What's Happening?
Songwriters from all over the globe are gathering in Music City USA for the highly anticipated Shane Adams Songwriting Retreat - Fall 2017.
Host (and human exclamation point) Shane Adams will enlighten attendees with his good humor, expert musical craftsmanship, while elevating your songs utilizing astonishingly insightful songwriting acumen.
Sharpen your pencils, open your notebooks, fire up your iPad, and flip open your netbook....
Instruction and Breakout A: Drafting and Crafting the Perfect Chorus
Instruction and Breakout B: 10 Modern Chord Progressions Every Songwriter Should Know
Instruction and Breakout C: Crafting a Prechoruses that Actually Works
Instruction and Breakout D: The Ultimate Prep for Singing in the Studio
Instruction and Breakout E: Building the Perfect Bridge
Attendee Expert Panel: Breaking into Markets you didn't know existed
Hired Guns Panel: Recording in Nashville
Shane Adams Clinic: The Singer-Songwriter's Guide to Recording in the Home Studio
Dennis Sanders Clinic: Nailing Distribution: Negotiating Options for a Productive and Beneficial Distribution Deal
Lisa Haupert Clinic: Smile, You Can Keep Your Style: Putting the Singer in Singer/Songwriter with smart vocal maintenance for stage and studio.
Scot Sherrod Clinic - Flying Upstream: Staying Current and Dynamic in a Changing Market
Sierra West Clinic - Pause In Chaos: Using Silence and Dynamics to Energize Your Acoustic Performance
(Sessions may be changed and adjusted without prior notice)
Who's Teaching?
Shane Adams
Award Winning Author, Producer, and Composer
Twice Grammy Nominated* Music Educator
Country Music Hall of Fame "Top 10 Hit Maker"
Founding Berklee Online Songwriting Instructor
*(non self-nominated)
Scot Sherrod
Publishing guru/Mastermind
VP of RareSpark Media Group
Attained cuts for Kenny Chesney, George Strait, The Dixie Chicks, Rascal Flatts, and many more!
Dennis Sanders
COO of World Music Nashville
CEO of The Label Group (an INgrooves distribution label, management, and production company)
20+ years of management experience for gold and platinum artists!
Wendy Parr
Grammy award winning songwriter and producer
Artist developer for the stars
Regina Spektor, Ingrid Michaelson, A Great Big World, Sara Bareilles, and many more!)
Lisa Haupert
Internationally recognized vocal coach
Teacher of teachers
Vocal technique wizard
Sierra West
President: San Diego Songwriters Guild
Big West Music Artist
Twice Winner San Diego Music Awards' Best Singer/Songwriter
Aaron Gant
Senior Vice President of Warner/Chappell Production Music
On the Board of Governors for NATAS
Has produced over 400 Production Music Library title
Where'll it be?
Music City, USA
World Music Nashville
Bellevue Valley Plaza
7069 US-70S
Nashville, TN 37221
What'll it cost?
$449
$289 for Berklee Alums
Where can I stay?
There's several hotels nearby our venue, namely:
Hampton Inn Bellevue/Nashville I-40
(Smidgen over 2 miles to event)
7815 Coley Davis Rd
Nashville, TN 37221
615-662-3133
Hotel details
Surrounded by casual eateries off Interstate 40, this modern hotel is 6 miles from Belle Mead Plantation, and 15 miles from Music City Walk of Fame Park and the surrounding Downtown performing arts scene.
The classic rooms include complimentary Wi-Fi and custom-designed beds, plus both full and lap desks (for working on the bed), coffeemakers, and flat-screens with HD and premium cable channels. Some add pull-out sofas or whirlpool tubs.
Freebies include a hot breakfast buffet and weekday breakfast bags to go. There's also an outdoor pool, a fitness room, meeting space and a 24/7 business center.
Free Wi-Fi
Free breakfast
Free parking
Outdoor pool
Air-conditioned
Laundry service
Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Nashville
(Smidgen over 2 miles to event)
100 Coley Davis Rd
Nashville, TN 37221
615-662-0004
Hotel details:
his subdued hotel off I-40 is 6 miles from Belle Meade Plantation and 13 miles from downtown Nashville.
