March 4, 2026

Join us on Zoom this weekend.

Here's what will be happening on Sunday, March 8 at 2 p.m.

We'll meet on Zoom. Bring something to share.

Here's the link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82787694684?pwd=dmJWemxOckJET29mdCtJQjc3Ry8yZz09

Meeting ID: 827 8769 4684

Passcode: 939440



Last week on Zoom:

Sorry, no report was posted for last week.



Save the Date!

SSV PDX Spring Fundraiser

Sunday, March 29, 7 p.m.

Artichoke Community Music



And from the folks at the SSV home office:

March Master Class

James Downes 3/9/26

We’re honored to welcome James Downes as our guest instructor for this month’s Soldier Songs and Voices Masterclass.

In his session, “Beyond the Beginner’s Box: Adding Emotional Depth to Your Guitar Playing,” James will explore how to move past mechanical chord shapes and predictable strumming patterns, and into playing that carries weight, nuance, and emotional intention. This workshop is built for guitarists who know their fundamentals and are ready to make their instrument support the story they are trying to tell.

James Downes is a professional touring musician, songwriter, and the creator of the Folk Guitar MasterClass, an online platform helping guitarists break out of the beginner’s box and play with deeper emotional expression. With over 30 years of playing experience and more than 15 years teaching, James has worked with thousands of students around the world. He has shared stages with artists like Beck and Graham Nash, and brings that real world experience into every lesson. His teaching focuses on clarity, feel, and helping everyday guitarists sound more like themselves, not just copies of their heroes.

Join us Monday the 9th for an evening of craft, conversation, and practical tools you can immediately bring into your own songwriting. (Come to the meeting tonight, March 2nd, and work on that song you want to show off!)

Check out James’s music here

Master class every Monday

3pm PT, 4pm MT, 5pm CT, 6pm ET

Click here to join the Master Class Zoom Meeting



Coming up:

We'll be at Artichoke Community Music on March 15 and on Zoom on March 22 and 29.



Save the dates!

February 24, 2026

Join us on Zoom this weekend.

Here's what will be happening on Sunday, March1 at 2 p.m.

We'll meet on Zoom. Bring something to share.

Here's the link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82787694684?pwd=dmJWemxOckJET29mdCtJQjc3Ry8yZz09

Meeting ID: 827 8769 4684

Passcode: 939440



Last week on Zoom:

Participants:

David W, A change, Season of hate, singing alone, Evergreens, A dream

John L, Dance is never free, Never have, The forever bridge they burned, Big steel wheels, Road trips with you

Jeff C, Fool making woman, I would never have your heart, Wish I could write myself a song

Robert O, Spilled water, Ione, A woman's work is never done, An all night of love

Cherakea, showed up and enjoyed the tunes

Art, If I were a rich man, House of the rising sun

Joanne B, Robert played the song Joanne co-wrote with Robert; A woman's work is never done

Trish (host)

This was a jam-packed, went a little over music-filled session. There was a little less conversation and a whole lot of singing



Save the Date!

SSV PDX Spring Fundraiser

Sunday, March 29, 7 p.m.

Artichoke Community Music



And from the folks at the SSV home office:

Hey songwriters!

Join us for a master class meet up!

Mondays

3pm PT, 4pm MT, 5pm CT, 6pm ET

Click here to join the Master Class Zoom Meeting



Coming up:

We'll be and on Zoom on March 8 and at Artichoke Community Music on March 15.



Save the dates!

February 17, 2026

Join us on Zoom this weekend.

Here's what will be happening on Sunday, February 22 at 2 p.m.

We'll meet on Zoom. Bring something to share.

Here's the link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82787694684?pwd=dmJWemxOckJET29mdCtJQjc3Ry8yZz09

Meeting ID: 827 8769 4684

Passcode: 939440



Last week on at Artichoke:

SSV at Artichoke Music featured the SERJ players. That is Sandra, Ed, Robert, and Jason. We swapped songs and played one of Robert's (Paradise) together. Then we critiqued a song that Sandra is working on. There was so much music we went overtime! Everyone is excited about the SSV performance at Artichoke Music on Sunday, March 29.

Someone should have taken a picture but forgot!



