Comments from previous festivals

"I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the Songwriting Festival. It had so many dimensions to it, so much opportunity for learning and experience. I am certainly planning to take part again next year (although I'm a bit concerned it will be so popular places will run out very quickly!). I relished the opportunity to have feedback from such experienced and successful songwriters; the opportunity to experience studio recording; working with such professional musicans and the vocal coaching; open mic sessions;  being with a wonderful community of songriters/musicians and teachers... amazing!"

Gerri

"Thanks to you all for an absolutely amazing week - it was one of the most intense experiences I've ever had! I learned so much about songwriting in such a short time. The tuition was absolutely first class and the organisation of the week was amazing. The techniques we learned really do make songwriting so much easier and much more fun. It was like a 'behind the scenes look at songwriting'. It has completely changed the way I listen to music and the way I think about songs. It was an incredible education and I feel so inspired."

Darren

"I gained confidence in my ability to right songs. At the same time I felt a lot of my ego being extracted from the process. I think that, maybe for the first time, I started to think about how my songs were being heard...about the people who were hearing them. The tutors were superb. Each of them had different qualities and strengths... they offered bucket loads of wise perception, constructive criticism, encouragement, and support. It was, of course, most heartening to find that they didn't always agree with each other about everything!
I have to mention the students themselves. I have never before met a bunch of such consistently supportive, nice, fun to be with people, in an enviroment that could potentially be so competitive and vindictive. Unfortunately we cannot bottle these moments in time...
The University site is beautiful. A great location. Any chance of moving it 400 miles closer in my direction?!"

David

"You turned us upside down, gave us a good shaking and songs fell out. I produced more work each day than I normally would in a week. Best of all, I have taken away with me techniques that make the limited time I have available for writing much more productive. I even stopped off at a motorway service station on the drive home to write a new song. The difference in professionalism between the songs we played on arrival and the songs we performed at the end of the week concert was astounding. Plus, it was tremendous fun.   

I was undecided about whether or not to go along. I was worried that I might be way below the standard of other participants, that I might be the wrong age group to fit in, that I'd get writer's block... all the usual doubts.

Well, I can't tell you how glad I am that I gave it a go. Age was irrelevant, (my collaboration partner was still at school whereas I'm wondering seriously about Grecian 2000). Some people had been writing for years, some had performed in public, on the other hand at least one person wrote their first complete song on the course. And without any exaggeration, everyone - regardless of age or experience - everyone produced work they could be proud of. Everyone gave tremendous help and support, and without doubt we all had a great deal of fun.

Perhaps the best indication of the effect the course had is that I am still in touch with several of the friends I made on the course. We are all enthusiastic, we share ideas and resources, and we all use techniques that we discovered that week. Next year at least seven of us will be having our own weekend get-together to share songs and trade ideas.

The tutors are excellent; between them they cover just about every aspect of song craft that you're likely to be interested in."

Gary

"I can honestly say [the Festival] has totally changed the way I approach songwriting. It was a privilege to play music along side such fantastic (and patient) musicians, and the information you all supplied is proving invaluable now that I'm starting to write under my own steam."
Simon

"I attend a lot of music workshops, seminars and courses, and not one of them has been as beneficial to my songwriting (and my career in music) as your programme at Bath."

John

"The lectures were well-planned, entertaining and revelatory; exercises were surprising, challenging and instructional; the house band inclusion was absolutely brilliant ..."

Murray

"Thanks for a great week... it was very liberating, in that I can free myself from years of being stuck in a rut. And it was great to meet so many people and make new friends. "

Dave

"Thanks for an inspiring course. I had a great time listening to the skilful workshop leaders and talking to other people interested in songwriting."

Stefan

"The two days spent on your campus have been enlightening, exciting, productive and, potentially, life changing. Having been a dedicated workaholic within my own business for the last 24 years and prior to that as one of those striving sales executives, I had lost all sight of the creative side of my nature. I came on the weekend with some trepidation as my songwriting 'skill' has only just emerged into the light of day and relatively late in life. My experience with you, your colleagues and guests, and students I might add, has ignited the spark and it is now up to me to turn that into a roaring flame."

Alex

"...thanks a lot for arranging the UK Songwriting Festival! We are for sure coming back next year. It was so inspirational."

Janne

Comments from our anonymous exit survey;

"The lectures were inspiring, the workshops supportive and stimulating and the company beyond price.  In my daily life I am a confident, experienced professional - I came to UKSF as an insecure, 53 year old wanabee who was reluctantly and fearfully exposing his almost secret passion for creating lyrics and melodies. I left as a songwriter, my passion unabated with my head held up high, fuelled and fired for the confident continuation of my craft. "

"Excellent standard of lectures and tutoring, together with a wonderful learning environment provided a totally motivating experience for creativity. Well done, and i'm looking forward to coming back to Bath Spa in the near future."

"Inspirational! An excellent course - very well organised - time passed so quickly. Everyone was helpful, informative and approachable.  Thank you for the experience which I will never forget."

"Overall, SWF 2007 was brilliant.  I was in awe of the quality of lectures, the knowledge and experience of the tutors, and the supportive attitude of the staff and students."

"I gained so much from the SWF experience, my confidence in general is sky high, and I want to do much more with my music, I'm overflowing with ideas.  I met so many fantastic people, everyone was so open and free with ideas and opinions, it added an extra dimension to the experience."

"I had a fantastic time.  I had never written a song before and I can't play an instrument or read music.  Would I be able to write a song? Would I find it all too much and leave after the first day? YES & NO!!  I found the lectures to be pure food. Being able to survey the lyrics of so many songs (some of which were new to me), whilst listening to the tunes and taking or leaving the insights of the analyst was a real joy. Also the songwriting lecture with Andy and Davy Ray's lyrics lecture were really stimulating.  I found real encouragement, support and objective feedback from Any and Dom during individual & group tutorials.   For me, the tasks were a useful reference point throughout the week. All my songs flowed from the first task of listing 10 titles.  I was really able to take so much from the week. My energy levels are still significantly raised. I'm determined to take it further."