#TheLockdownSessions – A series of Live Masterclasses and Q&As
#TheLockdownSessions was a series of live classes we streamed on Facebook Live in April and May 2020. You can check out all of the classes on catchup and download any of the handouts using the links below.
Saturday 18th April
1pm ET | 10am PT | 6pm UK | 7pm CET
Live Songwriting Q&A
Tune in and get answers to everything you’ve ever wanted to know about songwriting, creativity and The Song Foundry.
We talked about ‘making it’ as a songwriter, what success really means, why The Song Foundry exists, and how the coronavirus pandemic might change music for good, and more…
Archive Link
Saturday 25th April
1pm ET | 10am PT | 6pm UK | 7pm CET
Song Analysis Masterclass: ‘Done for Me’ performed by Charlie Puth feat. Kehlani
In this class we’ll do a deep-dive analysis of Charlie Puth and Kehlani’s ‘Done for Me’. We’ll take the song apart to see what makes it tick, focusing on the song’s structure and lyric.
To take part in this class you’ll need to download the free lyric sheet here. If you want a copy of the song’s sheet music, you can buy it here.
To get the most out of this class, I recommend you print a copy of the lyric sheet, listen to the song at least three times, and label the song’s structure (sections) on the lyric sheet, as well as noting any interesting features you spot in the lyric (like how repetition is used, how rhyme is used, how the lyric explains the song’s situation).
Archive Link
Saturday 2nd May
1pm ET | 10am PT | 6pm UK | 7pm CET
Technique Masterclass: How to Write a Song
Join me for a sneak peek at the powerful, simple but versatile songwriting process I’ll walk you through in my new book How to Write a Song (Even If You’ve Never Written One Before and You Think You Suck), coming out later this year.
I’ll talk through all ten steps in the book and show you how to use each one yourself.
There’s an 8-page guide that you’ll need for the masterclass here.
Archive Link
Get the complete archive of classes at facebook.com/TheSongFoundry/live.
Saturday 16th May
1pm ET | 10am PT | 6pm UK | 7pm CET
Technique Masterclass: How to Be More Creative (plus Q&A)
Successful people succeed on purpose. Creative people create on purpose. We can’t control everything that happens, but we are the result of our habits – our conscious choices day after day.
In songwriting, mastering the creative process means mastering creative habits. It means cultivating good, consistent habits that are going to let you create your best songs, time after time.
And if you struggle with getting your ideas flowing – the good news is that these habits can be learned.
Join me in this class as I examine five key creative habits – including how to get started, how to overcome writers’ block and creative anxiety, how to master the art of rewriting – followed by a Q&A.
If you have a question about creative blocks or how to improve your creative process, you can submit it in advance here. Plus, download the handout for the masterclass here.
Archive Link
Saturday 23rd May
1pm ET | 10am PT | 6pm UK | 7pm CET
Song Analysis Masterclass: ‘Yesterday’ by The Beatles
In this class we’ll analyze The Beatles’ classic ‘Yesterday’. We’ll look at how it’s AABA structure works and focus on what’s so brilliant about its melody and chord progressions – and why all of that is still relevant today.
To take part in this class you’ll need to download the free lyric/chord sheet here. I also recommend buying a copy of the song’s sheet music here.
To get the most out of this class, print a copy of the lyric/chord sheet and listen to the song at least three times beforehand. If you want to make any notes on your lyric sheet as you listen, that’s great too.
Archive Link
Saturday 30th May
1pm ET | 10am PT | 6pm UK | 7pm CET
Live Songwriting Q&A #2
Join me for the last of #TheLockdownSessions – at least for now – and get answers to more questions from The Song Foundry community. I’ll be taking questions on everything we’ve talked about in the classes so far and anything else you want to know about.
Also, tune in to be the first to hear a big announcement about future live classes at The Song Foundry – and how to get involved.
In the class we talked about good hooks in songwriting, controlling the energy and tension levels in your song, how to trust your songwriting instincts more, where to start work on a new song, and much, much more…