MEL | Holiday Workshop – Songwriting & Performance

AIM’s new school holiday workshop is designed for high school students interested in music performance & songwriting. Created for students in Years 9-12, the two-day music workshops provide incredible opportunities to experience playing, writing, and performing music, mentored by AIM’s own accomplished musicians and educators.

LEARN, PRACTICE, WRITE AND PERFORM UNDER THE EXPERTISE OF AUSTRALIA’S LEADING MUSIC MENTORS. EVERYTHING FROM CONTEMPORARY AND CLASSIC POP, ROCK, AND SOUL TUNES, TO WORKSHOPPING YOUR ORIGINAL TUNES.

What will you do?

Over 2 days students will work with AIM’s own current industry musicians to expand their performance & writing skills in a collaborative and inspiring environment. They will workshop communication in an ensemble, chart reading, rhythm, pitch, dynamic, improvisation, stylistic interpretation, and performance as well as songwriting workshops. Under the guidance of current faculty, alumni and collaboration with current students, participants will use these new rehearsal and performance techniques to create a small set of diverse songs in collaboration with other students in the class to present in a performance for family and friends at the end of the two days.

Over the two days the repeated sessions will pick up and expand upon the achievements of the previous day giving participants time between classes to reflect and consider new ideas.

Vocal Workshop

This is for everyone! This is not about how good you sing but how creative you can be with your voice. If you are a drummer this is for you, if you are a passionate singer, this is for you! We want to harness the power of the voice to explore or creativity, our understanding of musical concepts and its power in communicating musical ideas in collaboration.

Improv Workshop

This session is an introduction to the art of improvisation. Applicable to any instrument students will learn some of the key features of improvising that can lead to more creative outcomes across the board.

Songwriting Workshop

These workshops will centre around the tools and craft of songwriting. Looks specifically at the generation of chord progressions, melodies, and the idea of top lines in addition to lyrics. Students are encouraged to bring existing works to workshop as well as creating brand new works with their new classmates.

Student Ensemble / Alumni Session

Depending on what you are truly passionate about this session is designed to allow participants to explore AIM and peek inside the classroom. You might find yourself observing a Music Theatre masterclass or sitting in with a contemporary ensemble while they rehearse, learning about Abelton with composition majors or discussing the finer details of contract negotiations with our business majors. We will also invite alumni back onto campus to share insights from their experience post study.

Band Workshop

Using existing repertoire students will work as an ensemble to rehearse and prepare a set of music. With successful outcomes in the song writing workshops original repertoire may also be incorporated. Fundamental rehearsal techniques from chart reading to communication will also be explored.

Host or Publisher Australian Institute of Music