Working with students across the globe on the task of songwriting is a venture Michelle takes great pride in. Whether it’s one-on-one or leading a class of students, online or in-person, there are always lessons to be learned and new avenues to explore from both teacher and student. She has taught at Guild Hall School of Music (London), The New School (NYC), University of North Carolina School of Music, Portland State University, Etobicoke School of the Arts (Toronto) and others. In 2021, Michelle developed a five-week songwriting workshop for students of all skill levels, focusing on lyrics, editing, and collaboration. She has also led small groups with a focus on finishing new pieces while learning how to give and receive effective feedback in the creative process.

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Songwriting Essentials

New 10 Week Course

This is a brand new ten week songwriting course that focuses on listening and analysis, technical practice, and collaboration. Songwriting Essentials is for musicians and songwriters looking to expand beyond their writing comfort zones; to learn new techniques, finish songs, and meet others looking to do the same. We’ll look at classic and modern songwriting approaches and apply those skills to our own practice in a tangible way.

Through in-class listening, analysis and discussion, followed by weekly independent assignments, students develop their technical vocabulary while creating a broad catalogue of work.

The goal is not necessarily to write a whole bunch of ‘great songs’, but to develop a healthy, consistent, playful and exploratory relationship to the craft of songwriting, both individually and with others.

We’ll explore themes such as: lyric style, classic harmonic progressions and variations thereof, arrangements and parts, songwriter titans and 'writing in the style of', editing, delivery & tone, riffs, storytelling, bass motion, counterpoint, demoing, basic production choices, self accompaniment and distilling the song into a solo performance, plus much more. We’ll listen, contribute to a healthy dialogue, fall in love with the details, nerd out, and hopefully write a couple bangers that make us happy.

Class began March 17, 2024, but if you missed the sign up deadline, there will be another round of Song Essentials in the future. Stay tuned.