Casual rooms have free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and desks. Upgraded rooms add minifridges and microwaves, while suites feature kitchenettes and separate living rooms with pull-out sofas. Kids age 17 and under stay free with an adult.
The hotel offers complimentary continental breakfast and parking. Other amenities include an outdoor pool and a business center.
Free Wi-Fi
Free breakfast
Free parking
Outdoor pool
Air-conditioned
Business center
Or you can try the very affordable and fun Airbnb route!
Airbnb
There are TONS of affordable Airbnb options in Nashville ranging from single rooms, or studio apartments, up to entire houses.
FAQ with Shane
Question: What is the purpose of this event?
Answer: For the longest time I've wanted to connect my amazing network of clients and students. You guys are seriously amazing and you need to know each other. You all work hard and you all work smart, and you are doing many many things correct. Still, there are gaps. I'm handpicking the experts I think will best help your aspirations. Additionally, you all have much to share and garner from one another. My deepest hope is that we will all support and grow together as a group. I'm interested in facilitating lifelong friendships and musical partnerships.
Question: Will the focus of the event be on writing Country Music?
Answer: Our focus is on stellar, non-genre craftsmanship to cultivate your style awareness so you may draw from your own influences while identifying and incorporating "signature elements" of any musical style.
Question: Should I rent a car or do Lyft/Uber?
Answer: Nashville is a fairly small city, very easy to get around. Our event venue is roughly 20 minutes from downtown. There is a thriving Lyft and Uber community (although in West Nashville where our venue is, Lyft is the quicker option - in my opinion).
Question: What will the weather be like?
Answer: Nashville in late October is typically pretty beautiful, although some years its been rainy. Dress for comfortable southern fall weather (mild during the day, chilly at night). Check weather listings the week before, if it's been wet, good chance it'll rain during the event.
Question: Is food provided? What about lunch and dinner?
Answer: Except for light afternoon snacks, meals will not be provided. There are 10 or 11 great restaurants literally next door and in the same complex as our venue (with fast food across the street) and a Starbucks on the corner. There is also a grocery store within a minute walk for vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free needs. My favorite sushi place of all time is catty corner to us...ask for Sang, and tell him I sent you.
Question: I hear you arranged to get us discounts at the World Music Nashville?
Answer: You heard correctly. Because of my working relationship with World Music Nashville I have secured a 10% discount off of ANYTHING they have in stock. They have an amazing acoustic (and electric) guitar selection. (Seriously, American Strats, Martins, Taylors, etc.). I'm also working on getting a discount for Steinberg software and hardware products for event attendees.
Question: Nightlife? Touristy stuff?
Answer: I'm planning on doing an open mic both nights, one at the venue, the other in a downtown club. Although we have a packed schedule, you'll have time in the evenings to explore, to see and be seen.
Downtown Nashville is a blast with its famous honky-tonks and live music.
12 South District has wonderful food (there's a cupcake ATM machine!) Great to walk around.
The Gulch (close to downtown) has amazing urban shopping and restaurants. The Station Inn has the best bluegrass in the country.
Grand Ole Opry is about 20 minutes east of downtown with the gorgeous and expansively indoor gardened Opryland Hotel.
"Five Points" in East Nashville has the super hip hipster vibe. Great grimy bars and upscale funprententious dining.
The Hermitage (Andrew Jackson's Home) is brilliantly historical. Period clothing wearing guides take you back to a fascinating if not troubled time/life of Andrew Jackson.
Memphis is 3.5 hours east of Nashville if you wanna see Graceland and listen to some blues.
Question: Okay, last one....are your eyes really closed in the "header" picture above?
Answer: Yes. The sun was directly in my eyes and we only had a moment for me to run out in the middle of downtown Nashville during morning rush hour traffic. The only shot that turned out where I wasn't dodging cars with my guitar was the one where I blinked. (Shout out to the amazing Kelly Blaine for snapping such cool shots with such an unphotogenic subject!). Oh, show business. Thanks for noticing. Let's pretend I'm being all zen. Deal?