Linda McRae

WE’RE UP AND RUNNING AGAIN! BOOK YOUR STAY NOW!

Linda and James are opening the doors to their Tennessee home, inviting students to come study songwriting one-on-one with Linda and experience Nashville with Linda and James as your tour guides.

Included in your stay: 

• Transportation to and from Nashville airport to our home

• Three day four night stay 
• 3 hours per day one-on-one  instruction in songwriting and/or performance *see info below
• Breakfast and Lunch provided
• 1 dinner at Loveless Cafe or equivalent Nashville live music venue 
• One - 3 hour tour of downtown Nashville 
• Accommodations: Private room with studio space for writing

*One on One Instructional Offerings: Choose from one of the following 2 streams or a combination of both. 

STREAM 1 - Songwriting With Intent: We are all connected but we are also uniquely individual and have our stories to tell. Let's explore ways to find your unique voice, mine those stories and tell them in a way that will have your listener think "Wow, that song is about me!" 

We will learn:

•    How to unblock creative flow. Writer’s block? Bah Humbug.
•    Form: Do we need it? What is it for? What is a verse? Chorus? Bridge? •    Finish What You've Started. Should I keep trying or leave it behind?
•    Arrangement: “hooks”, intros and outros, verse chorus order, solos
•    Prosody: the relationship between music and lyric
•    Co-writing, learn ways to create a successful co-writing session.

STREAM 2 - From Light Bulb Moment to Stage Lights!: I have been performing on stage for 30 years and it always amazes me how each performance can be so drastically different. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or have never been on stage before, we'll take some time to help you feel comfortable and connect with your audience. 

We will learn:
•    Vocal techniques. We'll explore ways to strengthen your singing voice, get "inside" the song and help take your listener on a journey.
•    Practice Time: How to organize your time.
•    Stage Presence: What is your style? What type of emotion are you trying to put across?
•    Organizing your set, key, tempo, content.
•    Mistakes and how to deal with them.
•    Performance Tips: mic technique, overcoming stage fright, audience communication. 

Pricing:

1 Person: $2000 USD for 3 days/4 nights. If you wish to bring spouse or partner $2500.

2 Co-writers: $1200 each. All above amenities included.

Funding Options for Canadian Songwriters:

We are thrilled to let you know there are two sources Canadian artists can apply for funding to attend our workshop:

The Socan Foundation: https://www.socanfoundation.ca/grants/    

Canada Council For the Arts: http://canadacouncil.ca/funding/grants/explore-and-create/professional-development-for-artists

FYI This does not guarantee your application will be successful but I am happy to help with suggestions and editing, etc.

Particulars:

1. $500 USD Non-refundable deposit upon scheduling. 
2. We reserve the right to cancel within 30 days. In that case deposit will be refunded. 
3. Additional venue, attraction, tour fees, etc. not included.  
4. Nashville's public transportation is virtually nil. As we live in a small town neighbourhood 20 minutes from downtown Nashville, a rental car is recommended if you wish to do more sight-seeing. 
5. Loveless Cafe or equivalent dinner does not include alcohol.
5. We have a 3 year old Boxer/GoldenDoodle named Spike. If you have a dog you're welcome to bring him or her. We have a fenced backyard.

For availability please see the calendar below and to book with us please email 42management@gmail.com.

Thanks!
Linda and James

Testimonials: 

Steve Kennedy, Ottawa musician and Songwriter Oct. 2022 "Linda and James’ workshop was simply wonderful and it took me on a journey that was replete with encouragement, and nurturing guidance, They set the tone for a safe environment in which to create. Linda and James’ home is one filled with respect and a true interest in making the guest experience relaxing and fun. Thanks for the Nashville music scene tour, I also enjoyed that. I came as a student and left as a friend." 

Ashanti Fraser, M.Ed., C.C.C., Rockglen, Saskatchewan Oct. 2022 "Just finished one of Linda and James’ home based songwriting workshops in Nashville. It was a totally amazing experience at many levels. Whether you're just thinking of writing your first song or have a well established craft, these three days are going to be a great support to your musical journey.  Each experience is tailored to you and what you want to get out of it. Linda and James create a very safe and loving container to explore songwriting tools and also to guide you to people, music and venues in Nashville that only someone who lives and works there could know about. They are awesome hosts. I would do this again in a second." 

Alanna Pass, Newberg, Oregon Oct 2023: I had the privilege of attending one of Linda McRay’s home songwriting intensives with my duo partner. Linda welcomed us into her cozy home on the outside of Nashville that she shares with her husband James and their adorable labradoodle, Spike. We felt instantly at home. We spent our sessions exploring avenues to generate song ideas, and song structure eventually progressing to writing our own songs. Linda not only is an accomplished musician but also a gentle and effective teacher. with her encouragement, we each finished a song and came away with a host of other possibilities. She also provided me with valuable feedback on songs I had previously written. Nashville provided the perfect backdrop for such an adventure. During our time there we were infused with music from live venues for inspiration. Having never been to the area we enjoyed the Country Music Hall of Fame and most of all the National Museum of African American Music. Linda’s coaching was a game-changer for me. I came away with a new sense of confidence and enthusiasm about my abilities. If you are either a new or experienced singer-songwriter, I highly recommend working with Linda McRae. Make some memories, new songs, and some new friends in Nashville. 

Kelsey Foster, Newberg, Oregon Oct. 2023: Linda’s songwriting workshop really helped me unleash some creativity and leave a lot of doubts and self-criticism behind. She helped me see the possibilities of my first attempts and with her encouragement and positivity, I wrote my first song with original music!  The time spent with Linda was really life-changing for me.  I now have more confidence and see myself differently.  I am looking forward to putting her ideas into practice and writing more songs! Linda and James made my singing partner and me feel at home in their comfortable home outside of Nashville. They showed us around town and we heard some live music.  If you are interested in improving your songwriting skills and visiting Nashville, I can’t recommend a better experience than Linda’s workshop.