Save the Date!

SSV PDX Spring Fundraiser

Sunday, March 29, 7 p.m.

Artichoke Community Music



And from the folks at the SSV home office:

Hey songwriters!

Join us for a master class meet up!

Mondays

3pm PT, 4pm MT, 5pm CT, 6pm ET

Click here to join the Master Class Zoom Meeting



Coming up:

We'll be and on Zoom on March 1 and 8 and at Artichoke Community Music on March 15.



Save the dates!

February 10, 2026

Welcome!

Join us for some in-person inspiration on Sunday, February 15 at 2 p.m.

We'll be in the upper classroom, as usual. Bring a song or two to share! Or just listen!

Here's where:

Artichoke Community Music

2007 SE Powell Blvd, Portland, OR 97202

Map

We won't be Zooming for this event.



Last week on Zoom:

Participants:

John L prompt start reading, lop sided woman, never my love, the midnight side of me

Carl, Bird in the hand, The whisper

Jeff, Most people are a whole lot nice than me, 3 chord country song, Let it be me, Rainy night in Georgia

Ed, Can't help but wonder where I'm bound, Jambalaya, In Flanders Fields

Trish (host)

What a nice afternoon of music. Some originals, some covers. Some comfortable oldies and some new or new to us.

And from the folks at the SSV home office:

Hey songwriters!

Join us for a master class meet up!

Mondays

3pm PT, 4pm MT, 5pm CT, 6pm ET

Click here to join the Master Class Zoom Meeting



Look for us on Zoom on February 22 and March 1. Our next session at Artichoke will be March 15. Join us!

February 3, 2026

Join us on Zoom this weekend.

Here's what will be happening on Sunday, February 8 at 2 p.m.

We'll meet on Zoom. Bring something to share.

Here's the link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82787694684?pwd=dmJWemxOckJET29mdCtJQjc3Ry8yZz09

Meeting ID: 827 8769 4684

Passcode: 939440



Last week on Zoom:

No summary this week.



Save the Date!

SSV PDX Spring Fundraiser

Sunday, March 29, 7 p.m.

Artichoke Community Music



And from the folks at the SSV home office:

Hey songwriters!

Join us for a master class meet up!

Mondays

3pm PT, 4pm MT, 5pm CT, 6pm ET

Click here to join the Master Class Zoom Meeting



Coming up:

We'll be at Artichoke Community Music on February 15 and on Zoom on February 22.



Save the dates!

January 27, 2026

Join us on Zoom this weekend.

Here's what will be happening on Sunday, February 1 at 2 p.m.

We'll meet on Zoom. Bring something to share.

Here's the link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82787694684?pwd=dmJWemxOckJET29mdCtJQjc3Ry8yZz09

Meeting ID: 827 8769 4684

Passcode: 939440



Last week on Zoom:

Participants:

John L, Listen to the Silence speak, Polaroid, The right one

JMichaels, American beauty, I walked away from love (but ran into you), Jingle bell rock, I like daisies

Cherakea, (she brought her enthusiastic self)

Ed, Flander's fields, Ghost rider

Deb, Crank the music, kindergarten at the VFW, Broken battle buddy (video)

David M, On my dime / heaven was always unlikely (its a working title)

Most of our time was spent listening to each other's music. We decided that someone needs to write a song called, "A working title"



Save the Date!

SSV PDX Spring Fundraiser

Sunday, March 29, 7 p.m.

Artichoke Community Music



And from the folks at the SSV home office:

Hey songwriters!

Join us for a master class meet up!

Mondays

3pm PT, 4pm MT, 5pm CT, 6pm ET

Click here to join the Master Class Zoom Meeting



Coming up:

We'll be on Zoom on February 8 and at Artichoke Community Music on February 15.



Save the dates!

January 23, 2026

Join us on Zoom this weekend.

Here's what will be happening on Sunday, January 25 at 2 p.m.

We'll meet on Zoom. Bring something to share.

Here's the link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82787694684?pwd=dmJWemxOckJET29mdCtJQjc3Ry8yZz09

Meeting ID: 827 8769 4684

Passcode: 939440



Last week at Artichoke:

Wow! What an incredible afternoon of Music!. Jason, Sean and Ed played several original tunes and attempted to collaborate on one cover song, 'if you've got the money I've got the time' by Willie Nelson. The chords are easy, but the rhythm and tempo were difficult to master.



