FILLING THE PAGE
- A SONGWRITING EXPERIENCE -
Do you want to write a song, but don’t know where to start?
Have you already been writing (YES!) but want to 10X your productivity?
Do you want to learn the tricks-of-the-trade to express your ideas clearly, uniquely, and impactfully?
Do you want to be part of a supportive and inclusive community that promises to hold you accountable, celebrate your individuality, and inspire your best work?
🎉 Welcome to FILLING THE PAGE
FILLING THE PAGE is a songwriting class guaranteed to unlock your creativity.
After a hugely successful first year, we’re bringing the class back for a new crop of aspiring songwriters.
Each week you’ll learn the components of craft and collaboration.
But the power of this program lies in its unique weekly writing assignments which are designed to spark your imagination and make “writer’s block” an impossibility.
Beyond the creation of original material (music, lyrics, or both), you will be encouraged to find inventive ways to represent your work on digital platforms.
In addition to the group meetings, individualized one-to-one feedback will be provided outside of class.
WHAT OUR STUDENTS ARE SAYING …
WHAT YOU’LL GET …
✅ Weekly 90-minute group meetings (via Zoom) covering the principles of songwriting including ...
Building the “writer muscle”
Writing for character
Writing from personal experience
Rhyme
Melody
Harmony
Rhythm
Song form
Humor in song
Storytelling in song
...and more!
✅ Weekly songwriting assignments uniquely designed to build on each other and take your creativity and productivity to the next level
✅ Opportunities to write with different collaborators (many of these collaborations have continued past the course experience)
✅ Mid-week individualized check-ins via video app Marco Polo offering detailed feedback on first drafts and providing a road map of next steps to take before that week’s deadline
✅ Private Facebook group to share your work and create community
✅ Q&As about how to take the next steps with your writing and the process of working with actors, agents, music publishing, directors, and producers
✅ Access to promote your work on @thisMTspace IG through student spotlights, IG takeovers, and an interview series
✅ A catalogue of original songs that YOU have created to represent your artistry to the world
FAQ
I’ve never even written a song before. Is this for me?
Absolutely! If you have a genuine interest in songwriting and an enthusiasm for learning how to do it, then you’re in the right place.
I’ve been writing for a while now, is this for ME?
Yup! The class and the assignments are designed to uniquely inspire the creativity of writers with all levels of experience. The process of collaborating with a diverse range of writers develops vital artistic and communication skills. And no matter a writer’s level of experience, the process always begins with an equally blank page. The challenge of filling it is one that all writers share together.
Do I need to know how to play an instrument?
The exercises in class are designed to help build your inner ear and innate melodic instincts. If you can make music with your voice, no instrument is required.
I only write music. Will I have to write lyrics?
Collaboration between composers and lyricists occurs in all classes, so a student may “specialize” in either music or lyrics if they wish. However, we encourage all students to gain experience creating music and lyrics, and we provide opportunities for them to write both.
I only write lyrics. Will I have to write music?
See above!
Is this only about writing for musicals?
Nope! While we will have some assignments where you will be writing for character, we cover long-form musical storytelling in other courses. We’d love to see you there!
Am I going to learn quick tricks or shortcuts to write a song?
The good news is, there aren’t any quick tricks or shortcuts! Every writer’s process is completely individualized. The first step to becoming a stronger writer is figuring out how your process works, applying craft, invention, and resilience to generate the best work possible, and getting immediate feedback to utilize for revision and inspiration. At This MT Space, we’ll guide you through that evolution and that’s the best shortcut there is!
What if I’m not comfortable sharing my work?
When you’re learning to swim, there’s a moment when you simply have to jump in the water. And hopefully that moment occurs alongside other swimmers jumping in the water at the same time. That’s what sharing your work is like. We promise you a safe and enthusiastic environment where everyone supports one another’s artistry, individuality, and creative process.
What if I can’t make one of the class meetings?
No problem. We’ll record every class and make sure you receive a link to access anything you missed. If you know ahead of time that you won’t be able to attend a class meeting, let us know and we’ll make any necessary plans.
We built this class for you, because … we were you!
Every writer deserves the support, accountability, and inspiration that comes from being part of a community of artists.
This is the class we would’ve loved when we were starting our own journeys as songwriters.
Since that time, we’ve been able to build careers in the musical theatre and see our work performed around the world and by the best performers in the business. Our work has been recorded by 6-time Tony award winner Audra McDonald, Laura Osnes, and the upcoming studio cast album of our musical The Violet Hour starring Tony Award-winner Santino Fontana, Jeremy Jordan, Solea Pfeiffer, Erika Henningsen, and Brandon Uranowitz. We won the Fred Ebb Award for Musical Theatre Writing, the Lotte Lenya Songbook Award, and are songwriters on the Apple TV+ animated series Central Park starring Josh Gad and Leslie Odum, Jr.
But more importantly, we are educators committed to your growth as an artist and we can’t wait to see what you create this summer.