First Stage: Song Writing Workshop

Overview

For ages 14-25, and up to 30 if you have lived experience of the care system.

This nurturing workshop will focus on form, melody, lyric and every element that’s involved in making a song. You can be working at any level and no experience is necessary; you don’t need to play an instrument.

This workshop is part of a larger project called FIRST STAGES, a holistic music programme that will nurture songwriting seeds through workshops, online sessions, and a development programme. Learn more about it here. Please note, you can join these sessions as standalone events without joining the longer-term development programme.

The workshop will take place in Heart of Hawick. There will be a maximum of 12 participants.

Tutors

Boo Hewerdine is a singer-songwriter, musician, producer and experienced tutor and mentor. He has written songs for Eddi Reader, k.d. lang, Chris Difford and many others. He has produced numerous albums, run a record label and been involved in music as a business for many years. His latest album, Understudy (a commercial and critical success), was released in 2022.

Yvonne Lyon is among the UK’s brightest and best singer songwriters. Her most recent album Things Found In Books is co-written with award winning songwriter Boo Hewerdine and is her eleventh studio release. Yvonne has been writing songs professionally for over 20 years. She holds an MA in English Literature from Glasgow University (including 2 years of Music) and a Masters in Songwriting from the University of the West of Scotland. She is also a graduate of Strathclyde University with a PGCE in Secondary Music.