or out in the sun
Me, you, the animals, too
Wynterwade’s the place for family fun
Wynterwade’s the place for family fun

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

Potluck Creative Arts is celebrating the holiday season this year by offering free Singalongs and Songwriting Workshops in December! All events will be led by musician/songwriter Mark S. Meritt, whose improvisational skills bring all the songs to life.

Holiday Season Singalong for All Ages

Great for anybody age zero and up — come ready to request your favorite holiday and seasonal songs for everybody to sing along with! Location: Taste Budd’s Chocolate & Coffee Cafe in the Village of Red Hook, NY.

• Saturday, December 15, 2007, 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Just show up and have fun, no reservations required! Learn more about Singalong Workshops.

Singalong Workshops for All Ages

Ideal for parents and their young children from infants through preschoolers, but great for anyone — sing along with pop, rock, standards, show tunes and more! Location: the Potluck Creative Arts studio in the Village of Red Hook, NY.

• Monday, December 10, 2007, 4:00 p.m.-4:45 p.m. — Offering OC0700106
• Friday, December 14, 2007, 10:00 a.m.-10:45 a.m. — Offering OC0700206
• Monday, December 17, 2007, 4:00 p.m.-4:45 p.m. — Offering OC0700107
• Friday, December 21, 2007, 10:00 a.m.-10:45 a.m. — Offering OC0700207

To attend, just print, complete and deliver this agreement for each participant. Reserve your spots early since space may be limited, but as long as there is availability, feel free to attend as many of these free workshops as you like! Learn more about Singalong Workshops.

Songwriting Workshops for Kids

Great for your elementary school-aged children — they’ll enjoy tapping into their creativity by collaboratively writing original songs from scratch, whether or not they have any experience creating music or lyrics! Location: the Potluck Creative Arts studio in the Village of Red Hook, NY.

• Tuesday, December 11, 2007, 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. — Offering OH0800206
• Tuesday, December 18, 2007, 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. — Offering OH0800207

To attend, just print, complete and deliver this agreement for each participant. Reserve your spots early since space may be limited, but as long as there is availability, feel free to attend as many of these free workshops as you like! Learn more about Songwriting Workshops for kids.

Potluck Creative Arts proudly presents these workshop offerings and options for the Fall 2007, Winter 2008 and Spring 2008 terms:

Schedules

• Fall 2007 — Monday 10/29/2007 to Friday 12/21/2007 (off Thanksgiving week)
• Winter 2008 — Monday 1/21/2008 to Friday 3/28/2008
• Spring 2008 — Monday 3/31/2008 to Friday 6/20/2008 (off 4/14/2008-4/18/2008 and 5/22/2008-5/28/2008)

Individual classes or term enrollments

Attend individual classes at your convenience, or receive a 5% tuition discount for a complete workshop series!

To attend an individual workshop, check the current schedule for day and time, then get in touch to confirm availability. If the workshop is booked up, you can find out when the next available workshop will be. If the workshop has been canceled, depending on the circumstances, it may be able to be put back on just for you — the more people interested, the more likely it can be put on!

Family discounts available

However many members of your family enroll in however many current workshop offerings, you’ll receive a 10% discount on all tuition fees after one! And for Singalong Workshops, an adult enrolls for free with each child, and siblings 12 months or younger are also free!

Tailor schedules and groups

Interested in a day or time not scheduled? Want a regularly scheduled workshop series at Mark’s studio just for your group, whatever their ages? If you can find others to enroll with, Mark will be happy to add an offering to his regular schedule, just for you! And for Singalong Workshops, your group can choose its own fake book!

Customize your own

And remember, you can also customize your own Songwriting Workshops for any situation, with one or multiple workshops taking place at your choice of location.

Current schedules

You can always find information on current offerings at the Workshop Schedules page.

Potluck Creative Arts proudly presents these workshop offerings for the Spring 2008 term, Monday 3/31/2008 to Friday 6/20/2008 (off 4/14/2008-4/18/2008 and 5/22/2008-5/28/2008).

• Singalong Workshops for All Ages — Mondays 4:00 p.m.-4:45 p.m.
• Songwriting Workshops for Kids — Tuesdays 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
• Singalong Workshops for All Ages — Fridays 10:00 a.m.-10:45 a.m.

Enrollment Options

• Individual classes or term enrollments — Attend individual classes at your convenience, or receive a 5% tuition discount for a complete workshop series!
• Family discounts available! — However many members of your family enroll in however many current workshop offerings, you’ll receive a 10% discount on all tuition fees after one! And for Singalong Workshops, an adult enrolls for free with each child, and siblings 12 months or younger are also free!
• Tailor schedules, groups and fake books — Interested in a day or time not scheduled? Want a regularly scheduled workshop series at Mark’s studio just for your group, whatever their ages? If you can find others to enroll with, Mark will be happy to add an offering to his regular schedule, just for you! And for Singalong Workshops, your group can even choose its own fake book!

