Songwriting Workshops Start September 3rd, 2012

Posted on August 3, 2012 by Corey Stewart

A few months ago the Bowden Brompton Community Centre had asked me to consider doing a series of songwriting workshops for them which I agreed wholeheartedly.

Today, I’m proud to present to you the end result of a lot of hard work… The All About Songwriting Monthly Workshop Series.

They will be held at the Bowden Brompton Community Centre located at 19 Green Street, Brompton on the first Monday of each month from 8:40pm until 11:00pm.

The very first workshop in the series kicks off on Monday September 3rd, 2012 and it’s going to be a Songwriting and Music Business MasterClass featuring well known SA songwriter, producer and music industry identity Dino Jag.

What a way to start off proceedings.

These workshops, are an opportunity for songwriters of any skill level to learn about their chosen craft while at the same time, network with other like minded songwriters in an informal, relaxed and creative learning environment.

Each monthly workshop has three parts to the evening:

1. Workshop/Discussion Topic
This is the first section of the night where the main workshop/discussion topic is presented to the participants. From time to time, a special guest will be available to present a songwriting masterclass or, to help along with the evening adding value wherever they can.

These workshop/discussion topics are designed to allow all of the participants to gain valuable knowledge, to space to ask questions and to learn from the other members in an informal, relaxed and creative learning environment

2. Q&A Session
This is the second section of the evening where participants can ask any songwriting or music business related question to the facilitator and/or the special guest.

This is a fantastic opportunity for the group to start brainstorming and generating ideas for themselves and each other. This section of the evening is where the real networking begins.

3. Songwriters Circle
The final section of the evening is where the participants can either showcase their finished songs for constructive feedback or, present their works in progress for some collaborative input by the group.

This is an opportunity for songwriters to use the collective mind of the workshop to help them fully explore the potential of their songs or, to be given direction on how to finish their works in progress.

There will also be handouts for participants to take home as well as ongoing online support in between the workshops through the All About Songwriting forum.

Entry to each of these workshops have an entry fee of $25 for waged persons and $15 for concession card holders and SCALA members which covers the hire of the space plus the cost of the food and beverages provided for all participants on the night.

For more information on the All About Songwriting Monthly Workshop Series or, to book your place for the September workshop, please email or call me on 0422 883 247.

The Second Time Around – Song Video

Posted on July 11, 2011 by Corey Stewart

As promised here is the video presentation used at the CD launch of “The Second Time Around” a song written by myself, Heather Frahn and members of the Community Re-Entry Program at Flinders University as outlined in a previous post.

Here it is for you to enjoy.

The Second Time Around – written by CRP members, Heather Frahn & Corey Stewart

Here is some more information about the Musical Brainwaves project from the YouTube page…

Musical Brainwaves was a group song-writing project with members from the Community Re-Entry Program at Flinders University in 2011. Collaborating with songwriters Heather Frahn and Corey Stewart the members contributed their own song lyrics, voices and artwork expressing positive viewpoints about their lives.

The creation of the song “The Second Time Around” brought much celebration of the things that inspire life and wellbeing.

CRP Members: Ben Howell, Cherrie Almond, Ron Brooks, Bernadette Circtzki, Joelene Schmerl, Adam Houston, Ralph Kloss, Zeke Langsford, Peter Coulter, Gary Irons, John Weston, Peter Guidera, Joanne King, Andrew King, Jayne Linke, Darryl Thompson, Cele Richardson, Meg Bartel, Luna Aboulhosn, Janma Gazmere, Jasmine Grace, Matthew Thomas, Karina Wight, Margaret Ellis, Christiana Wu, Louisa Schettini

Musical Brain Waves was facilitated by Corey Stewart and Heather Frahn, with visual art assistance from Jasmine Grace. Recording and Music Production by Corey Stewart and Heather Frahn © 2011.

With thanks to Charmaine Mahar, Jaime Gardner and Roger Rees for their support for this project.

Let me know what you think.

Peace,

Corey

Musical Brainwaves – The Finished Song

Posted on July 6, 2011 by Corey Stewart

In previous posts “My Involvement With Musical Brainwaves” and “Musical Brainwaves – Using The Home Recording Studio” you would’ve read about my involvement in this 6 week Songwriting Project held in conjunction with Flinder University and its Community Re-entry Program.

Well, last Friday was the CD launch party of the song “The Second Time Around” written by Heather Frahn, members of the Community Re-Entry Program and myself.

Held at Flinders Uni, it was a very simple affair with about 50 people ranging from members of the project, their carers and Flinders Uni staff and students in attendance.

