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Songwriting Adventures with the Ukulele (auf Englisch, einfache Sprache)

Auf dem Weg zum Profi

Songwriting Adventures with the Ukulele is a two-day songwriting camp centered around the Ukulele led by Berlin-based indie folk duo SCOTT & LILA. Participants will have an introduction to the Ukulele and its powers as an accessible songwriting tool. The course will then explore songwriting elements and themes such as: song structures in popular music, common chord progressions, melody, lyrics, rhythm and a variety of approaches to songwriting. There will be small group songwriting sessions and opportunities to showcase compositions.

Course outline:

SCOTT & LILA will be facilitating the workshop, beginning by performing a few of their original compositions which have been written on the Ukulele, and explaining their approaches to music and songwriting.

Introducing the Ukulele: A brief history and cultural context of the instrument | Tuning | Basic chords | How to read chord sheet/tablature | Strumming patterns | Basic melodies.

Song structures in popular music such as Pop, Folk, Blues, Reggae, Jazz etc. | Learning about common song structure use (intro, verse, chorus, bridge, solo, outro) | Listening exercises to understand the elements of song structure.

Common Chord progressions: Nashville Numbering System of chords (I II III IV V VI) | Blues, Folk, Pop, Jazz exercises | Listening exercises for chord progressions in popular songs.

Songwriting: Approaches | Songwriting exercises: Writing from the subconscious, looping a chord progression and free writing over | Lyrics: rhyme schemes, tools, exercises | Melody, using the instrument or voice.

Group exercises: Participants get into small groups and form songwriting bands. First performing a cover song, then learning how to write their own song.

Showcase compositions: Participants will have a chance to showcase the compositions they created with their groups and perform them for the class.

Homework: Subconscious songwriting overnight challenge | Bring in a favorite song to analyze.

About SCOTT & LILA

SCOTT & LILA (Scott Hildebrand and Lila Despoix) are an acoustic duo from Chicago/Paris, and based in Berlin. They met when Lila spontaneously joined Scott while he was busking in the streets of Berlin in 2019.

They perform their original songs with synergistic vocal harmonies, accompanied by guitar and ukulele. Their "feel good" music warms the hearts of their listeners, and fuses Indie Folk, Blues and Jazz with a fresh modern twist.

In 2019, SCOTT & LILA embarked on a tour of Europe and Asia. When the pandemic hit in 2020, they found themselves “stuck” in Sri Lanka. Embracing this unexpected turn, they immersed themselves in songwriting while living in a small jungle village, producing a wealth of new music and creating captivating music videos.

Upon returning to Berlin, SCOTT & LILA shared the stage with renowned artists Anthony Lazaro, John Craigie, Beranger, and The Hoosiers. The duo’s music featured on rotation on German "RBB Radio" and was performed live on ZDF German Television. They have continued to enchant audiences with tours across Europe, the USA, and South Korea.

In 2023, SCOTT & LILA released a double single with Anthony Lazaro, achieving international success. It now has two million streams on Spotify. Their spontaneous street performances have garnered them a significant following on TikTok, with multiple viral videos capturing their raw, authentic style. Their talent and hard work were recognized with funding from the German cultural association "Initiative Musik" for their debut album, which led up to a sold out release show at "Maschinenhaus in der Kulturbrauerei" in Berlin. Join SCOTT & LILA on their musical journey and experience the magic of their debut album, released September 2024.