THE WORKING MUSICIAN PROGRAM:

If you are a working musician looking to further equip and perfect your toolbox, or if the phrase "working musician" feels at all ironic or sadly comical in your life, then this is exactly where you belong.

We assembled our teachers precisely because they are all working, in-demand session and live players in LA with remarkable credits who also believe profoundly in their responsibility to share what they've learned with others.  They love to teach as much as they love to play!  The more we discussed the kinds of programming we could offer, this refrain punctuated every topic:  "I wish someone had taught me THAT before I went to the audition!"  Here in a room sat a group of university music school graduates who all said that what was missing from their education was precisely what they needed to make it in LA:  how to get the gig and keep the gig.  We developed The Working Musician Program to utilize their vast experiences and talents and give you that education.

In addition to individual, private lessons with these masterful teachers, The Working Musician Program attempts to provide practical, hands-on experience and training to help you get paid what you deserve for doing what you love.  Some of the classes and workshops include the following:

• The Singing Sideman

  Learn how to hear, create, and sing harmony vocals in a group setting while you play your instrument, and gain the confidence to sing lead parts as well.  Even for working side musicians, learning to sing well can be the difference between booking the tour and not.  As Emmylou Harris once put it, "We're a National League band:  all of us play AND sing."

• The Working Rhythm Section

  This unique class is taught by both a session drummer AND a session bassist, allowing each member of the rhythm section to learn from the perspective of multiple instruments.

• The Working Rhythm Guitarist

  Everyone wants to wank on a burning solo, but the players who keep great time, create deep grooves, come up with interesting voicings, and devise great parts GET and KEEP the gig.  This class works on right and left hand strategies, independently and in tandem.

• The Background Vocalist

  Work in both studio and stage settings to learn how to arrange and then execute great background vocal parts.  You'd better believe this skill is in demand.

• The Studio Vocalist

  More than simply voice lessons, work with vocal coaches who are themselves recording artists.  Learn and develop the artistry of recording your unique voice.  Gain precious studio experience along with the understanding and confidence that training in a real, professional studio gives you so that you can always feel and sing like you belong in one.

...and much more to come.

Why study your instrument at a Songwriting School?

• Everything we do begins with The Song.  That means that everything we teach is designed to enable you to honor, interpret, create, and re-create songs on your instrument, truthfully, confidently, and artfully.

• We encourage all of our students to learn to write songs, and we teach the instrument with this goal in mind.  Nothing gives you ownership of a concept or skill like having to create using it.  And nothing gives you legal and financial ownership like creating and owning a copyright.  There is a profound confidence that comes from not only being able to support the original work of others but to create original work of your own.

• The Songwriting School of Los Angeles is a creative ecosystem for musicians.  Songwriters need musicians, bands need singers, dreamers need fellow conspirators, and we all need mentoring and guidance.  Gather that under one roof and you will quickly find both the training and the opportunities to be a working musician.

I want this kind of study, but I'm not quite at the point where I'm ready to be auditioning.  Can I still take part in the program?

As educators, we believe in the importance of putting students in classes suited to their age, level, and skill-set.  We work hard to match the members of a class accordingly.  We offer youth versions of the same classes as well for talented young musicians who have their sights set on a life in music.  Contact us and let's figure out where and how you are best served.