After an introduction from the Co-ordinator of the Community Re-entry Program it was our turn to give an outline of what we had been doing for the last 6 weeks (well Heather did most of the talking).

Once we finished Heather put on a video collage she made out of all the photos and images taken during the project with the finished song as its soundtrack. Well, there was not a dry eye in the room, it was very powerful stuff. it went down so well Heather was asked to run the video again.

The launch was a great success.

Heather and I during one of our recording sessions

While I was watching the video I was feeling the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and cold shivers running down my spine. This hardly ever happens to me at all but last Friday I was deeply touched, moved and inspired by the event.

I realised that over the past 6 weeks I was provided with proof that music can still matter and that it can still make a profound difference in people’s lives.

I was immensely proud of what we had all achieved with the writing of the song and especially how the finished product sounds as it was totally recorded at home.

Here is the finished product for you to enjoy.

The Second Time Around

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Once I get hold of Heather’s video montage of the song I’ll post it up here.

You have to see it to believe it.

Peace,

Corey

Musical Brainwaves – Using The Home Recording Studio

Posted on June 17, 2011 by Corey Stewart

In an earlier post I mentioned that I was involved with a community songwriting project called “Musical Brainwaves” with good friend and award winning singer/songwriter Heather Frahn.

Well, today and tomorrow, Heather and I will be completing the recording of the song “The Second Time Around” for the project. This will be the first time that my home studio will be used to record something that will be formally released to the general public (albeit a limited release of about 50 copies).

Heather has brought over her mobile recording booth (which I’ll be purchasing for myself later on down the track) to ensure that we get the clearest recordings possible.

I’m really excited about this because it marks another milestone in my learning the craft of recording audio at home however, if I was asked a few years ago whether I would be excited about recording something myself I would’ve said a resounding NO as my answer.

There was a time where I was really afraid of the recording process and always thought that recording music in a studio was something “other people did.”

I have tried a few times over the years to put together a home recording studio but I never used it through the fear of not recording something good.

How silly is that? Me being scared of a medium that if something is not right I could always delete and start again.

Anyway, yesterday I tidied up all of the audio tracks that Heather and I recorded at Flinders Uni over the last three weeks (some choral work in the chorus and some spoken word bits in the bridge) ready for the final instrumental overdubs.

Control Room

Keys & Headphones

Heather’s Portable Vocal Booth

Today is when the real fun begins…

Peace,

Corey

My Involvement With “Musical Brainwaves”

Posted on May 12, 2011 by Corey Stewart

I wanted to let you know about a project that I’ve just become involved on with my very good friend and award winning singer/songwriter Heather Frahn. It’s called Musical Brainwaves and it’s a group songwriting project with members of the Community Re-Entry Program (all who have acquired brain injuries) held at Flinders University over a period of six Fridays between May 6th and June 3rd.

Over a period of six weeks Heather and myself will conduct a series of five creative sessions with the participants of the program in which the end result will be:

A song written by Heather and myself based on contributions from the programs participants
A professional recording of the song
A CD of the recording with an accompanying 6 page booklet including photos and artwork made by the programs participants
50-100 copies of the CD distributed among participants, carers and community networks
A CD launch (of sorts) for participants, carers, community networks and interested parties

It’s hoped that the finished product can be used as a promotional and educational tool for the Community Re-Entry Program and its members on the Internet, in CD Format and on Radio

The (as yet untitled) song that Heather and I will be working on will have the duel themes of “expressing positive viewpoints about (your) life” and “celebrating what inspires and motivates (you).”

For me, working in the community music and arts field with Heather is an exciting development in my professional music career. It adds another string to my bow and it’s an invaluable opportunity to experience new ways of collaborating on and creating new music.

It’s also such a rewarding experience to be working in the company of such amazing and inspirational people. Both Heather and I started the project last Friday and can’t wait to get into it again this coming Friday and every Friday until June 3rd.

I’m constantly amazed at where the music takes me.

Peace,

Corey

SCALA Songwriting Workshop Tonight

Posted on November 16, 2010 by Corey Stewart

I’m going to be one of the special guests along with good friend and songwriting partner Adrian Miller, for the last SCALA Songwriters Workshop for 2010 starting at 7:30pm sharp tonight at the Higher Ground Arts Cafe.

It runs for about 2 hours or so and in the first hour of the workshop, Adrian and I will talk about “The Joys Of Collaboration” in which we’ll feature two of our songs we’ve recently written together.

In the second hour all attendees will get a chance to play one of their original songs to the group for constructive feedback and encouragement and it’s all for a gold coin donation.

It happens tonight at Higher Ground Arts Cafe at 7:30pm sharp. If you’re in Adelaide I’d love to see you there.

Peace,

Corey