Whether you’re a seasoned songwriter, or you’ve written a few originals here and there, or you have yet to compose your first tune, we all have skills we can use and room for growth. That is precisely the basis for this challenge: start where you are, and learn through doing.

The next challenge begins in September!

Register now to receive bonus materials and resources leading up to the big day.

Lifetime access to the resources inside the songwriter’s toolkit.

Tips for recording and sharing your songs.

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Feedback from yours truly on the songs you write.

Interaction with fellow participants in the Facebook group.

Should you take the Songwriting Challenge?

The answer is YES if any of the following applies:

  • you are a music therapist, educator or parent who uses music to help and/or teach people
  • you are an experienced songwriter with knowledge and techniques to share
  • you’ve never written a song, and need some help getting started
  • you enjoy learning in a supportive, helpful online environment
  • you want to earn CMTE credit on your own time

Regardless of the population with which you work, the number of years you’ve been practicing, or the amount of experience you have, I hope you can benefit from the Songwriting Challenge as much as I did the first time around (and I’m the facilitator!). I can’t wait to share what I have learned through experience, as well as learn from YOU in the process.

How does the Songwriting Challenge work?

The challenge launches on Friday, July 1. That day you will receive access to the Songwriter’s Toolkit, a resource I have put together that is chock-full of tips, tools, and tutorials when it comes to songwriting, as well as recording/sharing your music for the purpose of this challenge and otherwise.

You will have an entire week to go through the toolkit on your own time, so that you have a good foundation in place for the first challenge, which I will introduce the following Friday, July 8. At that point, you’ll have a full week to work on your song before posting it to the Facebook group (if you so choose).

As participants post their songs throughout the week, you are encouraged to comment and share your feedback. During last year’s challenge, many participants asked for permission to use others’ songs in their own practice!

There will be four total challenges spanning one week each. At the end of the course, not only will you walk away with four new songs (and potentially many more) to add to your repertoire, but also 3 CMTE credits under your belt.

I absolutely LOVE empowering fellow music therapists to identify themselves as songwriters!

It doesn’t matter how many songs you’ve written, or how inexperienced you are: we all have songs within us just waiting to be heard and put into practice.

Watch this quick video to learn more about the challenge, and why you don’t want to miss out.

I had the opportunity to talk with Dr. Andrew Knight, professor of music therapy at Colorado State University, on the topic of songwriting.

In this interview, we discuss the songwriting process, blocks that music therapists sometimes face when it comes to songwriting, and more details about the Songwriting Challenge.

 

The 3 Most Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a lot of crossover from your MusicTherapyEd.com course?

Back in 2013, I created an online course called The DIY Guide to Writing, Recording and Sharing Your Music for Kat Fulton’s awesome Music Therapy Ed website. Some of the information covered in the Songwriter’s Toolkit is the same, but the videos are all new and there is a lot of updated material, since I wrote that course over 3 years ago.

The heart of this challenge, however, is the actual songwriting, and improving your skills through experience. The bonus is learning from all of the other participants as they move through the challenge with you.

Do we HAVE to share our songs with the other participants?

The short answer is – you are only required to share 1 song in order to receive CMTE credit. But I think once you see everyone sharing their songs, and the awesome feedback they are receiving, you’ll want to do the same.

I’m not very technologically savvy…I wouldn’t even know how to share my songs.

Don’t let this hold you back from participating in the challenge, because I make it super easy for you. In the Songwriter’s Toolkit, I’ll walk you through several ways of sharing your songs – either audio or video versions. And if you’re still not clear on how to do it, you can simply send them to me via email and I’ll share on your behalf.

The registration fee for this challenge is $75.
This includes all of the educational materials, bonus resources, and 3 CMTE credits (preapproved by CBMT).

Students and interns, click here for the 50% off non-CMTE option.

Join the Challenge!
Pay safely and securely via PayPal.