Songwriting camp, grades 4 to 7
SongLab: Songwriting Camp
Ever wondered how a song goes from an idea to something you can play and sing? In SongLab, campers learn how songs are built and write an original song of their own.
- Grades 4 to 7
- Half-day camp
- 4 to 8 campers
What campers learn
Everything a songwriter needs
Music theory for songwriters
How keys, scales, chords, tempo and time signatures shape the mood of a song.
Lyrics and storytelling
Turning ideas into lyrics with rhyme, imagery, repetition and point of view.
Melody and hooks
Writing melodies people remember, and fitting them to chords and words.
Chords and harmony
Major and minor keys, chord progressions, and how each choice changes the feeling.
Song structure
Verses, choruses, bridges, intros and outros, and how they fit together.
Writing together
Writing alone and in small groups, sharing ideas and giving each other feedback.
What they finish with
An original song, start to finish
Campers bring their songs to life on piano, ukulele and voice, with MIDI and simple production tools to try out arrangements. By the end of the week, each camper has helped write an original song, from the first lyric or chord to a finished version.
SongLab can run in English with French or Spanish, depending on instructor availability.
For schools
What we bring, and what you provide
We bring
Keyboards, ukuleles, MIDI equipment, headphones, songwriting worksheets, lyric and chord resources, speakers and simple production tools.
You provide
A classroom or music room with tables or desks for up to 8 campers, room for small-group writing, and electrical outlets.
The format
A half-day camp for grades 4 to 7, with 4 to 8 campers, held on your campus.
Keep going
Related programs and lessons
Next step
Bring SongLab to your school
Tell us about your school and your campers, and we will be in touch.