Songwriting with Four Seasons Theatre, Suffolk

On the weekend of July 23rd/24th we will be running a weekend songwriting course in Ipswich! Four Seasons Theatre, Suffolk are having us in to coach their young people in songwriting.
We are also lucky enough to have the awesome Arianna coming all the way from Italy to sing! We will be performing a few songs together over the weekend.
For the workshop, together we will look at the theme the young people would like to focus on, and talk about influences and aspirations for how they'd like their song to sound.
After this, there will be some rhyming games and we will get stuck into writing the chorus and other sections of the song.

The end of the weekend will culminate with their song being performed live!
For booking please see the flyer below, places get booked up quickly so grab your place now!

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Songwriting Project: Garden Community Cafe, East London

We have just finished a five week project at the Garden Community Cafe in East London. Our primary aim is to give as many children and young people in the area a musical outlet in which to express themselves. This workshop aims to improve confidence and self-esteem while providing an opportunity to work in a team.
For this project the young people decided collectively to write their song on the theme of Easter time, have a listen!




Some snaps of a couple of the children at work:

Songs written on the Young Songwriter Course, Kilve, Somerset

Written by young people on our ' Young Songwriter' course at Kilve Court, Somerset.

Their first song is themed on Kilve Court and what it means to them, the activities you can take part in, describing the surroundings, including beautiful Kilve beach. Some very good singing/lyrics and a rap about the tutors!
All lyrics and music played in/recorded by the participants. We had live guitar parts and each person contributed to a part of the song.

Their second song was influenced by a story told to them by a long standing staff member at Kilve...
It is rumoured that a young lady of 18 had a baby at Kilve Court in the early 1600's, unfortunately a few months after the birth, the baby died. The mother was so distraught she wouldn't believe he was no longer with her, so refused to bury him. She wrapped him in swaddling bands and sat cradling him in a rocking chair.

There is a door on the first floor of Kilve with no handle, no way to get in. It is said her and the baby are in the room behind the door.
She can be heard late at night singing haunting lullabies to her baby, willing him to wake up...
The students had lots of fun coming up with their song based on this story, a chilling lullaby, tick tock of the clock and some eerie spoken word. Finished with a door slam.

Scroll down to listen to the song and a few photos of them in action...

Young Songwriter Residential Course at KIlve Court, Somerset.

ActuallyAmy Songwriting is running the 'Young Songwriter' Enrichment course at Kilve Court, Somerset, 14th-16th November.


Kilve Court is a Georgian Country House with modern extensions, situated in 40 acres of wooded grounds and gardens, at the foot of the Quantock Hills and one mile from the sea.
Purchased by Somerset County Council in 1962 as a Youth Centre, Kilve has been developed over the years as a Residential Education Centre.
Kilve Court’s position between the hills and the coast provides excellent opportunities for a vast range of outdoor and academic activities.
Bedroom areas are fitted with electronic keypads to provide restricted access.
Accommodation for up to 90 in rooms comprising 2, 3, 4, 6, or 7 beds. Showers and toilets are organised for each group of bedrooms.
Three main meals per day cooked onsite by our fabulous cooks.

Whether a first night away from home as a seasoned Kilvite, each visit to any one of our Centres will challenge and embrace your uniqueness.

The cost of the course is £144 per child which includes accommodation, meals, tuition, materials and equipment, and covers the period from 5.30pm Friday until Sunday afternoon. The course is structured to give a demanding and intensive period of study and is designed for children who have an enquiring mind, thrive on learning, enjoy creativity, welcome an academic challenge and wish to widen their horizons beyond that of the National Curriculum.

About the Young Songwriter Course....

Write and record a song in a weekend! 

Participants will decide on a theme to write about, write and record lyrics in groups, compose melody lines and make choices on the backing music for their song. As a group they decide with how they would like their song to sound, what kind of instruments to have and whether they would like to record themselves singing, rapping or speaking their lyrics. There may be time to record more that one song over the course of the weekend.
Children will be able to design CD artwork, a poster and tickets for their performance to parents on Sunday afternoon. Song(s) will also be available to download for free from iTunes or the Soundcloud website!
For young people aged 11 12 and 13, this course is a great way to meet new friends, participate in a fun, educational activity and create something unique to you...

To book, please fill in the application form on the website http://www.kilvecourt.co.uk/course/young-songwriter/

Look forward to seeing you there!

Relocating to London

It's official.. I'm moving to London for September! I've had an incredible journey over the last few years, met some amazing people that I will continue to stay in touch with and had the chance to grow my business to where I want it to be. 

I have a new job as a freelance workshop leader with Nathan Timothy Foundation - 'The Songwriting Charity' headed up by Nathan who is my mentor for the songwriting work I have been doing under Actually Amy.

ActuallyAmy Songwriting and Tuition will be coming with me so I will build that up as I go, getting into the after school market with songwriting workshops.

Having been to uni near London I have always had a lot of love for the city, but now I feel it's the right time to go for it and see what the Big Smoke has to offer...
It's time for change... The bright lights are calling!!

100th Brownie Birthday - Greens Norton Brownies Song!

Greens Norton Brownies wrote their song to commemorate the 100th anniversary this year. Milestone!



And check out their CD artwork to go with it....

'No Matter What' - Song written at our Roade workshop

The young people in our workshop wrote their song on the topic of friendship, encouraging people, being kind and the some powerful lyrics on mental health issues. 
Guitar and Cajon parts played in by the participants.

Half term songwriting workshop - May 27th-28th Roade Village Hall

We're running a songwriting worksop at Roade Village Hall - 27^th and 28^th May 9.30am - 3.30pm. Young people aged 8-16 – come along and unleash your creative side!

