Using the Zoom Platform

All sessions will be conducted online using the Zoom platform.

Please go to zoom.us and create a free account, then download the zoom app onto your desktop or device. This is where you will sign in each day using the following Meeting details.

You must register (IN ADVANCE) with Zoom to attend this course:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYsceGorT8sH9MuYw7JSVpI18LRK8CWt3jM
Zoom will send you a confirmation email with full login details – please keep it safe – and ensure your email address is correct when registering

Session 1 | Monday – Friday

2:00pm London | 9:00am Central | 10:00am Eastern | 7:00am Pacific

In this session you’ll be guided through some of the best techniques and tips to take your songwriting to the next level.

Session 2 Monday – Friday

5:00pm London | 12:00pm Central | 1:00pm Eastern | 10:00am Pacific

In this session you will be working on the assignments in groups using the breakout rooms in Zoom. You will not need to sign out of Zoom to use the breakout rooms.

Session 3 | Monday – Friday

7:00pm London | 2:00pm Central | 3:00pm Eastern | 12:00pm Pacific

In this session we will regroup in the main room to discuss the assignments and the breakout rooms will be closed. You will not need to sign out of Zoom to re-enter the main room. Please allow 2 hours for the final session.

Please be sure to join all meetings promptly as we will not be holding up the lessons for latecomers. We advise signing in for each session 10 minutes early.

PLEASE CHECK YOUR TIME ZONE SO YOU JOIN AT THE RIGHT TIME!

All attendees of the LIVE course will have access to the replay videos of the bootcamp but we do advise that you take as many notes as possible during the meetings. It’s the best way of getting the information firmly lodged in your memory…and there’s a LOT of information to cover!

(please note: due to the personal nature of content shared by many students during the course – we will only offer access to replay videos to those present and attending in the live daily sessions)

REPLAYS will be available approximately 2 weeks after your course – we will notify all attendees when the replays are available

If you play an instrument of any kind please have it on hand just in case. There will be practical exercises and collaborative writing sessions during the week, although most of them will be during your assignment sessions.

Please download and print these worksheets

1. TSA Scope 2020

2. Lyrical ideas

3. Free Writing

4. Song Planner

5. Placement

6. Song Structures

7. What does everything do?

8. Internal Rhymes

9. Phrases

10. Exciting Clichés

11. Conflict in lyrics

12. Collaboration

13. Checking your work

14. Presentation

15. Platinum Tips x 3

Goals

Every day you will be given specific assignments to work on to reinforce the techniques you have learnt. These will either be collaborative or individual assignments.

In Session 3 of each day our expert mentors will be assessing the daily assignments you have been working on, providing invaluable feedback and advice.

Day 1

Session 1

2:00pm London | 8:00am Central | 9:00am Eastern | 6:00am Pacific

• An introduction to the ® S.C.O.P.E. Song System
  – Strategy
  – Creation
  – Optimisation
  – Presentation
  – Exploitation
• The common denominators of hit songs
• Developing your songwriting radar
• Finding lyrical inspiration
• Generating unique lyrical ideas that people will love
• Keeping your subject matter strong
• How to develop your idea into a storyboard
• 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
• How to banish writers block forever
• How to create a perfect lyrical theme to existing tracks

Session 2

5:00pm London | 11:00am Central | Midday Eastern | 9:00am Pacific

Daily assignment using techniques learned in session 1. Discussion and feedback in the online forum.

Session 3

7:00pm London | 1:00pm Central | 2:00pm Eastern | 11:00am Pacific

Playback and feedback session as a group, with the mentor and students

Day 2

Session 1

2:00pm London | 8:00am Central | 9:00am Eastern | 6:00am Pacific

• The secrets of the top 5 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 you should
• The easy way to strengthen your songs with smart syncopation
• What is melodic contour?
• How to instantly create original melodies without even singing
• The simplest way to create killer hooks
• Mastering the 3 essential melodic forms
• What is ‘withholding’?
• Understanding inside, outside and alien notes
• Why melodic placement is a game changer
• The 3 methods of melodic placement
• Pick-ups, ladders and runways
• How to make your melodies tug at the heart strings
• How less can sometimes be more
• Power in prosody

Session 2

5:00pm London | 11:00am Central | Midday Eastern | 9:00am Pacific

Daily assignment using techniques learned in session 1. Discussion and feedback in the online forum.

