Three new intensive courses, from freestyle with Shorty to a course to become a music critic
For the new academic year 2025/26, Saint Louis is expanding its educational offerings with three new highly specialized short courses: two workshops in freestyle rap and creative writing curated by Davide Shorty, and the intensive course in music criticism, creative and essay writing, with the coordination of journalist and music critic Alceste Ayroldi.
Freestyle and creative writing with Shorty
Two new short courses, “Check the Rhyme” and “Decypher,” exclusive workshops taught by Davide Shorty, an artist, songwriter and producer among the most original voices on the Italian music scene.
Check the Rhyme – A journey into the technique of freestyle rap, a fundamental discipline of hip hop culture and a powerful tool for contemporary expression. Davide Shorty will guide students through various modes of improvisation-from free “top of the dome” to 4/4 challenges, from the use of random words to impromptu freestyle writing all bars-to train rhythm, creativity and the ability to construct concepts in real time. The workshop will be enriched by meetings with special guests from the Italian freestyle scene.
In this workshop, Davide Shorty will explain the various modes of freestyle and challenge. Freestyle rap not only trains memory and a sense of rhythm, but more importantly, writing skills in building concepts around rhymes. In addition, the pressure of having to say something meaningful on the spot almost creates a form of meditation inside the freestyler’s head.
Decypher – Creative writing workshop conceived by Davide Shorty, designed as an open and inclusive space for rappers, songwriters and solo musicians. The cypher (circle) format originated in hip hop culture, in which rappers gather to take turns performing their rhymes. The goal of the workshop is precisely to decipher personal meanings and find one’s own artistic cipher in collective sharing.
The cypher can also include soloists who want to play their own instrument, and not just rappers or songwriters. Through beat making, moments of dialogue, instinctive writing exercises and circle jam sessions, each participant will be guided to discover his or her own stylistic signature A hands-on and engaging experience that combines technique, confrontation and inspiration.
Who is David Shorty
Growing up in the Sicilian hip hop scene with the Combomastas and then starring in the London underground scene with Retrospective for Love, Davide Shorty conquered the mainstream with X Factor (3rd place, 2015) and the subsequent album Straniero. He collaborates with artists such as Daniele Silvestri, Tormento, Funk Shui Project and Elio, participates in Sanremo Nuove Proposte (2nd place, 2021) with Regina and continues his career between live tours, prestigious collaborations and new record releases.
