Songwriters' Journey: From Pen to Performance

Join us for an exciting series of workshops where songwriters come together to learn about the creative process, from writing lyrics to delivering performances. The workshops will be presented by Allison and Gerald Flemming of the award winning duo, Infinitely More.

Registrants can attend in person at 3434 Cawthra Drive, Mississauga, ON or by interactive livestream. The link to the livestream will be provided to paid registrants.

This seven-session series will be held from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm (ET) on the second Monday of each month, beginning November 11, 2024 through to May 12, 2025. After the end of the series participants will have the opportunity to perform their completed song in front of a live audience at an Artist Showcase.

Each two hour monthly workshop will be structured as follows:

• Industry Insights and Training : We'll begin with a session focused on providing valuable industry knowledge and hands-on training to help you grow as a music creator.
• Networking : Connect with fellow songwriters, musicians, and industry professionals to exchange ideas and build lasting relationships.
• Song Critiquing, Mentorship, and Feedback : Songwriters working on new material will have the opportunity to present their unfinished songs for constructive critique by award-winning folk-pop gospel duo, Allison and Gerald Flemming of Infinitely More. (Maximum12 songs per session).

Whether you're a seasoned songwriter or just starting out, this workshop series is perfect for anyone looking to dive into the world of music creation. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to connect with fellow songwriters, elevate your craft and perform your finished song to a live audience!

• Breaking down great songs to study the elements of craft (structure, rhyme, prosody, hooks, etc.) while also looking at the ephemeral things that really make them “great”.
• What genre am I writing for?
• What are the songs that are considered milestones of this genre?
• What is unique or special about these songs?
• What are my strengths and weaknesses as a writer?
• We need to learn how to be honest with ourselves and deal with our insecurities.
• How to get past feeling intimidated by great songs so they can inspire us and hold us to a higher standard.

• We’re going to pour through the sources of inspiration to jump start your process as a songwriter.
• What makes a great idea?
• Where to find truly great ideas?
• Great ideas are the remedy to the drawer of half-written songs.
• Great ideas as currency for co-writes.
• Creating your own “hook book".

• Creating the tension and release that attracts the ear.
• The power of the One chord.
• “17 Chords and the Truth”, with A little Nashville Number System thrown in.
• Finding musical moments that startle and catch us, creating in others a want to listen on repeat.
• Creating great melodies with and without an instrument.

• The power of writing from suffering and from joy.
• Why both are a necessary part of a spiritual and musical diet.
• Using music to play against the grain.
• Meeting people in a painful place and inspiring them sincerely.

• Writing from personal stories that break us and revive us.
• What is great and unique in both and how they can complement each other as acts of worship.

• The first draft of anything is crap (in comparison to what it could be).
• Being ruthless when it comes to cliches.
• Are cliches ever a good choice?

• Rewriting is where real writing happens.
• Revealing your second verse and elevating the song.
• Is your bridge bringing us to a new place?

• Obsessing over the details until the song cracks open and reveals its light.
• Coaxing the hidden possibilities to reveal themselves.
• Making peace with songs that may never be great but are vehicles of learning.
• Seeing this all as a process.
• This is a time of serious prayer and discernment as we prepare a final focus on illuminating the message we would sing to our Saviour.

• This is reserved for songs that you really want to share.
• Make songs earn this moment.
• Imagining the soundscapes that will best suit your song.
• Working creatively and collaboratively with a producer and an engineer.
• Empathetically building relationships and earning allies.
• Being open to new possibilities you hadn’t considered.

www.InfinitelyMore.ca www.Facebook.com/InfinitelyMoreBand

www.YouTube.com/InfinitelyMoreBand. www.Twitter.com/Infinitely_More

Host or Publisher Gospel Music Industry Hub