Beginning Songwriting Class
For People with Upper Limb Differences & Hand Disabilities
Tuesdays, September 1 - October 27, 2026
4:30 - 6:30 pm Pacific / 7:30 - 9:30 pm Eastern - Time Zone Converter
Online on Zoom
Everyone has songs inside of them. What do yours sound like? Join us to unlock your creativity and let your songs out!
This online community class centers folks with upper limb differences and hand disabilities, including but not limited to people with amputation, arthritis, muscle weakness, and repetitive stress injuries. We welcome people with all levels of musical experience, difference, and disability. The class will be co-taught by Eli Conley, a singer-songwriter and teaching artist who has De Quervain tenosynovitis, and Lee Swanson, a musician with Amniotic Band Syndrome who founded the Hand & Limb Different Musicians Collective.
Whether you're totally new to songwriting or you've been writing for years, this class will get your creative juices flowing and provide a supportive space for navigating physical difference and/or disability as a songwriter.
Over the course of nine weeks we'll explore rhyme, melody, song form, hooks, and basic chord theory. Participants will share works in progress and receive supportive feedback to help them grow as songwriters. We'll analyze songs to understand different tools you can use to take listeners on an emotional journey. We'll also discuss creative approaches to playing music with physical limitations.
It is recommended (but not required) that participants be able to sing a simple song. No other musical experience is necessary. You do not need to read music or know any music theory to participate. Beginning songwriters are very welcome! While the class has some content about chords and writing songs with instruments, we welcome participants who want to write a cappella (voice only) songs.
This class celebrates human creativity and will not include any content on using generative AI for songwriting or instrumentation.
Our time together will culminate with a celebratory online performance on the last day!
About the Teachers
Eli Conley is a singer-songwriter and teaching artist based in Sacramento, California. He makes music for queer and trans folks, justice seekers, and anyone who doesn’t fit in a box. Eli's voice is tender and heartfelt, with melodies that may leave you teary-eyed yet hopeful. As a queer transgender man from the South, his songs tell stories that aren’t always reflected in roots music. Eli has a deep commitment to building collective power, creativity, and resilience through music. He has bilateral de Quervain tenosynovitis, a repetitive stress injury in both wrists. In addition to group classes and workshops, Eli also offers private songwriting coaching.
Lee Swanson is a musician and performer with hand differences resulting from Amniotic Band Syndrome and chronic illness living in the Washington D.C. Metro Area. Originally from Tennessee, Lee plays mountain dulcimer and is passionate about accessibility in the arts. They coordinate a virtual peer support group for hand & limb different musicians and the Trans Community Chorus of Metro DC. Learn more about Lee.
Accessibility
This is a disability-centered, neurodivergent-friendly class. Autocaptions will be enabled in Zoom. Live attendance is encouraged, but all classes will also be recorded and available to watch for one week after each session. Please share your specific access needs with us when you register. You're also welcome to reach out with any questions about accessibility: [email protected].
Accessible Instrument Resources
If you are searching for an accessible instrument, please find some information below that may help with your search. If desired, Lee is also available to meet with you prior to the beginning of class to discuss your instrument search. Reach out to [email protected].
You do not need to play an instrument or have identified an accessible instrument for you prior to the start of class. You are welcome to write songs a cappella (without an instrument).
Free Online Tools Chord Playing Apps
The cost of this class is on a sliding scale, and payment is due in two installments:
- 50% when you register, to hold your spot
- 50% on the first day of class
Participants can also request a payment plan to break up their payment into more installments.
At Cost: $376 (Unlimited spots)
This is the true cost of the class, and the rate I need most people to pay in order to cover my costs and pay myself a living wage.
Higher Rate: $476 (Unlimited spots)
This is a pay-it-forward rate. It's an opportunity to not only take this class, but also support your fellow community members in doing so too. Consider paying this amount if you are comfortably able to meet your basic needs (food, housing, healthcare, transportation, childcare), own the home your live in or rent a higher end property, have access to financial savings and/or investments, have paid or pay for private education, have reliable work or do not need to work to meet your needs, have inherited wealth, and/or can afford to travel every year.
Lower Rate: $276 (4 spots)
This is a discounted rate. Consider paying this amount if you have limited expendable income, little or no access to savings, significant debt, and little or no access to financial support from family.
Pay What You Can (2 spots)
Two pay-what-you-can spots are available in this class. If you are Black, Indigenous, a Person of Color, and/or disabled and paying more would be a hardship, this option is for you.
We are grateful to Alexis J. Cunningfolk of Worts and Cunning Apothecary and Hadassah Damien of Ride Free Fearless Money for inspiring my approach to sliding scale.
For People with Upper Limb Differences & Hand Disabilities
Tuesdays, September 1 - October 27, 2026
4:30 - 6:30 pm Pacific / 7:30 - 9:30 pm Eastern - Time Zone Converter
Online on Zoom
Everyone has songs inside of them. What do yours sound like? Join us to unlock your creativity and let your songs out!
