On March 11, 2023, teens became songwriters for the day! Nearly 100 WriteGirl teens and alums, many of whom previously would not have considered themselves songwriters at all, heard their words in a new light with the help of 11 accomplished guest songwriters and nearly 100 WriteGirl volunteers at WriteGirl’s 22nd Annual Songwriting Workshop and Showcase of Songs.

Teens were guided through various writing activities to spark their creativity and to learn practical songwriting skills such as rhyme schemes, hooks, and song structure. Halfway through the workshop, Emmy-winning songwriter Michelle Lewis led the group in a dance party to Beyoncé’s “Break My Soul” as a way to teach teens about the different parts of a song.

Songwriters encouraged WriteGirl teens to approach their own words and stories with curiosity, allowing a song to reveal itself from within. As WriteGirl Executive Director and songwriter Keren Taylor put it, “Shake hands with your emotions. Let those emotions guide you.”

Lyrics that teens wrote during the workshop were then brought to life at the Showcase of Songs, where professional songwriters put teen’s words to music and performed them live. Teens were thrilled to hear their words become a song right before their eyes. Here are some comments from WriteGirl teens:

I enjoyed seeing my song through someone else's eyes! – Georgia

I LOVED having my song showcased! Everyone is very talented, and I feel like I have purpose. – Linna

I loved every performance. Everyone did great! I learned that we should be fearless in writing, just be yourself. – Avril

The songs spanned many genres and themes, but were all rooted in the power of unapologetic authentic storytelling. As special guest songwriter Janice Robinson said, “There’s power in your truth. Your truth can save someone else’s life. Songs are the soundtrack to people’s lives.”

A special thank you to The ASCAP Foundation Irving Caesar Fund and the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs for sponsoring this workshop. We appreciate your continued support as we uplift the next generation of songwriters!