‘They’re sharing knowledge’: Music program launches in Washougal

Christopher and Stephanie Corbell launched the nonprofit Washougal Songcraft Festival in 2022 to promote arts education, celebrate the craft of songwriting, and develop the performing arts and creative community of Washougal.

Right from the start, the Corbells knew that children and teenagers would have to play a vital role in the success of the organization.

“I would love to see more and more kids start getting their own creativity engaged,” Christopher Corbell said. “Having that energy from the youth to be creative and to express themselves is such an important part of local culture and local community, and that’s part of our broader mission — not just music education, but seeing a homegrown cultural identity flourish here in Washougal.”

The organization launched a music education program this spring at Washougal High School. The program brings regional songwriters into classrooms to perform original songs and talk to students about musical creativity, expression, practice and production.

The program was organized by Washougal Songcraft Festival board members Jim Warford and Christopher Corbell in collaboration with Washougal High music teacher David Duarte (and with the approval of Principal Mark Castle and Superintendent Aaron Hansen).

“Since the pandemic, our schools have had a lot of challenges, and I know that here in east Clark County, we don’t always have the budgets to keep growing the curriculum, especially in the arts,” Christopher Corbell said. “This is something that we can do pretty affordably as a nonprofit, with our fundraising and with our connections to so many wonderful songwriters in the region.”

So far, the nonprofit organization has sponsored three songwriter sessions in Duarte’s choir class and two sessions in the school’s music production class.

“The students have been great,” Duarte said. “Teenagers are sometimes quiet in reflective or creative atmospheres like this, but you can feel the energy in the room. They are focused, thoughtful and fully engaged. They have learned how to shape lyrics, work collaboratively and reflect on what they want to say through music. Even without loud reactions, their body language and presence show that this experience is meaningful to them.”

On April 8, songwriter Brenna Larsen led the first choir session, performing a song and talking about her songwriting process. Sibling songwriters Hannah and Mookie Morton of the band LASKA led the next session, which included a lyric writing workshop April 17.

Portland-based sound engineer and bandleader Nik Kemmer led a session for the music production class April 21, teaching the students about the recording process and the way different audio effects are used in studios. And Christopher Corbell was joined by Vancouver opera singer Dan Gibbs and pianist Hannah Early on April 25 for a session on song composition, with the students composing a melody for a short poem and learning about some advanced vocal exercises.

Christopher and Stephanie Corbell performed and talked with the music production students May 6 about instrumentation and producing live music events.

“This experience connects classroom learning with personal artistry,” Duarte said. “Students build confidence and gain insight by creating something meaningful and original. It supports our music program by expanding students’ understanding of what music education can be — not just performing others’ work but telling their own stories through sound.”

One more session is scheduled this month.

“The songwriters love to connect with kids and feel like they’re passing a torch, like they’re sharing knowledge,” Christopher Corbell said. “And the kids get excited to go beyond their curriculum, however good it might be. It’s always nice to get the perspective of someone who’s out there in the world, doing it, playing shows, making albums and doing things like that. It lends excitement and makes it more tangible for the kids.”

The Corbells are operating the program as a pilot this spring but hope that it can become a permanent fixture in future years.

“Maybe parents will want their kids to be in the Washougal School District because their kid likes songs, plays guitar, and wants to have this kind of exposure,” Christopher Corbell said. “That’s the best scenario I see going forward, that we could actually become a regular part of Washougal High School’s offerings. And who knows, maybe down the road, we’ll be able to branch out to other age groups, too.”