Class Levels

Intro to Songwriting: Finding Your Voice

• Have you ever wanted to put your poems to music? Are you feeling like you don’t know where to start with creating lyrics? From lyrical tools, theory basics, and finding your voice, this hands-on class will have you writing songs from day one.

• Next Session TBA

Habits of Songwriting: Using Your Voice

• Do you want to strengthen your songwriting skills?  Are you having a hard time figuring out your style? This class will get you into the daily habit of writing, collaborating with other musicians, mapping out song ideas/structures.   

• *Requirements: familiarity with basic chord constructions and progressions or completed Intro to Songwriting.

In-depth Songwriting: Strengthening Your Voice

• Have you been writing songs but feel stuck within your own style? Do you struggle finding new ways to express lyrical ideas? This class is for songwriters who not only want to continue flexing their songwriting muscle through prompts but learn/use time tested lyrical and melodic tools. If Habits of Songwriting focused on quantity, then this class will strengthen the skills that enhance the quality of your songs.

• *Requirements: songwriting experience or completed songwriting course.

• Next Session TBA

Classes include a final performance where you get to share a few of your original compositions!

Pricing: $100-180/student on a sliding scale. If you need a little extra help, for $30 you can add on 1 additional private songwriting lesson with Vanessa that can be scheduled during the 6 week course.

About the teacher: 

Vanessa McKinney wrote, recorded and self-produced a ukulele folk/indie EP under the moniker VansAnn. She was also the singer/songwriter in the local band Pink Triggers with known songsmith Mayda. Currently, Vanessa is the singer/songwriter for the local queer punk band Spit Takes and has also taught piano at Sarah Jane’s Music School for the last 2 years.