And from the folks at the SSV home office:

Hey songwriters!

Join us for a master class meet up!

Mondays

3pm PT, 4pm MT, 5pm CT, 6pm ET

Click here to join the Master Class Zoom Meeting



Coming up:

We'll be on Zoom on February 1 and 8 and at Artichoke Community Music on February 15.



Save the dates!

January 13, 2026

Welcome!

Join us for some in-person inspiration on Sunday, January 18 at 2 p.m.

We'll be in the upper classroom, as usual. Bring a song or two to share! Or just listen!

Here's where:

Artichoke Community Music

2007 SE Powell Blvd, Portland, OR 97202

Map

We won't be Zooming for this event.



Last week on Zoom:

Participants:

John L (co-host), Just right for me, 18, Cypress of Medina

Cherakea, New to the group

Deb, Time for me to go, Play me, Dump him

JMichaels, It's so easy loving you, Ba moui ba, Let it snow (a rocked out version)

David M, Heaven was always unlikely, Smiling out loud, Some left over Sun, Borrowed light

Art, Fly me to the Moon, a few power chords

Trish (host) Empty tables, I don't mind

Lots of tunes played.



Cherakea is new to SSV and said she enjoyed listening to the music and hearing all the different skill levels. She and I stayed after to talk a bit more about her needs and expectations.

And from the folks at the SSV home office:

Hey songwriters!

Join us for a master class meet up!

Mondays

3pm PT, 4pm MT, 5pm CT, 6pm ET

Click here to join the Master Class Zoom Meeting



The weekly session with our partners, Warrior Beats is on pause. We'll let you know when it's back up and running.

Look for us on Zoom on January 25 and February 1. Our next session at Artichoke will be February 15. Join us!

January 7, 2026

Join us on Zoom this weekend.

Here's what will be happening on Sunday, January 11 at 2 p.m.

We'll meet on Zoom. Bring something to share.

Here's the link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82787694684?pwd=dmJWemxOckJET29mdCtJQjc3Ry8yZz09

Meeting ID: 827 8769 4684

Passcode: 939440



Last week on Zoom:

Participants:

Deb, Things, Just for a day

Carl, Never better hands, Window shopping for Jesus

Jeff C, Nicer than me, Long road headed home, chicken cordon blues

Ed, Lost lonesome shack, sweethearts 'til the end

David M, Smiling out loud, heaven was always unlikely

John L, Big steel wheels, down the river of time

Trish (host) Quotes out of context. There was so much content this time. my favorite 2 QOOC: "Without you, there would be none of that music" and "They turned the Sunlight off on me"

This was a fun, joking ,laughing session with plenty of good tunes. Good way to start the new year off right.



And from the folks at the SSV home office:

Hey songwriters!

Join us for a master class meet up!

Mondays

3pm PT, 4pm MT, 5pm CT, 6pm ET

Click here to join the Master Class Zoom Meeting



Coming up:

We'll be at Artichoke Community Music on January 18 and on Zoom on January 25.



Save the dates!

December 30, 2025

Join us on Zoom this weekend.

Here's what will be happening on Sunday, January 4 at 2 p.m.

We'll meet on Zoom. Bring something to share.

Here's the link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82787694684?pwd=dmJWemxOckJET29mdCtJQjc3Ry8yZz09

Meeting ID: 827 8769 4684

Passcode: 939440



Last week on Zoom:

Participants:

John L ,Polaroid

David M, As you flow through me

Trish (host), 1929

We chatted some about how it can be emotionally difficult during holidays.

David shared some of his process using AI to help develop musical accompaniment to songs he writes

We shared a few songs and cut out a little bit early.



And from the folks at the SSV home office:

Hey songwriters!

Join us for a master class meet up!

Mondays

3pm PT, 4pm MT, 5pm CT, 6pm ET

Click here to join the Master Class Zoom Meeting



Coming up:

We'll on Zoom on January 11 and at Artichoke Community Music on January 18.



Save the dates!