The PERFORMING SONGWRITER: Returns WINTER/SPRING 2023! Thursdays 7:45pm - In-Person or Online - Join for 3/2!

$ 499.00

We are pleased to announce the return of this much-beloved class, fully in-person with a live online option, WINTER 2023! Thursday nights!

• WATCH Class 1 as our GUEST

• THU 3/2, 7:45pm IN-PERSON: Enroll us for Class 2 of The Performing Songwriter - contact us to discuss your candidacy if you are not yet enrolled

WATCH THIS BRIEF TRAILER from the Fall of 2022:

Instructor Nikhil Korula has had an inspiring past few years: he co-wrote the lead single to a Grammy Winning Reggae Album of the Year for Ziggy Marley, and as a self-booked artist his band played two of the nation's biggest festivals: Arroyo Seco in the Rose Bowl and Summerfest. His latest band release is nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in Music! He brings his considerable expertise as writer, performer, booker, promoter, and DIY master to a class designed to help you build a career as a performing singer/songwriter.

The Professional Singer/Songwriter: From Coffee Shops to Major Festivals, from Studio Files to the Radio Waves will consist of an advanced songwriting and career curriculum aimed specifically at the performing singer-songwriter. Our examination of the craft will come in the service of refining your unique style with regard to the functionality of melodies, harmony & arranging, the power of a hit chorus, the importance of production and how it best captures the song. We will take an in depth look at touring, branding, promotion and more through the presentation of original music. In this hands-on course, students will learn not only how to write a powerful, stylized composition, but how to arrange it into a complete body of work, create albums and promote shows as well. Throughout the 8 meetings (6 weekly, 2 outside labs) and leading up to the final performance, students will be challenged and inspired to break through their musical barriers to develop their talents as songwriters, storytellers, and touring artists.

How does the online version of the class work? Online students have the option to both stream in real time and watch on-demand. Online students get mentoring via video conferences with the instructor and can receive feedback on the homework, song workshopping notes, career counseling, and more. Online students perform in the final concert either live over zoom or if they prefer by filming themselves in advance, a show that we livestream around the world. We have had students perform from Hawai'i, all over the US, Canada, and abroad, alongside classmates here in LA.

What about studio night? You can't be in the studio, but you'll get to watch the video of studio night and get a conversation about your own studio journey. The amount of individual attention in the small online group allows you to experience genuine LA mentorship from your home, wherever you are.

What if I'm in LA to take the class in person, but I need to attend some weeks online? You are welcome to do that, especially in light of these challenging health and safety times. And you'll be able to access the archive of class each week as well, from wherever you are.

Classes: Classes, CLASSES & LESSONS at THE SONGWRITING SCHOOL, FALL 2018 CLASSES, LIVE EVENT CLASSES 2, NEXT UP..., Songwriting

Class Type: Songwriting Classes

Watch video below of an open event with instructor Nikhil Korula:

Sample Syllabus:

CLASS 1 Writing Your Hit Chorus
CLASS 2 Building Your Career From Songs To Stadiums
CLASS 3 Production Is The Way To Capture The Energy Of A Song
CLASS 4 Promoting Your Shows & Tours Like They Matter + Studio Tricks & Treats
CLASS 5 Making Waves On The Radio + Video Breaks The Internet Star
CLASS 6 Shaping the Set List: Great Melody Makers & Why We Love Their Set Lists
CLASS 7 Lab 1 meets in professional RECORDING STUDIO
CLASS 8 Lab 2, FINAL PERFORMANCE - Final showcase performance, filmed in 4-cam HD, notes from NK, final thoughts going forward.
Note: the two Labs can be held on different nights if the class votes to.

Your instructor, Nikhil Korula, is uniquely qualified to teach a class on the craft and business of being a professional singer-songwriter, for as a DIY, self-managed, and self-booking artist, he has played prestigious festivals like Bonnaroo, Summerfest, and the Playboy Jazz Festival and has opened for artists like Dave Matthews Band, Jason Mraz, John Mayer, The Roots, Erykah Badu, Ben Harper, Ray Lamontagne, Gavin Degraw, and Gary Clark, Jr. He has charted as a recording artist and as a songwriter for other artists. He has his own radio show on LA Talk Radio where he has helped emerging artists gain their footing and following. And as a trained and schooled musician with extensive teaching experience, he knows how to distill the wisdom of the road to an organized setting where he can impact the lives and careers of fellow singer-songwriters.