If music be the food of love, play on. - William Shakespeare
Imagine a place where you can explore and grow every aspect of your song- writing and creativity: melody, lyrics, performance, voice, story, guitar techniques… a place where you receive professional feedback, music business and recording tips.
Imagine a place where songwriters from around the country are with you – people who are just beginning to write or sing, professionals with busy tour schedules and everybody in between.
Imagine all this learning and sharing taking place within a dynamic circle of community where the most important goal is to help each other take the next creative step.
Welcome to The Song School! For the past twelve years, we have been bringing songwriting and creativity together. We do it in community based on our shared love of music and support for each other.
Each August, songwriters from around the country join together for an in-depth, hands-on exploration of songwriting. We connect to the creative source of music and to each other. Participants create, hone and share their songs during a week that provides a safe and nurturing environment.
Our faculty includes internationally known songwriters, actors, music professionals, and songwriting peers who share their expertise on the art, craft and business of songwriting. Instructors for 2008 include Pat Pattison, Vance Gilbert, and Steve Seskin, with many more instructors still to be announced. Last year's faculty included Peter Himmelman, Darrell Scott, Mary Gauthier, Zoe Lewis, and Catie Curtis.
The program is elective-based and designed to be flexible, allowing students to focus on a variety of topics. A typical day offers early morning stretching followed by electives in performance, vocals, guitar, music business, and specialized topics. After a lunch break, choose a three-hour workshop on creative songwriting with one of seven instructors followed by another elective period. After dinner, students perform songs for each other in our new Wildflower Pavilion and retire to the campground for song-sharing late into the night.
The Planet Bluegrass Ranch is 13 acres and offers an inspiring retreat-like setting with on-site camping, an indoor bathhouse and a river running below sandstone cliffs next to the tent classrooms. Tuition includes four days and nights of workshops, open stages, and campfire jams as well as on-site camping, BBQs, a resource manual and t-shirt or hat.
We are now accepting reservations for the 2008 Song School. Order yours now at shop.bluegrass.com or 800-624-2422. Then get to know your fellow students in our Festivarian Forum.