Life as a Songwriter | One Day Virtual Course

This one day virtual songwriting course will cover the basics of songwriting (chords, melody, and lyrics), with a emphasis on making great melodies, and sharpening your editing skills. Awaken your songwriting muscles, get an idea for your next (or first) song, and leave with ideas to keep writing when the class ends. This one day class is based on Danielle's longer 4 week Life as a Songwriter class, and is interactive with chances to participate in writing prompts and musical exercises. Offered as one 3 hour course, or as individual sections so you can pick the class level and content that is best for you!

SECTION 1: STARTING A SONG | 11:00am-11:50am CT
Learn about songwriting basics chords, lyrics and melody, and how to start writing lyrics. Great for beginners!

SECTION 2: MORE MELODY | 12:00pm-12:50pm CT
Create catchy melodies that pair nicely with your lyrics and chords. Great for confident beginners!

SECTION 3: WEAVING A SONG | 1:00pm-2:00pm CT
Take the ideas and parts of your song and move forward with a constructive editing and combining the lyrics, chords, and melody of your song. Great for confident beginners and intermediate songwriters! Please bring your song start or ideas you already have for a song, if you haven't taken Section 1 & 2.)

Topics covered in our one day class:
-finding chord progressions
-writing lyrics that express your style and story
-melodies that are interesting and well suited to your range
-trading the negative voices for positive editing skills
-forming a song on the page

Class structure:
We will meet online through Zoom for one day on December 6th, 2025. The class is three hours long, from 11:00am Central Time - 2:00pm Central Time. Offered as one 3 hour course, or as individual sections so you can pick the class level and content that is best for you. (Double check your time zone to make sure you start on time with us! 9am PT, 10am MT, 11am CT, 12pm ET)

Class level: Beginner and intermediate writers are welcome. Knowledge of an instrument of your choice is encouraged. Those who do not play an instrument can take this class, but there will not be instruction on how to play a musical instrument during the class.

About the instructor:

Danielle Ate the Sandwich is the stage name of pop-folk songwriter Danielle Anderson. Getting her start in Fort Collins, CO, now based in Kansas City, MO, Danielle has been touring nationally since 2009, after cultivating an online following from her homemade videos on Youtube. Danielle Ate the Sandwich has released eight albums of original music, made appearances internationally, opened for Mumford and Sons, Jake Shimabukuro, Suzanne Vega, Pomplamoose, and wrote the soundtrack to the Emmy nominated HBO documentary, “Packed in a Trunk: The Lost Art of Edith Lake Wilkinson.” Her newest project is an EP of original songs featured in the documentary “It’s Not a Burden: The Humor and Heartache of Raising Elderly Parents.”

Danielle Ate the Sandwich’s music has been compared to Joni Mitchell, Sara Bareilles, and Ingrid Michaelson. Her songs are lyrically driven, performed on ukulele and guitar, and find inspiration from her curiosity about death, science, religion, family dynamics, and her own emotions and experiences. Danielle Ate the Sandwich plays with the joy and sadness of the human experience, making you laugh one minute and cry the next. Her songs can be thoughtful and serious, but she’s known for her quirky lyrical twists, and for delivering witty and honest stage banter in her live shows.

http://www.danielleatethesandwich.com