This online community class centers folks with upper limb differences and hand disabilities, including but not limited to people with amputation, arthritis, muscle weakness, and repetitive stress injuries. We welcome people with all levels of musical experience, difference, and disability. The class will be co-taught by Eli Conley, a singer-songwriter and teaching artist who has De Quervain tenosynovitis, and Lee Swanson, a musician with Amniotic Band Syndrome who founded the Hand & Limb Different Musicians Collective.
Whether you're totally new to songwriting or you've been writing for years, this class will get your creative juices flowing and provide a supportive space for navigating physical difference and/or disability as a songwriter.
Over the course of nine weeks we'll explore rhyme, melody, song form, hooks, and basic chord theory. Participants will share works in progress and receive supportive feedback to help them grow as songwriters. We'll analyze songs to understand different tools you can use to take listeners on an emotional journey. We'll also discuss creative approaches to playing music with physical limitations.
It is recommended (but not required) that participants be able to sing a simple song. No other musical experience is necessary. You do not need to read music or know any music theory to participate. Beginning songwriters are very welcome! While the class has some content about chords and writing songs with instruments, we welcome participants who want to write a cappella (voice only) songs.
This class celebrates human creativity and will not include any content on using generative AI for songwriting or instrumentation.
Our time together will culminate with a celebratory online performance on the last day!
About the Teachers
Eli Conley is a singer-songwriter and teaching artist based in Sacramento, California. He makes music for queer and trans folks, justice seekers, and anyone who doesn’t fit in a box. Eli's voice is tender and heartfelt, with melodies that may leave you teary-eyed yet hopeful. As a queer transgender man from the South, his songs tell stories that aren’t always reflected in roots music. Eli has a deep commitment to building collective power, creativity, and resilience through music. He has bilateral de Quervain tenosynovitis, a repetitive stress injury in both wrists. In addition to group classes and workshops, Eli also offers private songwriting coaching.
Lee Swanson is a musician and performer with hand differences resulting from Amniotic Band Syndrome and chronic illness living in the Washington D.C. Metro Area. Originally from Tennessee, Lee plays mountain dulcimer and is passionate about accessibility in the arts. They coordinate a virtual peer support group for hand & limb different musicians and the Trans Community Chorus of Metro DC. Learn more about Lee.
Accessibility
This is a disability-centered, neurodivergent-friendly class. Autocaptions will be enabled in Zoom. Live attendance is encouraged, but all classes will also be recorded and available to watch for one week after each session. Please share your specific access needs with us when you register. You're also welcome to reach out with any questions about accessibility: [email protected].
Accessible Instrument Resources
If you are searching for an accessible instrument, please find some information below that may help with your search. If desired, Lee is also available to meet with you prior to the beginning of class to discuss your instrument search. Reach out to [email protected].
You do not need to play an instrument or have identified an accessible instrument for you prior to the start of class. You are welcome to write songs a cappella (without an instrument).
Free Online Tools Chord Playing Apps
- Demo: Songwriting Studio (for Mac products)
- Harmonique (for Mac products)
- Demonstration of one-handed piano playing
- Pianist Valerie Thomforde provides virtual consultations for adaptive piano playing, with payment on a sliding scale
- Affordable entry-level cardboard mountain dulcimers are available from Fireside Harps
- Playing the lyre one-handed
- Ukulele support system for upper limb disabilities
The cost of this class is on a sliding scale, and payment is due in two installments:
- 50% when you register, to hold your spot
- 50% on the first day of class
Participants can also request a payment plan to break up their payment into more installments.
At Cost: $376 (Unlimited spots)
This is the true cost of the class, and the rate I need most people to pay in order to cover my costs and pay myself a living wage.
Higher Rate: $476 (Unlimited spots)
This is a pay-it-forward rate. It's an opportunity to not only take this class, but also support your fellow community members in doing so too. Consider paying this amount if you are comfortably able to meet your basic needs (food, housing, healthcare, transportation, childcare), own the home your live in or rent a higher end property, have access to financial savings and/or investments, have paid or pay for private education, have reliable work or do not need to work to meet your needs, have inherited wealth, and/or can afford to travel every year.
Lower Rate: $276 (4 spots)
This is a discounted rate. Consider paying this amount if you have limited expendable income, little or no access to savings, significant debt, and little or no access to financial support from family.
Pay What You Can (2 spots)
Two pay-what-you-can spots are available in this class. If you are Black, Indigenous, a Person of Color, and/or disabled and paying more would be a hardship, this option is for you.
We are grateful to Alexis J. Cunningfolk of Worts and Cunning Apothecary and Hadassah Damien of Ride Free Fearless Money for inspiring my approach to sliding scale.