1. Speed Lyric Writing  
WINTER: JAN 6 ~ SPRING: APR 7

Sometimes the hardest part of songwriting is getting out of your own way. Speed Lyric Writing uses fast, timed exercises and unexpected prompts to quiet the inner editor, loosen up your thinking, and get words flowing onto the page. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s discovery.

 

By writing quickly, you can uncover surprising images, phrases, emotions, and ideas that might never appear if you stop to judge every line as you go. You’ll leave with fresh lyrical material, new creative tools, and a freer approach to writing.​ 

 

Come write fast, surprise yourself, and discover what shows up when you stop overthinking and start creating.
REGISTRATION STARTS OCT 15 - GET NOTIFIED

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2. Rhythm Prompts

WINTER: JAN 13 ~ SPRING: APR 14

When we think about songwriting prompts, we usually think of words, images, or melodies. But what happens when we start with rhythm? In this fun, interactive course, we’ll explore rhythm as a springboard for songwriting.

 

We’ll create and share rhythms, listen for the images, moods, words, and stories they suggest, and use those ideas to begin writing songs.​​ Come ready to tap, clap, strum, drum, and experiment. No percussion experience required!

 

A playful and enlightening class guaranteed to get your virtual bongos going...and your words flowing!
REGISTRATION STARTS OCT 15 - GET NOTIFIED

3. Melodies & Chord Progressions

WINTER: JAN 20 ~ SPRING: APR 21

So you've got the words, and maybe even the rhythm, but how do you find the melody and the chords underneath it? We'll start small, turning single notes, words, numbers, and letters into melodic ideas.

Then we'll get a feel for how chords and melody work together, and how a simple change of chord can shift the whole mood of a tune. Along the way, we'll touch on prosody: making lyrics and music say the same thing. Come play with notes, words, and chords, and see what matches.
 

Bring your melody and chord progression questions: let's play with them.
REGISTRATION STARTS OCT 15 - GET NOTIFIED

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4. Creating Compelling Characters* 
WINTER: JAN 27 ~ SPRING: APR 28

It’s natural to begin songwriting from the first person, drawing on our own lives and experiences. After all, we're the most interesting person in our own universe, right? But creating third-person characters can open up fresh perspectives and deepen a song’s emotional impact.

 

Working from photographs of everyday objects, we’ll imagine who they belong to, uncover their possible backstories, and turn those discoveries into believable characters and compelling songs.​ 

 

Come stretch your imagination, meet some characters you didn’t know were waiting to be discovered, and leave with fresh stories ready to become songs.​ 
REGISTRATION STARTS OCT 15 - GET NOTIFIED

5. Setting Scenes*

WINTER: FEB 3 ~ SPRING: MAY 5

Even when you’re writing in the first person, your song is happening somewhere. Where are you? What can you see, hear, touch, smell, or feel? Thinking in scenes can give your song a stronger sense of place and help shape the narrative, revealing details that make the story more vivid and believable.​ 

 

In "Setting Scenes," we’ll use photographs of everyday objects, textures, and environments as prompts to spark the imagination and build rich, memorable settings. You’ll explore how the right details can create mood, deepen emotion, and give your characters and stories a world to live in.​

 

Come discover what happens when you stop writing in empty space and start putting your songs somewhere real.

REGISTRATION STARTS OCT 15 - GET NOTIFIED

6. Developing Your Song

WINTER: FEB 10 ~ SPRING: MAY 12

You’ve got a first verse. Maybe even a chorus. And then...the song just sits there, staring at you. In this interactive class, we’ll explore how to move a song from Part A to Part B and beyond. We’ll look at the domino effect, where changing one line, image, or idea can suddenly unlock the rest of the song.

 

We’ll experiment with moving verses and lines around, strengthening connections between sections, and finding new directions when a song feels stuck. Most importantly, we’ll dig beneath the surface to discover what you really want to say and how to shape the song so that every part helps tell that story.​ 

 

Bring your unfinished songs, fragments, and stubborn little lyrical puzzles. We’ll give them somewhere to go.

REGISTRATION STARTS OCT 15 - GET NOTIFIED

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7. Finishing Your Song 

WINTER: FEB 17 ~ SPRING: MAY 19

How do you know when a song is actually finished? Sometimes a song comes together quickly. Other times it sits there for days, months, or even years, stubbornly insisting that something is still missing. 

In this class, we’ll explore practical guides, questions, and creative tricks to help you tune in to when a song is truly complete. We’ll look at lyrics, structure, melody, emotional arc, and those pesky final details that can keep us tinkering long past the point of usefulness.

 

There’s no single right way to finish a song, but there are plenty of ways to recognize when you’ve reached your end goal...and maybe, finally, let the song leave the nest.  

REGISTRATION STARTS OCT 15 - GET NOTIFIED

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8. The Art of the Rewrite

WINTER: FEB 24 ~ SPRING: MAY 26

So, you finished your song. You put it away for a while, came back to it, and now you’re wondering: Is it really done?

A song can be finished without being fully complete. Taking a fresh look after some time and distance can reveal weak spots, missed opportunities, unnecessary words, or an even better way to say what you meant in the first place.

 

In this class, we’ll explore when and why to consider a rewrite, along with practical methods for giving your song that final polish. We’ll look at lyrics, structure, imagery, repetition, melody, and more, and experiment with ways to strengthen what’s already there without rewriting the life out of it.

 

Because sometimes the difference between a song that’s done and a song that truly lands is one more thoughtful pass.

REGISTRATION STARTS OCT 15 - GET NOTIFIED

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* The "Creating Compelling Characters" & "Setting Scenes" workshops are based on the teachings of Georgia songwriter & playwright Corey-Jan Albert. Used with permission.
 

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