Songwriting Workshop with Kimbra

Kimbra will be leading our next songwriting workshop!

She’ll be guiding us through her approach to songwriting over the month of October. Here’s what we’re planning to cover:

• How deep listening can illuminate mental barriers that may be hindering your creative expression.
• Understanding the state of songwriting as “downloading”, and creating the right mental and physical space to enter this state. Kimbra will guide us to use our first, raw expressions by approaching songwriting with ‘beginner's mind’.
• The art of impermanence - how throwing away drafts and overproducing can train humility and help distill your songs to their essence.
• How to navigate collaboration — how to speak up for yourself and your art, and how to recognize when your contributions are most valuable. She’ll share tips on communicating in co-writing sessions and working with producers.

You'll write 4 original songs using the techniques and perspectives Kimbra presents in lecture.

Sign up now! Deadline is Saturday, September 30 at 11:59pm (PT).

Here's how it works:

• Workshop is taught over Zoom. We’ll meet on Sundays and Thursdays for 5 total sessions: October 1st, 5th, 8th, 12th and 15th.
• There are 2 options for class times: 11:00a-12:15p and 6:00p-7:15p PT.
• Class time is broken up into song-shares (breakout rooms) and lecture with Kimbra.
• If you can't make class, you can still participate by watching the recordings of lecture (sent out after class).

Sign up with a friend to receive a 20% discount by clicking here. Note: no refunds on discounted order.

Here's a few words from Kimbra about the course:

“

My favorite thing about music is everything and anything belongs. Chaos and silence can live side by side. With the right conditions, any organism can thrive. Songwriting is the place where I take my disparate thoughts and feelings and create order from all that was abstract and ambiguous. It’s where I let my imagination run wild. A place to play characters and test out the personas I’d rarely have the courage to play out in real life. It’s also the perfect place for my demons to attack but we’ll get to that.

Songwriting is a muscle that requires consistent attention while holding room for unknowing. Resisting the urge to force what can only be followed faithfully into the dark. Sure, we might know what a relative minor is (I barely do, to be honest) but when it comes down to it, these technical infrastructures do little to persuade or impress the creative muse, she will go where she wants to go, and your job is to listen.

In this course, I’ll share with you my techniques for the art of listening and we’ll train our ears to smell out the transcendence. Yes you will learn how to smell with your ears. All senses shall be activated to feel out our space and our role in the world of the song. It’s not all about you.

But it’s 100% dependent on you to bring it forth!

Perhaps Khalil Gibran put it most poetically when he said ‘I just arrange the elements to make way for God’.

Throughout the month, we’ll learn to retain Beginner’s Mind at all times. There are no experts. Just vessels and vehicles and vibrations. With sound we are able to decorate time, using rhythm, melody and words and in my opinion, a spiritual humility is required to create our best work. " - Kimbra

FAQ:

Q: What musical experience should I have?

A: People across all musical levels will be able to gain something from the course. However, it will be helpful to be comfortable playing a few basic chords on any instrument of your choice.

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. This workshop will provide the structure and accountability we all need to get started and follow through, for beginners and old guard writers alike.

Q: Will Kimbra give me feedback on my songs?

A: Due to the class size, we cannot guarantee that you’ll get Kimbra'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 lecture 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.