Square Pegs Arts Music Programme - Summer Songwriting Workshop 2019
Day One
We assembled at Mid Kent College and got ourselves settled and introduced with a couple of games and a discussion about what the next few days would entail. Everyone was excited and raring to go. Our first activity lead by Paul, was to explore our theme for the project which was summer holidays and research other music and songs that were connected to Summer. We listened to a bunch of tunes and discussed the lyrical content, the instrumentation and the overall arrangement of the songs and made notes on any aspects from which we could draw inspiration. We filled out worksheets on this to go towards our Arts Award Portfolio.
Nathan then delivered a short workshop on song structures, exploring the various sections of songs and discussing the difference between verses, choruses.
After a brief break for lunch, we played a game of melody tennis; an activity designed to help us learn how to create melodies and come up with little tunes on the spot.
Now, fully equipped with the necessary skills, we split the cohort into two writing groups to make a start on our songs:
Group A - Paul, Harry, Finley, Emma, Azwa and Tom
Group B – Jessica, Laura, Thomas, Faith, Chloe and Will,
The groups brainstormed their ideas and wrote down everything that came to mind when they thought about summer. From this they started to pull ideas and rhyming couplets that could contribute towards lyrics. Group A came up with an idea to focus on their ideal summer holiday locations. Group B focussed on a trip to the beach. In both A and B, each member of the group put ideas forward and got to make a significant contribution to their song.
Day Two.
After a game to settle everyone, we broke straight into our groups to finish off the lyrics and start working on the musical elements of the songs.
The way this worked was one group worked with Nathan to build a basic backing track for the song, drawing from the sounds and styles they heard in yesterday’s research session using logic and a midi controller, whilst the other worked with Paul at the piano to develop a melody and chord progression for their track. After an hour, the groups swapped over and had the chance to do the other activity.
After a break for lunch, both groups recorded a basic demo vocal line over their backing track ready to take to Jamz studio on day 3.
Both groups achieved so much toady and the teamwork was amazing. Everyone’s ideas were listened to and considered and the tracks that have been written are truly a group effort in both cases.
Day 3
We were over at the East Malling Community Centre where Jamz recording studio is based. Paul, Nathan and Phil, our studio engineer, worked with each group in turn and the individual members of those groups to record the vocals in the booth.
I was extremely impressed by the professionalism of the young people and their skills in recording.
When they weren’t recording, the rest of the cohort remained in the break out room with our workshop assistant Cherie to complete their Arts Award Portfolios and to get in some last-minute vocal practice. It was a busy day, but everyone managed to get their bit done.
For many of the young people, today was the highlight of the workshop; getting to record in a proper professional studio and to see their own composition come to life.
All of our young participants achieved their Discover Level Arts Award!
ROAD TRIP TO THE BEACH
V1
Roof down, radio on.
Pull out of the driveway and we’re gone
Favourite songs and we sing along
These memories will last us all year long.
V2
All excited on the coastal road
Car’s packed up, got a heavy load.
Wind in the hair, we don’t care
On our way to the beach we go.
Chorus:
The sun is shining
Just me and my mates
Messing around, playing some games.
Road trip to the beach
Road trip to the beach
Road trip to the beach
V3
Barefoot in the sand
Getting ready to be tanned
Laying down the towels
Parties all around.
V4
The stars are aligning
While the moonlight is shining
Marshmallows roasting
To the summer we are toasting.
Chorus:
The sun is setting
Just me and my mates
Get the fire going, handout the plates.
Sunset at the beach
Sunset at the beach
Sunset at the beach
M8
Waves in the moonlight
Keep it going all night
Chorus:
The moon is shining
Just me and my mates
Keep the fire going, party till late
Midnight at the beach
Midnight at the beach
Midnight at the beach
THE PEGS GUIDE TO SUMMER FUN
I can’t wait to swim with a dolphin
And hold on tightly to its fin.
Wave after wave, we’re swimming through
Happy in the sea of blue.
Summer has started and now I’m single
Excited to meet new girls and mingle
My family’s here together with me
Over in Cornwall by the sea.
Going to Vias Plage and Europark,
Lights shine everywhere, filling the dark
Portugal where I go to have fun in the sea.
That’s where I’m happy Exploring and free.
Adrenaline pumping, the waves so high
They crash towards me and propel me to fly
In Verona, Juliet’s balcony, feelings of love
Or camping in fields with the stars up above.
Massive thanks to our wonderful volunteers and also our workshop partners; The Songwriting Charity, Jamz Studio, Mid Kent College and The East Malling Community Centre for making this such an awesome project.