Session 3

7:00pm London | 1:00pm Central | 2:00pm Eastern | 11:00am Pacific

Playback and feedback session as a group, with the mentor and students

Day 3

Session 1

2:00pm London | 8:00am Central | 9:00am Eastern | 6:00am Pacific

• The 5 most effective structures in hit songwriting
• What does everything do in a song?
• How long should the intro be?
• Busting the middle eight myth
• Why your song doesn’t always need a chorus
• The timeline of hit song structures
• Understanding the ‘drop’ and how to create one
• How to strengthen each and every part of your song with amazingly simple devices
• How professional writers always keep listeners listening
• The power of tension and release in lyric writing
• Creating interest through conflict
• Curing cliches in 30 seconds
• Testing your chorus
• The difference between head sense and heart sense
• Choosing the right pronouns
• 6 reasons pro songwriters succeed because they collaborate
• The 12 key steps of successful collaboration
• How to be a popular collaborator

Session 2

5:00pm London | 11:00am Central | Midday Eastern | 9:00am Pacific

Daily assignment using techniques learned in session 1. Discussion and feedback in the online forum.

Session 3

7:00pm London | 1:00pm Central | 2:00pm Eastern | 11:00am Pacific

Playback and feedback session as a group, with the mentor and students

Day 4

Session 1

2:00pm London | 8:00am Central | 9:00am Eastern | 6:00am Pacific

• Understanding the music business
• Where and how to make money from your music
• How do I get my music out there?
• How to present yourself and your music to the industry
• What to do and what not to do if you want labels to take you seriously
• Do you need a publishing deal?
• DIY or major label?
• Why synchronisations can be like winning the lottery
• Getting paid!
• How to build a long term career in music
• Essential skills of networking
• Discovering and maximising your strengths

Session 2

5:00pm London | 11:00am Central | Midday Eastern | 9:00am Pacific

Daily assignment using techniques learned in session 1. Discussion and feedback in the online forum.

Session 3

7:00pm London | 1:00pm Central | 2:00pm Eastern | 11:00am Pacific

Music business Q&A session

Day 5

Session 1

2:00pm London | 8:00am Central | 9:00am Eastern | 6:00am Pacific

• 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
• Having the attitude of a hit songwriter
• Three key approaches to success and how to keep it once you have it

Session 2

5:00pm London | 11:00am Central | Midday Eastern | 9:00am Pacific

Daily assignment using techniques learned in session 1. Discussion and feedback in the online forum.

Session 3

7:00pm London | 1:00pm Central | 2:00pm Eastern | 11:00am Pacific

Final session as a group, with the mentor and students

We have an exclusive professional online forum set aside for Songwriting Bootcamp students only, where you can get feedback and discuss the projects you work on during the week.

You will automatically be added to the BOOTCAMP LIVE! Arena group one week before your Bootcamp begins.
Access the group by clicking The Arena on your menu – then click the Bootcamp LIVE group on the Arena page .

One week after your course has finished, you will be added to the Bootcamp GLOBAL group with all previous attendees of the Bootcamp. This will give you access to a much larger community to connect with!

1. This is a LIVE online course which requires you to attend in person. You may not pass the place on to others if you are unable to attend.
2. Replay videos will only be provided if you have attended the course in person, as the videos may contain sensitive personal information about the attendees on the course.
3. If you are not able to attend the bootcamp you have enrolled in, you may request a change of date no later than one week prior to your original bootcamp start date. If we have  availability in a future bootcamp we will move your booking. Only one change of booking will be allowed, after which your full booking fee will be forfeited
4. If you request a change of bootcamp date within one week of the start date of your original bootcamp, a £100 re-booking fee will be payable.
5. If you do not attend the bootcamp you have enrolled in, and do not notify us before the start date of the bootcamp, you will forfeit the full booking fee. Any requests for date changes will be subject to the above terms and conditions.
6. Code of Conduct: Harassment and exclusionary behaviour will not be tolerated. This includes but is not limited to: threats of violence, discriminatory language, personal insults especially those using racist or sexist terms, unwelcome sexual attention, sharing sexually explicit or violent material via electronic or any other means or advocating or encouraging any of the above behaviour. Reports of any inappropriate behaviour will be investigated by The Songwriting Academy and if upheld, will be referred to the appropriate authority, and result in an immediate exclusion from the Program and any other activities carried out by the Company.
7. If you have preference of pronoun usage, please add this to your screen name to make others aware of it.
8. If you see a pronoun preference on someone’s screen name, please respect this and use accordingly.

We have seen many great and lasting friendships born from TSA Bootcamps.

Away from family and friends and normal life, it is natural for emotions to run high; music is art and we are all creatives, so be prepared to experience feelings you may not have experienced for a while! It is not unknown for a few tears to be shed (happy tears) as people relax into this extremely safe, positive and supportive environment with like-minded people.

Some of the Bootcamp sessions involve collaboration. Whether you have collaborated many times before or indeed if this is your first experience, it is important to us that you all feel safe in your group. To this end we promote total respect and encouragement for each other in collaborations.

We want you to get the most you can from this week so if you would like to talk about any concerns you may have before or during the Bootcamp, please contact bootcamp@thesongwritingacademy.co.uk

Looking forward to seeing you soon!