SONGWRITING SCHOOL!

“Music is life's only true magic, treat it with all the respect that it deserves.” 
~Bruce Swedien

May 15-17, 2009 Marriott Residence Inn Wildflower! Richardson, TX 75081


No matter if you are writing your first or five hundredth song – This is the school for you!


School limited to 40 students
 Cost for 3 Day Seminar - $175
Note: If you entered the 2009 singer/songwriter contest, you receive a $25 discount. If you attended the 2008 Song School, you receive an additional $25 discount. The total available discount is $50.

Nationally Acclaimed Faculty

Jon Vezner

Nashville Grammy winning songwriter. Jon has had 24 of his songs recorded by over 15 different artists including Diamond Rio, Faith Hill, Ronnie Milsap, and of course, Kathy Mattea.

Pat Pattison

Professor of Music at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and author of three books on songwriting: Writing Better Lyrics, The Essential Guide to Lyric Form and Structure, and The Essential Guide to Rhyming; Conducts song schools from Canada to Australia


 

School Schedule

Friday (6:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.)

Song School Overview and Process

Song Sessions I: Faculty panel will listen to SELECTED participants' songs tweaking and tinkering with them to make them more effective. Melody, harmony, lyric issues, prosody and the relationship between music and lyrics, as well as performance aspects, will be evaluated. Due to time restraints, every person’s song cannot be individually reviewed. (Two hours)

If you are interested in submitting a song for these sessions, email the lyrics to ppattison@berklee.edu in advance. If you have a Myspace link to a recording, please include it too.

Breakout Session I:

Jon Vezner: Songwriting Pat Pattison: Songwriting

 
Saturday (10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.)

Jon Vezner Topic: Discussion of how he became successful in the music industry.

Song Sessions II: Another set of SELECTED participants' songs will be evaluated. Students will watch the tools being applied and watch each song grow and transform creating dynamic learning experiences for the student. According to the faculty, this part of the school is the most powerful learning session for the student. (Two hours)

Breakout II:

Jon Vezner: Demo Process – How to Make Effective Demos Pat Pattison: Structure Supporting Message and Emotion - Important tips on music/lyric phrasing, creating and supporting emotion, as well as effective marriage of lyric and musical rhythms. (Three hours)

Sunday (10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.)

Pat Pattison Topic: Writing from a Title - How to center and develop your song by starting with a central idea and making it evolve as the song progresses. (One hour)

Closing Session: Polishing Your Song - Pat and Jon will review the techniques and principles of songwriting for success and how to polish your song art. (Two hours)

NOTE: Schedule subject to change at faculty discretion.

 
At No Additional Cost:

Hearing and seeing nationally known singer songwriters and performers on 4 stages at the festival. Each student will receive complimentary three day passes to the festival valued at $45.

• Swapping songs with fellow students, finalists in the songwriting contest, and nationally known artists and songwriters in the hotel after the festival is over….not responsible for sleep depravation. (Priceless)

• Making music friends for a lifetime. (Priceless)

• Coordination for those who want roommates to share the expenses of the reasonable hotel costs

Join us for a career-changing weekend! Apply Today!

Click for Application

"Music is life's only true magic, treat it with all the respect that it deserves." Bruce Swedien