About


Shennanton House from the air

Shennanton House from the air.

The UK Songwriting Festival began in 2004 and is now in its ninth year. It’s a five-day songwriting course, held at Bath Spa University every August (but for 2012 will be held at Shennanton House in Scotland). Festival participants live on-site during the festival; there are formal or informal songwriting activities throughout the day and well into the evening (click here for FAQ).

Facilities
For 2012, SWF students will work from the inspiring creative retreat that is Shennanton House. We’ll be bringing in all the musical facilities, including mobile Pro Tools studio setups etc.

Curriculum
Lectures deal with the process of songwriting. Sessions may cover specific techniques (making lyrics singable, chorus construction, using imagery, melodic shaping, applying music theory, chord change frequencies, composing with guitar/keyboard) or more general writing tools (beating writer’s block, editing your material, avoiding plagiarism, using visuals as inspiration).

Practical workshops enable students to share their songs in a friendly, supportive small group atmosphere, guided by a tutor who is also an experienced songwriter.

House band sessions provide the opportunity for you to hear your own songs played by a professional session band.

Session drummer Josh in an SWF Studio session

Session drummer Josh in a SWF Studio sess

The week includes:

  • Lectures on the craft of songwriting
  • Small group playback and critique sessions
  • Live band sessions
  • Acoustic live recordings to take away on CD

The week is flexible according to the needs of the participants, but we usually organise the playback sessions into experience-based groups (from complete beginner to pro musician) to ensure that everyone can proceed at their own pace. Ideally you should be able to accompany yourself on an instrument (or work with other students who play an instrument).

And everybody has to obey the Festival’s golden rule write one song every day (and if you’re worried you can’t do this – read the FAQ!)

We’ve posted some songwriters’ comments from previous festivals. Here’s a sample schedule from the 2008 Festival (.pdf download).

Tutors

All of our tutors are professional musicians and songwriters, and many of them teach songwriting on Bath Spa’s unique Masters Degree in Songwriting. The tutors have extensive experience and knowledge of copyright and the music industry, and will be happy to answer any questions you may have about these areas. Chord and lyric sheets

Accommodation and catering – see FAQ

Dates 2012

The Festival begins on Sunday 12th August and finishes at midnight on Friday 17th August. All catering and accommodation is provided.
Check out after breakfast on the Saturday (18th August).

Questions?

Try the FAQ or contact us.

Booking

More info on our booking page.