Description & Learning Outcomes

Hundreds of songs have been written over the same chord progressions. And while there is nothing new to invent in terms of chord progressions, you can learn how to support your song’s theme using various compositional elements or find unique chord progressions that fit your style and personality.

For example, we’ll look at how to compose ‘happy’ and ‘sad’ songs in both, major and minor scales, how to create mood change within a song, how to brighten up the minor’s mood or what tools you can use to emphasize the song’s title. And of course, we will also look at ‘hit formulas’ that the music industry has been (over)using for decades! This workshop will add value to your compositional skills whether you’re a beginner songwriter or you’ve been writing for a while but perhaps more instinctively rather than intentionally.  

Additional Benefits:

  • Receive invaluable feedback from the instructor and other songwriters
  • Collaborate with others that will push the limits of your creativity beyond what you’re normally used to
  • Expand your network of collaborators and contacts in the music world.

Prerequisite:
For this workshop you need a basic understanding of chord progressions and how Roman numerals are used to represent chord names – For example – in the key of “C”, “Cmaj” is a “I” chord, “Dmin” a “ii” chord, “F” a “IV” chord, etc…
You do not need to know how to read sheet music.

Duration:

3 x 90 minutes (excluding breaks)

The duration of the workshop can be slightly adjusted based on individual needs, but not less than 4 hours.

Partnership

If you are a school or an individual interested in organizing the ESC or collaboration, reach out to petra.jordan@messageofthesong.com for pricing, partnership details and a customized offer.


“Petra’s workshop on lyric writing was a light bulb moment for me as a composer who has been chasing lyrics for as long as I can remember. By dissecting the mysterious process of writing lyrics into digestible parts, I found new freedom to create the world I wanted to create for the listener. I highly recommend Petra’s workshop to anyone for whom lyric writing is an opaque puzzle – or for anyone seeking a new perspective on the art.”

christopher bowen
Composer for Film, Music Producer,
Formerly of Blue Man Group, Creator of Belongalong