Why We are Offering a Co-Writing Course
Many songwriters tell us they want to write songs with artists for their recording projects or to co-write to continue to broaden their songwriting horizons.
But most songwriters don’t know where to begin to do this – who to write with, how to approach other songwriters and artists, how to set this up and how to facilitate or participate in a co-writing session.
In Australia in particular, but also maybe in other countries, there isn’t a strong culture of co-writing and most songwriters are writing songs by themselves. Whilst we have The Club so that we’re not writing in complete isolation, this is quite different to writing a song with another songwriter in real time.
A vital element of co-writing is having a healthy songwriting network. The past 2 years have been particularly tricky to build network, so we want to assist songwriters who want to bring more co-writing into their lives, through our online co-writing course, offering opportunity to collaborate both locally and internationally.
We have run ad-hoc co-writing sessions throughout 2020 and 2021 in partnership with APRA AMCOS for our Club members, and the feedback told us that songwriters want more of this.
Through this course, you will learn essential tools to build co-writing skills, confidence and networks, including training sessions, facilitated co-writing sessions, song sharing sessions, homework activities and plenty of time to ask questions.
If you want to write with artists for their albums but don’t know where to start, this opportunity is for you.
Co-writing Course Outline and Enrollment Information
Course Requirements
We would prefer to work with songwriters who have written at least 40 songs and feel confident in writing songs by themselves. If you’re unsure, please contact us. We warmly welcome first-time co-writers!
Be prepared to learn and grow based on your existing skill set. You don’t need to be competent on an instrument or DAW to participate. Nor do you have to be a ‘great’ singer!
Be prepared to use video conferencing software or apps (like Zoom), and file sharing software (like Google Docs).
Come live to the course sessions. All the training sessions will be held live on Zoom, but there will be a playback available so you can replay the main course content. The playback sessions will be available up to 1 month after the course end date to give you plenty of time to replay.
Be willing and available to participate in co-writing homework activities. These sessions can be done at a time that suits you and your co-writing team, except for the first co-writing session which will be facilitated. If you’re not able to attend live for the first session, we will connect you virtually with a group for an additional homework activity.
Accepting of our diversity. Our co-writing members are all ages, races, cultures, genders, from any country, and write songs of any genre. Our current limitations are that our course is conducted in English language in an Australia-friendly timezone.
Your Course Teacher
Francesca de Valence
Course Creator, Award-winning Songwriter and Educator
Francesca de Valence is an Australian artist, award-winning songwriter, international speaker, educator, and founder of I Heart Songwriting Club, helping emerging singer-songwriters inspire their way to success in a music career they love. She has been acknowledged by the Los Angeles Music Awards with an International Songwriter of the Year Award and also holds an Australian Songwriting Award. Francesca has supported artists including Jimmy Webb, her music can be heard on ABC radio around Australia.
With a background in tertiary, secondary and primary music education (M.Mus, B.Mus, B.Ed), Francesca has written a monthly column for Songwriting Magazine UK, facilitated a regular ABC Radio co-writing segment and facilitates songwriting workshops internationally for PROs including APRA AMCOS (Australia/New Zealand) & IMRO (Ireland).
“Co-writing has really extended my songwriting in so many rich and rewarding ways, in addition to my weekly songwriting practice in The Club. I’ve been doing regular co-writing sessions online with many songwriters around the world – from Australia, to Canada, to USA, to UK all online over the past 5 years, with some of these songs being recorded, released and toured around the world – by other amazing artists!” – Francesca
How to Join our Co-writing Course
Enrollment is simple.
Confirm your place in the course by purchasing the course here. You will receive a receipt immediately after payment via email.
After we receive payment, we will be in touch with you via email within 48 business hours to ask you some specific enrollment questions.
Finally, we will send through the course session information in the week before the course start date.
Co-writing Course Terms of Service
Our general terms of service which pertain to use of this program can be viewed here. Please see our additional terms of service for our co-writing course here. If you cannot attend live due to any change of circumstance once the course is paid for, there will be replays of the course training content. Replays will be available up to 1 month after course completion date. With your permission, we will share your name and email address with the co-writers to facilitate your co-writing network and allow you to set up co-writing sessions effectively.