Our Workshops

Here is a snippet from a recent songwriting workshop where we adapted a familiar tune to new lyrics.

1/ Community Workshops 

2/3 Hours. For 6 – 10 Participants

In this workshop we aim to create a unified song from participants contributions around a theme; a place, event or location. We also have the option to use historical or biographical themes depending on the group. We have experience of working with all levels of literacy and musical experience so this workshop works for everybody.

We involve an element of tutorial before moving into practical gathering of input via conversation and flip charts. This is then edited and we show how to find lyrical content in raw text. In shorter workshops this lyrical set is then matched with an existing popular or folk melody. In longer workshops we create original melody via practiced methods which also involve participants input.

Cost £500 + travel

2/ Unblocking Creativity

3 Hours or 2 x 2 Hours. For up to 10 Participants

This workshop works equally well for both writer/musicians and participants for whom music and song is not a priority. For example, groups interested in team building and finding ways of problem solving in work challenges.

Via a series of innovative exercises we show how to observe, how to diverge from default selections in words and music, how to build narrative and character. In short, how to find new ways of hearing, seeing and solving. The aim is not to create one song, but multiple beginnings of multiple songs, ideas and stories. Learning how to innovate in structure and arrangement is a transferable skill but also helps songwriters and musicians add some new techniques to their skill sets.

Cost £500/£600 + travel 

 3/ Outdoor or Event Workshop

90 Minutes maximum. Can be shorter. For Between 6 and 100 Participants.

In this workshop we bring the session to your event or festival. Using an existing or suggested melody, we will create fresh lyrics via Participant contributions, often, but not exclusively, around the theme of the event itself. The aim is to create an opportunity for communal singing in the sea shanty style with the focus unique to the day and place of the session..

Cost £500 plus travel

4/ The Write and Record Project

4 x 3 hour Sessions

For up to 10 people.

In this project we will take a group through all the stages of song creation up to recording. We will take 4 separate sessions; Lyrics, Melody, Arrangement, Recording. In each session the Participants contributions will be guided via some tutorial and some technique exercises. No prior musical training is necessary though it is always welcome. This project would run over 4 weeks minimum and would result in a professionally recorded demo of the created song featuring the Participants.

And here is a link to a blog Naomi & Paul are mentioned in:
https://www.justlife.org.uk/news/2023/song-written-by-people-moving-away-from-homelessness-in-brighton

Cost £500 per workshop + travel
Total £2000 plus travel 

5/ Song Commission 

We are also available for song commissions. Special occasions, biographical tributes, proposals, tributes, leaving do’s or long distance hello’s; whatever the reason, all you have to do is give us the story and tell us what you want to say and in which style and we’ll create a unique song for you!

Cost £500 

6/ Online Sessions

We can also offer online sessions ranging from one to one tutoring / consultation to small group exercises. Please enquire for cost options.

Some of our previous workshops

• Children in Care. 14 Looked after Children between the ages of 4 and 15 came together to create a new song with Naomi Bedford and Paul Simmonds  in December 2010 – as part of an archive project for East Sussex County Council.
• Crew Club Music facilitation with Gareth Malone in prep for Glyndborne youth performance – BBC
• Leytonstone School, Waltham Forrest – Songwriting workshop ‘A Song for Leytonstone’
• Alternative England – writing a new song with Brighton choir participants for a performance at Hullabaloo
• Make Water Famous – Creating a  themed song about Water by community participants as part of a promotional campaign
• Songwriting workshop with Friends and Families of Travellers Brighton
• Songwriting Workshop for festival participants at Wickham Festival, Hampshire
• Songwriting workshop on Appalachian Ballads – Cecil Sharp House, London
• Songwriting workshops and deconstruction of songs for University of Perth and the Highlands, Scotland
• Songwriting workshops and deconstruction of songs Napier College, Edinburgh, Scotland
• Ideas Test Arts Hub – series of songwriting workshops for participants in Kent areas of regeneration
• Multiple workshops and performance  for Sea Folk Sing – a 2 year large community project in various regions of Kent …nominated for Hearts for the Arts Award
• Multiple songwriting, melody and performance workshops with people experiencing homelessness in Brighton  for charity Justlife
• You, Me  and Us Too Project  -tackling isolation during Covid with community groups in Kent via online and in person workshops
• Songwriting workshop for Age UK,  for people experiencing Dementia.
• Multiple Workshops for Whoo Cares – Elderly peoples community group Kent
• Multiple workshops with  Arches Community Singing group, Kent
• Workshop with Hampshire Scouts at Scout Camp 2022