Registration by one week prior to your first workshop date is recommended. Late term enrollments with prorated tuition will be considered.

Songwriting Workshops for Kids

Great for your elementary school-aged child! Offerings for Spring 2008:

Songwriting for Kids — Offering OH08002
Day/Time: Tuesdays 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Dates: 4/1/2008-6/17/2008, off 4/15/08 and 5/27/08 (10 workshops)
Location: The Potluck Creative Arts studio in the Village of Red Hook, NY
Tuition: $190.00, or $20.00 each for individual classes
Podcast Link: Songwriting Workshop OH08002 Podcast
Archive Link: Songwriting Workshop OH08002 Archive

Materials to Bring:

• None!

At the last workshop for all songwriting offerings, enjoy a recital of the group’s entire repertoire of original works, followed by a talk on how you can apply the workshop process to bring creativity to any area of life or work.

To enroll, just print, complete and deliver this agreement for each participant along with your tuition payment.

Learn more about Songwriting Workshops for kids.

Singalong Workshops for All Ages

Ideal for parents and their young children from infants through preschoolers, but great for anyone! Offerings for Spring 2008:

Singalong for All Ages — Offering OC08003
Day/Time: Mondays 4:00 p.m.-4:45 p.m.
Dates: 3/31/2008-6/16/2008, off 4/14/08 and 5/26/08 (10 workshops)
Location: The Potluck Creative Arts studio in the Village of Red Hook, NY
Tuition: $142.50, or $15.00 each for individual classes

Singalong for All Ages — Offering OC08004
Day/Time: Fridays 10:00 a.m.-10:45 a.m.
Dates: 4/4/2008-6/20/2008, off 4/18/08 and 5/23/08 (10 workshops)
Location: The Potluck Creative Arts studio in the Village of Red Hook, NY
Tuition: $142.50, or $15.00 each for individual classes

Materials to Bring:

• The Best Fake Book Ever • If you don’t already have it, ask to have it purchased for you along with your enrollment, or purchase it yourself at:
  
  
• Your choice of up to three non-melodic instruments (optional)

To enroll, just print, complete and deliver this agreement for each participant along with your tuition payment.

Learn more about Singalong Workshops.

Potluck Creative Arts proudly presents these workshop offerings for the Winter 2008 term, Monday 1/21/2008 to Friday 3/28/2008.

• Singalong Workshops for All Ages — Mondays 4:00 p.m.-4:45 p.m.
• Songwriting Workshops for Kids — Tuesdays 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
• Singalong Workshops for All Ages — Fridays 10:00 a.m.-10:45 a.m.

Enrollment Options

• Individual classes or term enrollments — Attend individual classes at your convenience, or receive a 5% tuition discount for a complete workshop series!
• Family discounts available! — However many members of your family enroll in however many current workshop offerings, you’ll receive a 10% discount on all tuition fees after one! And for Singalong Workshops, an adult enrolls for free with each child, and siblings 12 months or younger are also free!
• Tailor schedules, groups and fake books — Interested in a day or time not scheduled? Want a regularly scheduled workshop series at Mark’s studio just for your group, whatever their ages? If you can find others to enroll with, Mark will be happy to add an offering to his regular schedule, just for you! And for Singalong Workshops, your group can even choose its own fake book!

Registration by one week prior to your first workshop date is recommended. Late term enrollments with prorated tuition will be considered.

Songwriting Workshops for Kids

Great for your elementary school-aged child! Offerings for Winter 2008:

Songwriting for Kids — Offering OH08001
Day/Time: Tuesdays 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Dates: 1/22/2008-3/25/2008 (10 workshops)
Location: The Potluck Creative Arts studio in the Village of Red Hook, NY
Tuition: $190.00, or $20.00 each for individual classes
Podcast Link: Songwriting Workshop OH08001 Podcast
Archive Link: Songwriting Workshop OH08001 Archive

Materials to Bring:

• None!

At the last workshop for all songwriting offerings, enjoy a recital of the group’s entire repertoire of original works, followed by a talk on how you can apply the workshop process to bring creativity to any area of life or work.

To enroll, just print, complete and deliver this agreement for each participant along with your tuition payment.

Learn more about Songwriting Workshops for kids.

