Are you a songwriter looking for seminars and workshops from legendary Canadian songwriters and a chance to perform for and interact with other songwriters? Then join us at The Art Song III: A 3-Day Virtual Songwriting Workshop on February 17-19, 2023.

We started The Art of Song in 2021 as a way to take the spirit of our weekend Songwriter Getaways online, bringing songwriters across the country together in a period of lockdown. Songwriters enjoyed instruction, collaboration, and professional song feedback.

This year, we continue this annual event as The Art of Song III, an all-virtual weekend with a keynote speaker, panel discussions with professional songwriters, Q and A’s, one-on-one mentoring with professional songwriters, a chance to perform for all the attendees and mentors, and time between sessions to work on your own songs. It’s a burst of warmth and light and creativity in the dead of winter – guaranteed to lift your spirits!

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Itinerary

FRIDAY 7pm ET: Keynote Presentation: Tom Wilson

Tom Wilson is a Canadian music legend, famed storyteller and visual artist. Wilson’s memoir, Beautiful Scars published by Penguin/Random House has become a national bestseller. In his memoir, Wilson reveals the impact of discovering his indigenous heritage. Musically, Wilson is best known for his work with Blackie & The Rodeo Kings and Lee Harvey Osmond, the latter receiving a 2020 Juno Award for the album “Mohawk.

SATURDAY 10am-11:30am ET: Panel Discussion
Saturday we begin with a panel discussion featuring our three guest panelists: legendary Canadian songwriters Sarah Slean and Ron Hawkins and Juno-nominated artist Ralph.

SATURDAY 11:30am-2:00pm ET: One-on-one Mentoring

Throughout the early afternoon, you’ll be assigned a mentor and meet one-on-one in a breakout room for feedback on one of your songs. During this time, you are also welcome to hang out in our Zoom space, networking with fellow songwriters or you can use this time to take a break to work on your songs.

SATURDAY 7pm ET: Evening Song Circle
In the evening, all attendees have the chance to join a relaxed, private song circle to share a song and share a few laughs.

SUNDAY: Professional Song Feedback from Mentors (10am – 1pm ET)

On Sunday, attendees will perform their song for our full panel of mentors for feedback.

Our Mentors:

Sarah Slean – We’re delighted to welcome the incredible Sarah Slean back to The Art of Song III. Signed to Atlantic/Warner Records at the tender age of 19, this three-time JUNO nominee and modern-day renaissance woman has since released 11 albums in over 10 countries worldwide. Over her 25-year career, Slean has published two volumes of poetry, starred in short films and a movie musical (spawning two Gemini Award nominations), penned award-winning chamber works, held numerous exhibitions of her paintings and shared the stage with 10 of the country’s professional orchestras.

Ron Hawkins – Ron Hawkins has long been revered as one of Canada’s greatest contemporary singer-songwriters. As lead singer/multi-instrumentalist and main songwriter of Canada’s legendary Lowest of the Low, Ron Hawkins has enjoyed many accolades through the years: In 1996, 2000 and again in 2005, Chart Magazine honoured the group’s 1991 debut album, Shakespeare My Butt, with spots in the top 10 of the Top 100 Canadian Albums of All Time. In 2000 and once again in 2015, Hawkins was voted Songwriter of the Year by NOW Magazine’s reader’s poll. Also in 2000, Ron received Toronto station 102.1 The Edge’s Lifetime Achievement Award. And in that same year Ron Hawkins and the Rusty Nails won album of the year at The Indie Awards, for their album Crackstatic. In 2008 The Lowest of the Low was inducted into the Canadian Indie Rock Hall of Fame and awarded gold records for Shakespeare My Butt.

Ralph – With an emphasis on narrative songwriting and genre-bending musical style, JUNO award nominated artist Ralph has created a special role for herself within the contemporary music scene a sound that is catchy but cool, sexy but smart, edgy but evocative. She’s developed a soundscape that is uniquely her own, but what truly makes Ralph’s songs special is that they are ferociously honest and relatable. This finesse sent her hit track “Gravity” up the radio charts into the Top 20, followed by a JUNO award nomination for Dance Recording of the Year. She’s joined the likes of Ria Mae, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Scott Helman on three cross-Canada tours, earned over 45 millions streams across platforms and has had her music featured across television networks such as E!, HBO, Freeform and VICE.

Registration

The cost for the full weekend is $355. All panels and workshops throughout the weekend will be recorded for those who can’t view them in real time.

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