I could not agree more with the sentiments about the OTS, though my experience is limited to the past three years at the new center on Lincoln--wow it must have been amazing back in the day with people like John Prine hanging around (didn't he teach for a while?). I was talking to one of the many friends I've made in various classes and we commented on how our improvement was apparent in the way that we can learn and play new songs with less and less effort. It's just a result, I think, of learning and recognizing chords and fingerboard theory. You don't notice it on a day to day or week to week basis, but you step back every once in a while and wow, you've actually improved a whole lot! I know another forum member, Tony T has become another convert! (And yes, Tony, I should have found a way to accept your great deal on that GF25!) As far as the skill level in the songwriting class, it's really all over the place--I'd rank myself smack dab in the middle--there's a young lady who can sing like Patty Griffin and is well on her way to being able to write like her, too! It's inspiring and intimidating, let me tell you!