Singalong Workshops for All Ages

Ideal for parents and their young children from infants through preschoolers, but great for anyone! Offerings for Winter 2008:

Singalong for All Ages — Offering OC08001
Day/Time: Mondays 4:00 p.m.-4:45 p.m.
Dates: 1/21/2008-3/24/2008 (10 workshops)
Location: The Potluck Creative Arts studio in the Village of Red Hook, NY
Tuition: $142.50, or $15.00 each for individual classes

Singalong for All Ages — Offering OC08002
Day/Time: Fridays 10:00 a.m.-10:45 a.m.
Dates: 1/25/2008-3/28/2008 (10 workshops)
Location: The Potluck Creative Arts studio in the Village of Red Hook, NY
Tuition: $142.50, or $15.00 each for individual classes

Materials to Bring:

• The Best Fake Book Ever • If you don’t already have it, ask to have it purchased for you along with your enrollment, or purchase it yourself at:
  
  
• Your choice of up to three non-melodic instruments (optional)

To enroll, just print, complete and deliver this agreement for each participant along with your tuition payment.

Learn more about Singalong Workshops.

Potluck Creative Arts proudly presents these workshop offerings for the Fall 2007 term, Monday 10/29/2007 to Friday 12/21/2007 (off Thanksgiving week).

• Singalong Workshops for All Ages — Mondays 4:00 p.m.-4:45 p.m.
• Songwriting Workshops for Kids — Tuesdays 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
• Singalong Workshops for All Ages — Fridays 10:00 a.m.-10:45 a.m.

Enrollment Options

• Individual classes or term enrollments — Attend individual classes at your convenience, or receive a 5% tuition discount for a complete workshop series!
• Family discounts available! — However many members of your family enroll in however many current workshop offerings, you’ll receive a 10% discount on all tuition fees after one! And for Singalong Workshops, an adult enrolls for free with each child, and siblings 12 months or younger are also free!
• Tailor schedules, groups and fake books — Interested in a day or time not scheduled? Want a regularly scheduled workshop series at Mark’s studio just for your group, whatever their ages? If you can find others to enroll with, Mark will be happy to add an offering to his regular schedule, just for you! And for Singalong Workshops, your group can even choose its own fake book!

Registration by one week prior to your first workshop date is recommended. Late term enrollments with prorated tuition will be considered.

Songwriting Workshops for Kids

Great for your elementary school-aged child! Offerings for Fall 2007:

Songwriting for Kids — Offering OH07002
Day/Time: Tuesdays 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Dates: 10/30/2007-12/18/2007, off the week of Thanksgiving (7 workshops)
Location: The Potluck Creative Arts studio in the Village of Red Hook, NY
Tuition: $133.00, or $20.00 each for individual classes
Podcast Link: Songwriting Workshop OH07002 Podcast
Archive Link: Songwriting Workshop OH07002 Archive

Materials to Bring:

• None!

At the last workshop for all songwriting offerings, enjoy a recital of the group’s entire repertoire of original works, followed by a talk on how you can apply the workshop process to bring creativity to any area of life or work.

To enroll, just print, complete and deliver this agreement for each participant along with your tuition payment.

Learn more about Songwriting Workshops for kids.

Singalong Workshops for All Ages

Ideal for parents and their young children from infants through preschoolers, but great for anyone! Offerings for Fall 2007:

Singalong for All Ages — Offering OC07001
Day/Time: Mondays 4:00 p.m.-4:45 p.m.
Dates: 10/29/2007-12/17/2007, off the week of Thanksgiving (7 workshops)
Location: The Potluck Creative Arts studio in the Village of Red Hook, NY
Tuition: $99.75, or $15.00 each for individual classes

Singalong for All Ages — Offering OC07002
Day/Time: Fridays 10:00 a.m.-10:45 a.m.
Dates: 11/2/2007-12/21/2007, off the week of Thanksgiving (7 workshops)
Location: The Potluck Creative Arts studio in the Village of Red Hook, NY
Tuition: $99.75, or $15.00 each for individual classes

Materials to Bring:

• The Best Fake Book Ever • If you don’t already have it, ask to have it purchased for you along with your enrollment, or purchase it yourself at:
  
  
• Your choice of up to three non-melodic instruments (optional)

To enroll, just print, complete and deliver this agreement for each participant along with your tuition payment.

Learn more about Singalong Workshops.

I take piano lessons with Mark Meritt. It is very fun because he encourages me by playing the piece before I take it home, so I can hear what it sounds like. Then I take it home and try to play it very slow. I work my way up to it and now I am very good. Thank you Mark for making a hard instrument fun!! I am now at Level 2 in the Alfred’s Basic Piano series.

Sarah Prosser, age 9

Learn more about Music Lessons.