    

Write and record your own song

     

     Learn about different instruments

     

     Express yourself through music

     We will have a keyboard, guitar, bass guitar and electric drum kit to demonstrate, there

     will be lots of opportunities for the participants to have a go on each instrument.

     Songs are available to download from iTunes and the Soundcloud website for free, to share with friends and family.

     The cost is £40 for for the two day course, bring a packed lunch! Contact Amy on

     07919525893 or info@actuallyamy.co.uk to book!

      

       ActuallyAmy Songwriting – ‘Motivating empowering and inspiring through song’

'Colours' by April Creative

The young people in our April Creative workshop wrote their song on the theme of colour. Exploring textures, where colours are found, and the three primary colours.

'Spinning in the Stars' by YouthPOD Stars

Eleven young people from Khameleon Kompany's YouthPOD wrote their song today in a masterclass lasting just 90 minutes. Describing their experience of YouthPOD, their lyrics talk about singing, dancing, performing and being on stage. Brilliant work!

'Multi-Coloured Coat' - THC Feb14

Thirteen young people from Towcester and the surrounding villages wrote this song themed on the story of Joseph. Describing the jealousy of the brothers due to him being favoured by their father, the amazing coat he was given and the strange dreams he had...

Towcester Holiday Club songwriting workshop - 21st Feb 2014

On the 21st February I am running a day's songwriting workshop at Paulerspury URC in conjunction with Tove Valley Baptist Fellowship.
Taking place from 10-4pm, 8-13 year olds are welcome to come and spend a day writing and recording their own song and designing related CD artwork to go with it.
We will be introducing the story of Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat.
The cost is £10 per child including their CD to take home.
For more information or to book your child's place contact Sue Feasey on susanfeasey@hotmail.com or 07877 354 885.
Look forward to seeing you there!

'Rain, rain, rain' written by Rhythmic Rainfall - Feb 2014 Creative Workshop

We had an awesome day songwriting and doing arty things with a lovely group of young people. Featuring a rain stick, cool echo voice effects, 'droplet' piano figures, lovely lyrics and a storm section! Have a listen to the song they wrote here:

17th Feb 2014 Creative Workshop

Tomorrow Sarah Hodgkins of Charlotte Designs and I are running a Creative workshop at Paulerspury URC. We give 8-14 year olds the opportunity to write a song and create the artwork for a CD cover. This is a one day course, run on Monday 17th from 9.30-3.30 and costs just £20 including all materials. The song will be free to download from iTunes afterwards to share with friends and family.
Theme for the day will be 'Rain' seeing how much we've had recently!
Participants take home a completed CD of their song and all the artwork they have created too.
See you there!

'Well, it's Christmas!' Christmas songwriting workshop at Bradden Church

Seven young people wrote their own Christmas song in our ActuallyAmy workshop on Saturday. Some lovely spoken word at the beginning with the piano intro and middle eight played in by the children too. Depicting the meaning of Christmas.
Enjoy!

Lullaby Project with Park St Music CIC

On Thursday I will be running a lullaby songwriting workshop in conjunction with Park St Music CIC.
We will be working with 15 and 16 year old girls who are pregnant or have just had a baby. 
Writing and singing their own lullaby gives them the expressive outlet to help connect with their baby while they're still finding their feet as a mother.
Challenging stuff but very much looking forward to this!

Noah's Ark - Towcester Holiday Club

'Noah's Ark' themed songwriting workshop over a 3 day holiday club in Towcester.

Four sections of the song are themed on:

You can't be serious?!

Don't mock me

Keep on trusting

God's Promises

'Macbeth is dead' by Quinton House J6

ActuallyAmy Songwriting came in to Quinton House year 6 where the children wrote this dark ominous song on their topic of Macbeth. Telling the story of this gruesome tale with violent lyrics, a chanting chorus and witch cackles...

Paulerspury Songwriting workshop for Young People

Come along to the URC in Paulerspury 28th and 29th May for some fun with friends! If you are aged 8-16, and interested in singing and writing your very own songs, then this is for you! 

Amy Clayton, of ActuallyAmy Songwriting, in conjunction with the Paulerspury Players, will be running the workshop, which focusses on writing your own songs, with professional recording equipment and expert coaching. Mixed in will be some team building games and artwork to advertise and promote your songs, Amy can draw out your creative and expressive side over the two days with focus on lyrics writing in groups.

The workshop will run 9.30am-3.30pm each day and prices are at the competitive rate of £36 per young person for the 2 day workshop.

Here is some feedback from previous workshops:

“ My favorite thing about the music workshop was the fact that there was a proper microphone and music equipment which was good as we could hear ourselves, which was a first for me. I think the workshop was very good and I will hopefully be doing more, if I can. Thankyou!” 
−    Izzy Tansley aged 14.

“I liked the fact that there was a theme, so it was great to be able to base the songwriting around it. It was also nice to work in a group, because then we can share our ideas.”
−    Niamh Collins aged 12.

“The workshop was fun, I enjoyed it”
−    Ethan Collins aged 11.

For more information or to book your place, please contact either Amy on:info@actuallyamy.co.uk or The Paulerspury Players Newsletter email:tracey.lylecarter@googlemail.com 

Also advertised on WhereCanWeGo:

Article in Diocese of Leicester website

http://www.leicester.anglican.org/news/details/new-life-in-leicester

Here's the link to the article about the Easter Vigil on the Leicester Diocese website, mentioning the workshop and everything else going on during the night/in the service.

Enjoy x