Songwriting Workshop
Lyrics
Find what you want to say. Then say it better than you thought you could.
Lyrics are where everything begins. Before the melody, before the arrangement, before any production decision, there is one question every song has to answer: what is this actually about?
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What this is about
Craft that serves the song. Not the other way around.
In this workshop, I work with you on the question at the heart of every lyric: what are you actually trying to say? Not to make your writing clever or commercially polished, but to make it honest. We look at how to write from a real place, how to find the specific image or phrase that carries the weight of what you mean, and how to shape those raw materials into lyrics that hold up over time.
Watch
A short introduction to the Lyrics Workshop
What we cover
Five areas of lyric craft
01
Your voice as a lyricist
What makes your perspective distinct? We start by identifying what you actually have to say, and building confidence in saying it.
02
Writing from experience without being literal
Authenticity does not mean autobiography. We look at how to use your real experiences as material without being trapped by the facts of them.
03
Rhythm, imagery and specificity
Line-level craft: how words feel in the mouth, how an image lands, and why the specific detail almost always works harder than the general statement.
04
Structure and movement
How a lyric builds from verse to chorus to bridge. Where to say the thing, and where to hold back. How structure shapes emotional impact.
05
Editing without losing the truth
Revision is where lyrics improve or collapse. We work on how to cut, sharpen and rearrange without editing out the thing that made the lyric worth writing.
How it works
Teaching and application in the same session.
Each workshop combines focused teaching with real work on your own songs. We start with the principles, then apply them immediately to what you are actually writing. There is no separation between the lesson and the practice.
You can bring an unfinished lyric, a half-written verse, or just an idea you have been circling. We work with whatever is real and present for you.
- Teaching input followed by direct application to your work
- Feedback that is honest, specific, and practical
- No pressure to produce a finished song by the end
- Available one-on-one or as part of a small group
Workshop Format
Who this is for
What matters is not how many songs you have written. It is that you want to write something true.
Beginners
You have ideas and feelings but you are not sure how to turn them into lyrics that actually work. We start at the beginning, without judgment.
Experienced writers
You can write, but you sense your lyrics are not yet saying what you really mean. We look at what is holding you back and how to push through it.
Writers who are stuck
You have a song that has been sitting unfinished for months. Fresh ears, honest feedback, and a concrete session often break the block.
Non-musicians with something to say
You do not need to play an instrument to take this workshop. Lyrics are writing. If you want to write, you are welcome here.
From a workshop participant
Taking Petra’s lyric workshop felt like hanging out with a cool friend who happens to know a ton about music and lyrics. Her teaching style blends theory with real-life examples. It wasn’t just about learning the rules — it was about understanding how to bend them to create something unique. Petra helped me approach lyric writing in a whole new way. Instead of just puzzling sentences together, she encouraged me to think about what I really wanted to say with my music.
Paul Edelbluth
Singer, Songwriter, Producer
Abbey Road Institute alumnus
Ready to begin
Book a Lyrics Workshop session.
A free 30-minute call first, so we can talk about where you are and what you want to work on. No commitment required.
Book a Free Call See PricingLyrics is Workshop 1 of 3 in the
Essential Songwriting Course
Lyrics, Composition, and Melody taken together as one complete course. Each workshop builds on the last. Available as a bundle at a reduced rate.