Instructor Nikhil Korula had an inspiring past year: he co-wrote the lead single to the 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. 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 by filming themselves and we show it on the bigscreen as if they were in the room, 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. The amount of individual attention in the small online group allows you to experience genuine LA mentorship from your home, wherever you are.

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

Sample Syllabus:

WEEK 1 Writing Your Hit Chorus
WEEK 2 Building Your Career From Songs To Stadiums
WEEK 3 Production Is The Way To Capture The Energy Of A Song
WEEK 4 Promoting Your Shows & Tours Like They Matter + Studio Tricks & Treats
WEEK 5 Making Waves On The Radio + Video Breaks The Internet Star
WEEK 6 Shaping the Set List: Great Melody Makers & Why We Love Their Set Lists
WEEK 7 Lab 1 meets in professional RECORDING STUDIO
WEEK 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.

WATCH SUMMER 2016 CLASS CONCERT: ONE MIC, 10 STORIES, 9-29-16

About the Instructor, NIKHIL KORULA

Classically trained in voice from the age of 5, Nikhil Korula first lent his dulcet tones to sing with the likes of opera giants such as Placido Domingo and pop stars Barry Manilow and the late Luther Vandross. As a boy soprano, Korula performed at Carnegie Hall by the age of 10 and also sang for one of Danny Elfman’s first film scores. In 1990, Nikhil Korula performed at the 32nd Annual Grammy® Awards with Mike and the Mechanics, sharing the stage with legends, Ray Charles, Miles Davis & Don Henley to name a few. However, after graduating from the USC Thornton School of Music with a Bachelor's Degree in Operatic Vocal Performance, his creative talents drew him to the world of songwriting, jazz and improvisation which led to his playing many acoustic sets throughout Los Angeles. This experience in turn helped him to collaborate with some of the city’s finest jazz musicians and to form the Nikhil Korula Band (NK Band).

Due to its ever-increasing fan following, this vibrant musical act has traveled all over the globe playing festivals such as BONNAROO (2008 & 2009), PLAYBOY JAZZ FESTIVAL (2011) & SUMMERFEST (2007-2016), gathering worldwide attention one fan at a time. Blending the sounds of calypso, rock, reggae, African and Latin grooves, this unique sextet infuses extraordinary musicianship with irresistible dance jams, a combination that has led the NIKHL KORULA BAND to open for such esteemed artists as Dave Matthews Band, Jason Mraz, John Mayer, The Roots, Erykah Badu, Ben Harper, Ray Lamontagne, Gavin Degraw, Gary Clark Jr and countless others while also headlining venues like the House of Blues and performing at the Apollo Theater.

Most recently, Nikhil Korula had the pleasure of recording 5 new songs for a new EP called SOLO SESSIONS with musical heroes of his, Butch Taylor and Jeff Coffin from the Dave Matthews Band. One of the songs from the EP, "Fade Away," has already been charting, debuting at #106 and moving all the way to #10 on the Hot AC charts. Singer-songwriter, Nikhil Korula also just wrote the opening track, "Start It Up," for Ziggy Marley's new self titled album which became the #1 reggae album in the country. The song has been peaked at #5 on iTunes. Look for Korula and his eclectic band to open for Eric Hutchinson at Summerfest 2016 in front of thousands. Please visit www.nkband.com for more information.

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The PROFESSIONAL SINGER-SONGWRITER: SPRING 2019 Starts TH 5/9/19

Co-Writing Songs: The Art & Business of Collaboration - WINTER 2019 Starts Thursday 3/14/19

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