Songwriter's Studio Workshop

The Songwriter's Studio Workshop was hosted by the Kyabram Plaza, from the 21st-23rd of July, thirty-one students from Echuca, Geelong, Cohuna and Rochester attended a blues song writer's workshop in partnership with the Echuca Winter Blues Festival. Four industry professionals from Melbourne worked with the students to hone performance skills and create 22 original songs, culminating in a final public performance that was held on Thursday 23rd of July.

All the students had a fantastic time learning, collaborating and making new friends. Jett Hynes-Cody performed in five songs in the final evening performance and aced every one of them. Congratulations Jett.

Breakneck Records Songwriters Studio Workshop returned to Kyabram for a three-day workshop and concert from July 21st to 23rd at the Kyabram Plaza Theatre, in association with APRA and the Echuca Moama, Winter Blues Festival.

Workshop co-leader Michael Pallitt said the program would bring together up to 31 young musicians aged between 12 and 20. 

“We run a three-day workshop, where we write original music over two days,” he said.

“Then on the third day, we performed a live two-hour concert of original music in front of a packed house of parents, friends, supporters and festival goers.”

Songs written during the workshop are registered with APRA, and participants submit performance reports to be paid for performing at the concert.

“If they are lucky enough to get one of the spots at the actual festival, they come away with real live infrastructure that helps them earn money through performance,” Mr Pallitt said.

“We are the only organisation that we are aware of in Australia that is doing that.”

Four participants performed at the Hopwood Gardens stage at the Echuca Moama Winter Blues Festival on Saturday, July 25th and Sunday, July 26th.

Festival co-chair Lauelin Berick and the festival music programmer spoke to participants during the workshop. EMFM provides daily live-to-air breakfast radio interviews for students, and has previously broadcast the concert live.