DISCOVER THE SONG ONLY YOU CAN WRITE!
ONE YEAR SINGING AND SONG-WRITING COURSE
There is a song inside everyone…
Songwriting is one of the most quietly powerful things a human being can do. It takes the experiences, longings, griefs, and joys that live wordlessly inside us - and gives them wings. When you write a song, something shifts. You hear yourself differently. You understand yourself more deeply. And when others hear it, something connects that goes far beyond ordinary words.
This is an 11-month songwriting journey to write, sing, record and - belong!
Guided by Sarah Warwick, songwriter, facilitator, and someone who has spent over 25 years helping hundreds of people discover their voices, write songs and unlock their creativity.
No previous songwriting or singing experience is necessary. Come as you are.
"It's like midwifery of the soul." Cathy R.
.png)
What the year includes:
​​​
-
Finding Your Voice Develop confidence in singing naturally and freely, through both vocal technique and intuitive expression - in solo and group settings.
-
Writing Your Songs Explore your innate creativity through a variety of songwriting approaches - working alone, with others, and with different creative prompts and stimuli. You'll write songs that are genuinely and uniquely yours, fully supported by Sarah!
-
Harmony & Musicality Develop your skills in singing harmony, learn songs from a wide range of traditions and genres - folk, jazz, gospel, pop, musical theatre, African, Taizé, negro spiritual and more - and discover how to harmonise your own compositions.
-
Performing With Presence Learn how to bring aliveness, authenticity and power to performance, and share your work with growing confidence.
-
Recording Your Song A four-day residential retreat at a professional recording studio in Dorset, working with a producer and musician to record one of your own songs to a professional standard.
-
Belonging To A Creative Community Monthly sessions in West London, the New Forest, and on Zoom, within a supportive, encouraging group that holds and inspires you throughout the year.
-
Celebrating Together The year ends with a showcase concert - an opportunity to share what you've created with an audience of family and friends.
-
Your Song, Professionally Recorded Every participant leaves with a professional-quality recording of one of their own songs.
This is an open invitation to anyone who has ever felt there is a song inside them waiting to be written. You don't need to be a musician, a singer, or a writer. You just need to be curious, willing to explore, and ready to surprise yourself.
Over the year you'll develop your voice, write songs that are genuinely your own, explore harmony, rhythm, improvisation and performance, and record one of your songs in a professional studio. Every skill serves the same purpose: to help you find and express what only you can say.
And you won't do it alone. The group becomes a creative community — a place of real support, encouragement and belonging that many participants describe as one of the most unexpected and treasured parts of the journey.
A glimpse into the magic of a past Songwriting Year -
the songs change, the joy doesn't!
COURSE DATES 2026 - 2027
Saturday Sept 5th Emery Down 2026
Sunday 4th Oct London
Saturday 7th Nov Winchester
Sun 13th Dec Minstead
Sun Jan 10th Zoom 2027
Saturday Feb 6th Hammersmith
Sunday Mar 7th Winchester
Saturday Apr 10th Emery Down
May 6 - 9 Recording Retreat
Sunday June 6 Winchester
Saturday 3rd July Hammersmith
​​
Music is what feelings sound like
Georgia Cates
About the Venues
Emery Down Village Hall New Forest
Situated in the heart of the New Forest, surrounded by fields, woodland and free-roaming ponies. A wholly different kind of creative space - unhurried, beautiful and deeply inspiring. The nearest station is Brockenhurst, 90 minutes direct from Waterloo. Country pubs nearby for an early supper after the session if you fancy it!
London, Hammersmith
The Grove Neighbourhood Centre is a peaceful and convenient venue in the heart of Hammersmith, West London, with free parking close by.
Winchester
East Stratton Village Hall is a spacious, modern hall with wonderful acoustics for singing, set in a beautiful village just outside Winchester.
​
Minstead Study Center, New Forest
Minstead Study Centre is a firm favourite for our pre-Christmas session, also in the heart of the New Forest - warm, characterful and festive.
​
Zoom Our monthly Zoom session provides a surprisingly potent space for creativity and deep sharing, all from the comfort of your own home. Session time: 10.30am–5pm.
Recording Retreat, Mill Farm Studios, Dorset
The highlight of the year. Mill Farm is a fabulous professional recording studio surrounded by cottages, fields and wildlife -including alpacas and peacocks! A place to relax, connect and create something truly magical. Each participant records one of their own songs with a producer and musician. Studio time and meals at the retreat are included in the programme fee.
Retreat accommodation, and the musician's fee of £120, are additional costs.
Fees
INVESTMENT
​
To reserve your place, a non-returnable deposit of £375 is payable, followed by 11 monthly instalments of £185.
​
Your fees include four days at the recording studio, plus lunches and suppers at the retreat.
​
Additional retreat costs:
-
Musician's fee of £120, payable at the retreat
-
Your accommodation during the retreat
Please note: all fees are payable regardless of attendance.
Bursaries
If you'd love to join but are facing financial difficulties, a part-bursary may be available.
Please email sarah@lifesong.co.uk to have a conversation about this.
Is this for me?
If any of these sound like you, then yes, absolutely yes.
"I've always wanted to write a song but I wouldn't know where to start."
"I have things inside me I've never found the words for."
"I used to be creative but somewhere along the way I lost it."
"I can't really sing - not properly."
"I've got one half-finished song that's been sitting in a drawer for years."
"I just need something that's completely, entirely mine."
You don't need a musical background. You don't need to be able to read music. You don't need to have written anything before.
All you need is curiosity, a willingness to show up, and something - however small - that you want to say. And if you don't have that yet, you will!
The rest, we find together.
A new recording begins - and it's always magical. The Recording Retreat is a truly unique experience, and this is just a glimpse of what happens when your song meets the studio.
What previous students say
"It was an amazing experience recording in the studio and having such fabulous, talented, personable musicians creating something magical with our songs. Such an uplifting creative healing joyful experience supported very well by Sarah and others in the group and in a fabulous environment. They draw out what you are capable of. I felt it was a real privilege to bring what we have and it be transformed. It’s like midwifery of the soul!"
- Cathy
"The recording retreat is the highlight and lynchpin of the singing and songwriting course year. It gives everybody in the group a chance to be and feel fully heard and seen and bring their precious song to be recorded to full fruition, in its best possible production. Sarah, the sound engineer and the musician give of themselves so much more than could ever be expected to help the birth of each song recording – it is impossible to leave the studio without feeling deep gratitude, pride in one’s own achievement and abundant joy. To be part of this is a privilege and an utterly life-affirming experience."
- Martina
.jpeg)
Important note about Fees
In accepting a place on a course you are entering into a contract and the full fee becomes payable.
If you would like to do the course but are struggling financially, part-bursary or other payment options may be available - email sarah@lifesong.co.uk to apply
The full fees will still be payable should you withdraw from the course or miss sessions
