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School of Song

Songwriting Workshop with Michael Hadreas [Perfume Genius] (June 2026)

Songwriting Workshop with Michael Hadreas [Perfume Genius] (June 2026)

$200.00
$200.00
Sale Sold out

We’re thrilled to announce that Michael Hadreas (Perfume Genius) will be teaching a workshop with School of Song, beginning Sunday, June 7th.

Across his work as a songwriter, producer, and performer, Michael Hadreas has cultivated a singular approach to writing. Drawing from improvisation, collection, and collaboration, his process treats songwriting as a way of accessing what can’t otherwise be articulated.

In this course, we’ll cover a range of topics, including:

Portals: Writing Songs in 3D

Michael will elaborate on how he views songs as portals – gateways into alternate dimensions where multiple feelings can be expressed simultaneously. By creating space to absorb and broadening our range of influences, we can make work with a greater capacity for tension and emotional complexity.

From Solo Demos to Released Records

Step by step, we’ll walk through Michael’s songwriting process, beginning with the search for a song’s spark. Through building looped chord progressions, we’ll explore improvised vocal melodies as a way of locating a song’s core – a somatic resonance we can learn to recognize and trust.

Plainspoken Language

Focusing on the power of plainspoken language, we’ll examine how directness and specificity can deepen emotional resonance in our songwriting. Michael will share how he edits lyrics that feel overly poetic, shaping them into something clearer, stranger, and more true – later inviting collaborators to disrupt the song in arrangement and production.

Grace in Songwriting

Michael will reflect on his search for grace in songwriting: how to write from places of pain, confusion, or darkness without collapsing into something one-dimensional or overindulgent. We’ll explore the challenge of holding sweetness and severity at once, and how songs can become more generous when they contain both tension and tenderness.

Course Logistics

Workshop is taught over Zoom on the following dates:

  • Lectures: Sundays June 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th, 2026
    • Two options for lecture times: 11 AM – 12 PM PT and 6 PM – 7 PM PT.
  • Q&As: Wednesdays June 10th, 17th, and 24th, 2026 at 6 PM PT.
  • Song-Shares: Saturdays June 13th, 20th, and 27th, 2026
    • 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.
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 Michael give me feedback on my songs?
A: Due to the class size, we cannot guarantee that you'll get Michael'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.

 

Questions? Email us at hi@schoolofsong.org.

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.

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