Jai Josefs Songwriting Workshops

Thousands of songwriters in North America have benefitted from Jai Josefs''Secrets of
Songwriting Success'  workshop, and the more specialized workshops on Melody,
Harmony, and Groove.  In addition to the wealth of information delivered in his
workshops, Jai uses encouragement, telling-it-like-it-is, and humor to help his students
and workshop participants make the most of their songwriting talents. In addition to
teaching student the songwriting 'secrets's at these workshops, attendees get their
songs critiqued in the second half of each workshop and can ask Jai any questions
about songwriting or the music business. An enhanced 'Secrets of Songwriting
Success'  workshop' is now also offered on CD-ROM from this site
(see Purchase Products).

Check the schedule below to see if there is an upcoming workshop in your area.
If you are an organization or individual who would like to sponsor a workshop in your
area send an email to jaijomusic@yahoo.com.

Upcoming Workshops (2011):
 

 "We just got our first song placement  in a major movie –
“The Last Song” - a Disney film starring Miley Cyrus.  Being
in your workshop was the lightning rod that took our writing
to the level we needed to get there, and we're so grateful for
both your coaching and your encouragement." -  Tracy and
   Vince Marino - songwriters

"Learning our songwriting craft with Jai was truly one of the
building blocks of our career. He’s an inspiring and amazing
teacher who made a real impact on our writing."  - Karmina
(Kelly and Kamille) – top 20 Billboard hit “The Kiss”

"Studying with Jai made an enormous difference in my ability
to write music more effectively. The skills and techniques I
learned from him opened up possibilities that gave me more
freedom -  like giving a painter more colors in his palette
to paint from." Susie Suh -  Sony/Epic Recording Artist  www.susiesuh.com

"There is no better songwriting expert in our country than
Jai Josefs.  He has and always will run our songwriting
workshops."       Lisa Tenner - Executive Director, EAT’M Conference

"Thank you from our hearts for bringing your expertise and
nurturing spirit to the West Coast Songwriters Conference.
You are a national treasure and always bump up our
credibility whenever you lend your name to our efforts."
                                    Michael Edell - President, West Coast Songwriters
 

    Workshops Offered

Placing Songs in Film and Television  NEW!

It’s not just for major labels anymore. Independent songwriters are making millions of dollars a year in this wide-open market. Jai himself has had over sixty placements in everything from Harrison Ford and Billy Bob Thornton movies to network TV shows like CSI, Brothers and Sisters and Supernatural. In this workshop he’ll demystify the process by answering questions like “Who decides which songs are used?” “What are their criteria for choosing songs?” and “How do I get paid?” He’ll also answer any other questions you may have and then listen to your tracks and evaluate their “pitchability” for this growing market. Bring a master quality recording for evaluation.

Transforming the Tune - Secrets of Music Rewriting  NEW!

Most songwriters know the importance of rewriting lyrics til they’re in the best possible shape, but far fewer are aware of the wide range of possibilities for rewriting the music of a song so it becomes both more compelling to the listener and more marketable. In this workshop Jai breaks down the four key musical elements of a song – melody, structure, chord progression, and groove – and shows specifically how making changes in each of them can transform a song from ordinary to extraordinary. Using before and after examples from real life successes, he’ll then show you how you can immediately begin applying these techniques to your own writing.

Melody Magic -

There are some melodies that have an almost “magical” quality to them.  They’re fresh,
interesting and most importantly, you immediately like and remember them the first
time you hear them. In this workshop, using examples from hit songs in the Pop, Rock
and Country idioms, Jai will demonstrate how you can create melodies that have this
effect on your listeners.  You will learn the specific techniques that great writers use
to make their melodies memorable – and how you can immediately begin applying
these techniques to your own writing.
 

Chord Chemistry -

When people think about a song, the first things that usually come to mind are melody
and lyrics.  But as every professional knows, using the right potent chords in the right
places can transform a melody and lyric into an extraordinary and remarkable song.
In this workshop Jai reveals the “secrets” hit writers use to create fresh original chord
progressions that add emotional depth - in a way that allows you to immediately
incorporate the information into your own writing.

Getting into the Groove -

What makes a song sound "contemporary"?  What makes a demo more appropriate
for the pop, rock, or country market?  In this workshop, Jai  will show you how
knowledge of the underlying principles of rhythm can help make your songs both
more dynamic and more marketable by answering these questions and more.  Using
examples from well known music in all genres, he illustrates how working with groove
can dramatically impact both lyrics and melodies, with a special emphasis on how you
can immediately apply what you learn to your own writing.

Taking Your Songwriting to the Next Level

After you’ve learned the basics of melody, groove, chord progression, lyrics, hooks, etc., there are still barriers to overcome if you want to move your writing from good to great or even hit quality. In this workshop, Jai will help you sharpen your skills by listening to songs from each participant and using them not only to discuss the specifics of what each writer needs to take his or her writing to the next level, but also as a springboard for exploring the challenges that face all writers. Participants say they often learn as much or more from Jai’s feedback on others’ songs as on their own, and that they leave the workshop with both a clear picture of what their next step is and the ability to implement it.
 

                              - Testimonials -

“After taking one of Jai’sworkshops I was able to immediately identify the weaknesses in my writing. I rewrote a number of songs based on what I learned, and as a result I have had my first six songs placed with a publisher!”
* Liz Miller ­ Philadelphia, PA

“Using what I learned from Jai, I have been able to put myself on the map as a
songwriter.  Labels now call me and ask for material, and one of my songs spent
nine weeks on the Billboard charts.  Jai’s training has made me a pro.”
* Matthew Ferry, Writer/Producer, Vertigo Deluxe Productions

“In the last 18 months I’ve been offered two record deals, had over 40% of my
TAXI submissions forwarded, and seen my band’s radio airplay double. I attribute
this primarily to how much my songwriting has improved since I’ve been in Jai’s
workshop.”
* Jeff Prince, Guitarist/Songwriter

"While some people talk about songwriting in generalities, Jai gives you
tangible specifics that directly impact your writing - it worked for me!"
* Andrew Michael Wyatt, Winner - Best Country Song, Unisong Contest