Instruction & Services

Offering private, semi-private, workshops and classes in the following disciplines:

  • Songwriting:

    Education and guidance from beginning levels to advanced. Focusing on individual style and vocal/instrument abilities. Guiding and building an original band.

  • Vocal Technique:

    Find your voice. Discover your natural strengths. Balance your vocal delivery learning breath work, vowels, mouth formation, phrasing, warm up exercises and more.

  • Performance:

    Direction and planning for onstage presentation, exercises to claim your space. blocking your movements, what to say and how to sing it. In a group or as a soloist. Understand singing into a mic.

  • Acoustic Guitar:

    Chords, Rhythms, Fingerpicking Patterns, Theory, Accompaniments to songs.

  • Ukulele:

    Chords, Rhythms, Fingerpicking Patterns, Arrangements, Theory.

  • “Build a Band:”

    Join with 2-4 other musicians and create an identity, craft a style, learn to arrange your songs, prepare to perform. For duos, trios, quartets, quintets.

  • Artist Development:

    Discover and develop your own style, originality, energy, that defines your authenticity. Equalize your skills. Receive direction for your live performance and guidance recording in the studio. Embellish and brand your music. Identify your goals and ambitions.

  • Arrangement/Composition:

    Explore what you want to hear, add, and enhance through the arrangement of your song. A song is beautifully effective through its arrangement and presentation, as well as its composition.

  • Recording/Producing:

    Direction and production to guide you comfortably through the recording experience. Bringing in other studio players, composing/arranging vocal/instrument parts. Understanding, balancing and mixing the final sound.

Weekly Class (1 month, 8 hours (2 hours per class), 4–6 students

  • Intro to Songwriting

    Learn how to begin writing your own song with lyrical direction, song outlines, meter and rhyme, using simple chords on your instrument of choice.    

  • Songwriting 101

    Write your lyrics first. Edit your story-arc. Learn song forms and choose tempos. Add melody and chording on your instrument. Smooth it out and play!

  • Songwriting 201 + Performance

    Start composing music first. Explore deeper lyric  tools and tips. Organize musical sections to best feature your lyrics through phrasing, lifts and big bridges. Showcase and perform your song!    

  • Songwriting 301 (plus live studio recording)

    Map and chart out your song. Choose your tempo. Outline your song with interludes, intros and outros. Last class record it live! On location at Palace Recording in Bozeman MT.  

  • Advanced Songwriting/Recording

    Multi-track recording at She Sings Studio & Palace Recording, Bozeman MT. Present a finished song, plan a “style” and a sound that enhances it. Arrange your melody and instrument parts.                                   

    Class 1: Arrange
    Class 2+3: Record
    Class 4: Mix it       

  • Songwriter Personal House Concert

    Set a goal, set a date! Plan and prepare and receive direction to stage your own house concert. Performance included. 

Summer Music Day Camps 2022

Explore your creativity in an all-inclusive music week. Vocalize, play different instruments guitar, ukulele, keys, bass, percussion) Be a part of a pop-up band! Plan a performance! Offered Monday through Friday.

Level I: “Be a Band” Camp

Bring your voice and/or instrument and learn to play as a band! Choose your songs. Create a sound! Experience singing through a microphone and plug in your instrument. Choose a band name.

August 1 – 5, 2022
10 – 3pm
4 – 6 students / ages 12 – 17
$300

Level II – 101: Songwriting Camp

Learn how to write a song, starting with creating lyrics. Be guided how to compose the music and chord progressions to your lyrics. Understand the sections of a song!                    Write an additional song as a group. 

June 13 – 17, 2022
10 – 3pm
4 – 8 students / ages 12 – 17
$300 

Level II – 201: Songwriting Camp + Performance

Learn to compose your music on various instruments. Explore different song forms.
Discover how the lyrics and music equally color your song and its character.
Arrange your vocals.

July 11 – 15, 2022
10 – 4pm
4 – 8 students / ages 12 – 17
$400

Level III: Recording Boot Camp

Write, present and arrange your original. Experience recording it in a multi-track studio live. Be a part of the mixing process. Vocal experience suggested.

July 28 – 31, 2022
10 – 5pm
4 students / ages 12 – 16
$500

Level IV: Advanced Multi Track Recording Camp

Come to camp with 2 original songs. Arrange your instruments, score the vocals. Create harmonies. Record each track. Learn the ins and outs of mixing. (Experience suggested reading music and playing an instrument.

June 23 – 26, 2022
10 – 5 pm
4 students
$500

Level V: NEW! Performance Camp + A Show

Choose songs to sing and /or play. Learn how to enjoy being a performer. Develop performing skills as a soloist and ensemble. Arrange, rehearse, and perform!

August 8 – 12, 2022
10 – 3pm
4 – 8 students / ages 12 – 17
$400

Streamlined Workshops (1 day, 4 Hours, 4 – 6 students):

  • Intro to Songwriting (Lyrics first)

    Dive in to writing your lyrics first. Learn outlines/formats. Using 4 chords write a melody    

  • Songwriting 101 (Music first)

    Learn optimum chord progressions for verse/chorus/bridge/intros/outros. Explore creating a memorable melody over your chords.

  • “Hit” Songwriting

    Write a “hit” song in the genre you admire. Simple strategies and POP formats!

  • Songwriting and Performance

    Take the stage with personal authority. Know where to have your eyes, ears and feet. Quell stage sensitivities. Connect to your audience. Exercises to combat nerves and secure your adrenaline.

  • Co-Writing

    Team up with a partner or write as a class. Share ideas and take turns with lyrics and music. Understand your genre. Arrange cohesive transitions, intros, interludes, harmonies. 

  • Performance

    Come prepared with 2 songs to implement in a performance setting. Learn stage tips to take charge and shine during your performance. Exercises to combat nerves, secure your adrenaline and emote!   

  • Songwriting Arrangement

    Understand your genre. Write engaging solo melodies, backup vocals. Arrange cohesive transitions for backup vocals and instruments. Organize interludes, intros and outros.

  • Songwriter Adjudication

    Present 3 songs in an intimate house concert setting to a panel of industry professionals. Receive a detailed critique of your strengths and suggested improvements. 

Master Class Songwriting Series: Created by Lisa Carman

On location or online

 

The “Art of Songwriting” Series for the serious songwriter (5-10 students)

Part 1: Lyrics First

Part 2: From a Musical Point of View

Part 3: Co-Writing 

Part 4: Performance

Part 5: “Arrangement” + Bonus Class Showcase

Part 6: “Vocal Arrangement” + Bonus Class Showcase

Part 7:  Vocal Harmony Arrangement

Part 8: “Hit” Songwriting as a Team! + Bonus Class Showcase

Part 9: “Recording Your Song” On location in a local Recording studio.

Part 10: “The Business of Songwriting”

Part 11: Create, Stage and Craft your Show!