This unique 3 day course, held at this beautiful woodland retreat in The Catskills, and hosted by multi-platinum songwriters and industry experts, will take you through the complete process of hit songwriting from the initial inspiration through careful crafting all the way to getting your songs in front of the right people in the music business. There are lots of fun interactive sessions carefully designed to help you remember the invaluable techniques used by pro songwriters.

You’ll get to spend time with like minded people, all with a passion for writing and become part of the ever growing TSA songwriting community, now having hit records around the world. After dinner in the evening, there’s a chance for everyone to hang out, talk music, play music, and enjoy the odd glass of wine. You can’t help but have a load of fun and leave feeling inspired and motivated!

Course Programme

Day 1

What makes a great song?
An introduction to the TSA S.C.O.P.E. Song System
– Strategy
– Creation
– Optimisation
– Presentation
– Exploitation
The common denominators of hit songs
Developing your songwriting radar
TSA Magic Triangle
Finding Inspiration
Generating unique lyrical ideas that people will love
Keeping your subject matter strong
How to create a perfect lyrical theme to existing tracks
How to plan your song so it will practically write itself
TSA Strategic Song Planner
– What is it?
– How it works?
– Making it work for you
Learn the simple structures that work in hits around the world
Busting the middle eight myth
How to strengthen each and every part of your song with amazingly simple devices that professional writers always use because they keep listeners listening!
The power of tension and release in lyric writing
Creating interest through conflict
Curing cliches in 30 seconds!
Testing your chorus
What to do and what not to do if you want labels to take you seriously
The difference between head sense and heart sense
Choosing the right pronouns
Evening meal followed by evening playback, feedback and hang time!
Day 2

6 reasons pro songwriters succeed because they collaborate
The 12 key steps of successful collaboration
How to be a popular collaborator
Hit Harmony!
The secrets of the top 4 hit harmonic progressions
How to construct a hit song with just a handful of chords
Where and when to use surprise chords so they grab the listener’s attention
When and what to leave out of your chord progressions, and why!
The easy way to strengthen your songs with smart syncopation
Money melodies!
What is melodic contour?
How to instantly create original melodies without even singing!
The simplest way to create killer hooks
Using active and static melodies
How to make your melodies tug at the heart strings
How less can sometimes be more
Power in prosody
Evening meal followed by evening playback, feedback and hang time!
Day 3

3 easy ways to make every part of your song stand out
Understanding flow and balance in songs
Trimming the fat
How to check and improve your songs before you send them out to the labels!
TSA Songwriter Checklist
Essential tips for producing demos
Choosing the right singer, tempo and key
3 ways to create tension & release in your productions
How to send out your demos
Understanding the music business
Publishing deals and what they mean
Getting paid!
How do I get my music out there?
How to make money from your music
Learning the skills of networking
Perfecting your elevator pitch
Maximising your strengths
Writing a 12 month plan
What next?
TSA reserves the right to change tutors on this course if necessary.