Junior English students, along with guitar and creative writing students, got a unique opportunity to look into the world of professional writing on Sept. 29. Acclaimed singer-songwriter Dave Kennedy took the long drive from Nashville to speak with these classes about his creative process.
Kennedy is a Nashville-based artist known for his cinematic storytelling and work with musicians like Travis Tritt, Riley Green, Whiskey Myers, Drake White, and Larry Fleet. He spent time sharing the journey and stories behind his songs.
The sessions were a dynamic mix of performance and Q&A. Students and teachers were encouraged to request songs, which Kennedy would perform, often leading or following up with personal stories that led to the writing of the lyrics.
“It was so interesting to see how a song can go from an idea to being a finished product, able to be performed,” Sam Collins, a senior in Brandon Center’s Guitar class, said, “He didn’t just play the music, he showed us the writing that goes into it.”
Inviting the guitar classes opened discussions specific to the guitar, with Kennedy speaking about how he comes up with the music behind the songs and where his greatest influences originate.
One of his songs, “Frog and Toad,” was written on the way to Disney World, which Kennedy described as “off the wall” and “weird.” The song tells the story of a pond where a frog and a toad watch as hilarity unfolds. With lines like, “gnawing on a cricket’s leg” and a funky guitar riff, this song is, seriously, weird, but was many people’s favorite song Kennedy performed.
Kennedy emphasized the importance of observation, revision, and storytelling to make a song come to life truly. He took a wide range of questions from the student body, covering everything from Kennedy’s start in the music world to what famous people he had met while in writers’ rounds or selling songs. The open format allowed students to engage directly with someone who uses writing in their everyday life and makes a living from it.
“The last time I had a real, full-time job was in 2008,” Kennedy said.
Ever since then, Kennedy has taken his music writing as more than a hobby, but now it is his way of life. He travels all over, getting to tell his stories and share his music with everybody. Recently, Kennedy has begun working on a new album, set for release in 2026.
This unique event had been arranged by junior English teacher Susan Sherrard, who knows Kennedy through family connections. For the past two years, Kennedy has come to Central to play for classes and tell his story, showing kids how writing can go from a passion to a full-time career.
“The reason I thought it was beneficial was to let the students get an understanding of the process of writing and revising,” Yearbook advisor Rosalie Batistoni explained, “because when you’re writing poetry or fiction, it can take sweat and revision to make a finished piece.”
Overall, the visit was a great opportunity for the students, with many having a positive experience, especially when it comes to Kennedy’s discussion of his career and his engaging conversation style.
