Songwriting Workshop with Jenn Wasner (September '25)

In September 2025, Jenn Wasner (Flock of Dimes, Wye Oak) led a four-week songwriting workshop built around the idea that songwriting moves in seasons. Rather than forcing inspiration to behave on a deadline, the class uses the natural world as a framework: Spring for sprouting and invention, Summer for follow-through, Fall for sharing and connection, and Winter for rest, processing, and perspective. From the start, Jenn situates songwriting as something anybody can do, and treats the cycle not as a race to a “great” finished product, but as a practice that teaches you about yourself and brings you back into relationship with your own creative instincts.

In this course, you’ll work with permission as a real technique — permission to call yourself an artist, permission to make “bad” work, permission to follow what feels true instead of what feels impressive. You’ll build small, sustainable practices that make it easier to return to writing even when you don’t feel ready. A major thread is writing through persona: experimenting with different voices (including “parts” of yourself that you might usually hide), so you can loosen the grip of self-critique and access material with more honesty, humor, and range. Along the way, Jenn shares candid context from her own creative life — how she keeps going through discomfort, how she relates to doubt, and how she’s learned to treat the creative process as something human rather than heroic.

The musical side of the workshop offers concrete ways to generate momentum at the instrument and in the arrangement. Jenn introduces a simple set of building blocks (rhythm and groove, atmosphere and texture, and chord “shapes”) and shows how starting from different elements can unlock entirely different songs. We explore approachable options whether you’re working with a full recording setup or just voice memos, and you’re invited into alternate tunings as a way to break familiar habits and create “happy accidents” that your ear can guide. Lyrics are treated as part of the same emotional world as sound: the class makes space for specificity and poetic license, for writing that’s literal or universal, and for letting melody and feel lead you into language you couldn’t have planned. 

By the end, you leave with repeatable prompts, a clearer sense of how to start (and keep going), and a sturdier relationship to sharing your work—whether that means performing, collaborating, or simply making something finished enough to let it exist.

Here's how it works:

• Workshop is taught over Zoom on the following dates:
  • Lectures: Sundays September 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th, 2025
    • Two options for lecture times: 11 AM – 12 PM PT and 6 PM – 7 PM PT.
  • Q&As: Wednesdays September 10th, 17th, and 24th, 2025
    • at 6 PM PT.
  • Song-Shares: Saturdays September 13th, 20th, and 27th, 2025
    • Two options for song-shares: 11 AM – 12 PM PT and 6 PM – 7 PM PT.
• If you can't make the live class, you can still participate by watching the recordings of the lectures and Q&A sessions (sent out after class).

Signing up with a friend + Gifting

Sign up with a friend to receive a 20% discount by clicking here.

If you'd like to buy the workshop for yourself and gift it to a friend, just add 1 to your cart with "This is a gift" checked and their info, and 1 to your cart normally — the discount will be applied automatically. Note: no refunds on discounted orders.

FAQ:

Q: What musical experience should I have?

A: People across all musical levels will be able to gain something from the course.

Q: What if I’ve never written a song before? Can I still participate in this workshop?

A: Yes! As with any new skill, just starting is usually the hardest part. The songs are optional and this workshop will provide the structure and accountability we all need to get started and follow through, for beginners and old guard writers alike. However, it'll be helpful to have an instrument you can play a few chords on and a way to record yourself.

Q: Is there an enrollment cap?

A: Nope! This is a lecture-style class with open enrollment. The song shares will be optional with breakout rooms of 3–4 people.

Q: Will Jenn give me feedback on my songs?

A: Due to the class size, we cannot guarantee that you’ll get Jenn’s feedback on your songs. However, our teachers are active on our song-sharing platform and may leave comments on students’ submissions.

Q: I can't make the lecture times for some (or all) of the classes. Can I still participate?

A: Yes! We send out the recordings of lectures at the end of each class day, so you can watch the lectures on your own time.

If after the first class you feel the course is not a good fit for any reason, you are welcome to a refund on the rest of the course classes. We are unable to process refunds after the second class.

Questions? Email us at hi@schoolofsong.org.