Upcoming Songwriting Workshops
Mary Gauthier is a Grammy Nominated songwriter whose songs have been praised by Bob Dylan and recorded by Jimmy Buffett, Tim McGraw, Bobby Bare, Kathy Mattea, Bettye Lavette and more! She’s been leading songwriting workshops around the world for over a decade. Her mission as a teacher is to work with songwriters who want to use their voice in a way thats powerful. Her focus as a teacher is on helping songwriters find their truth and speak their truth through their art.
Never miss a workshop:
ONLINE
Three-Day Master Class on Zoom with Mary Gauthier
NEW 2023 Online Workshop! Songwriting with Mary Gauthier
3-Day Master Class on Zoom from 10 AM, CDT to 4 PM, CDT (with a one hour lunch break in the middle each day)
July 28th, 29th, 30th
Capacity is limited to 15 songwriters, first come first serve. This class will sell out quickly.
The purpose of this class is to increase your overall understanding of the art and craft of song and give you valuable tools for your songwriting tool kit. The more tools you have, the better writer you become. Mary will give a lecture each day, answer questions, offer writing prompts, and provide feedback on one of your songs.
Mary has twenty years of experience working with songwriters in this way. Her new book on songwriting Saved by a Song on St. Martin’s Press has been called, “a Must-Read Music Book” by Rolling Stone Magazine.
This will be both a lecture class and student participation workshop. Mary will also listen to students’ songs and offer instruction. You will walk away from this workshop with insider songwriting knowledge that usually takes decades to figure out.
The three-day workshop is $1000, and capacity is limited to 15 songwriters, first come first serve.
in person
Finding Your Writer’s Voice with Mary Gauthier
SOLD OUT! February 14-17, 2024 • Nashville, TN • Limited to 15 Students
Everyone has a story to tell, and a unique voice with which to tell it. The trick is to find your writer’s voice in order to tell that story with a truth that connects in an original way. In this 3-day workshop at Scarritt Bennett Center in Nashville, TN, Mary will work with a small group of 15 students of all levels to help clarify the aim of your writing and discover your own, unique voice.
Three-Day Songwriting Workshop with Mary Gauthier and Darden Smith
SOLD OUT! February 19-22, 2024 • Comfort, TX • Limited to 13 Students
Capacity is limited. First come first serve. This class will sell out quickly.
The Heart of a Song: Intensive Songwriting Workshop with Mary Gauthier and Darden Smith
You are invited to join Darden Smith and Mary Gauthier for their first hill country songwriting workshop at Hotel Giles, a recently renovated, beautiful, boutique historic hotel in Comfort, TX. Darden and Mary are eager to share what they’ve learned over their combined seventy years of songwriting experience. Whether in an arena, folk club, major festival, desert campfire, or in a room with a wounded combat veteran, both Mary Gauthier and Darden Smith deliver songs that connect. Now, they want to guide you to succeed in connecting with your songs.
This workshop is suitable for writers of all levels! Struggling to finish your first song? Haven’t picked up a guitar in decades? Expert troubadour working to bring your next song cycle to its conclusion for an upcoming record? Join us! These three days of intensive songwriting sessions will inspire you, challenge you, and encourage you. We will work together in a group to safely and gently elevate each song to the next level. Every student will leave with a new set of tools to add to their songwriting toolbox.
COMFORT, TX
We’ve chosen Comfort, TX for the site of our workshop due to its rich art and intellectual history. Whether you spend your free time in the nearby antique shops, galleries, and wineries, or exploring the nearby natural beauty we know you’ll find inspiration everywhere in Comfort, TX. Comfort, TX is approximately 45 minutes from the San Antonio International Airport and 2 hours from the Austin International Airport.
WORKSHOP COST
The cost of the workshop is $1,200 per person. Lodging and meals are not included, but we are offering exclusive lodging and dining rates with Hotel Giles.
HOTEL GILES
To maximize your immersive experience, we recommend staying at the Hotel Giles. Lodging is not included in the cost of the workshop, however, Hotel Giles is offering exclusive, discounted rates to our songwriting students. To book, go to www.hotelgiles.com and use group code FEB24SONG or call 830-995-3030. Ensure the proper number of guests are identified per reservation. Reservations must be made by 19 Jan 2024.
ACCOMMODATIONS AND PRICING
Prices shown below are for 4 nights, checking in on Monday 2/19, departing Friday 2/23, and include all taxes, fees, gratuity, three meals, and daily breakfast. Each of our 15 rooms and suites is unique, which means no two-room experiences will be alike. For ease, we have grouped the rooms into three tiers.
All rooms include
Self Check-in with Keypad and a unique one-time use code
Hot breakfast daily in our Carriage House Breakfast Room
Mini refrigerator
Comphy Bedding
Pharmacopia Spa Products
Hair Dryer
Wireless Internet
High-Resolution Flat Screen TV with Netflix
Keurig Coffee Maker
Filtered Water
Daily Room Refresh
Individual Mini-Split HVAC
Upgrade Add-On Packages Available
After-hours access to Parlor (fireplace, lending library, board games) and Carriage House Breakfast Room (microwave, bottled waters, wine glasses, coffee, fresh fruit and oatmeal)
$681.50 Tier One | Queen Rooms
These rooms (1, 2, 3, 6, 22, 25) include a single Queen Size European Plush Bed, occupancy for up to two people
Total includes $498 (25% off negotiated rate), plus $32.28 Taxes, $10/night historic preservation fee, $10/stay gratuity, and meals (2 dinners, 1 lunch).
$732.38 Tier Two | King Rooms
These rooms (4, 5, 7, 24) include a single King Size European Plush Bed, occupancy for up to two people
Total includes $546 (25% negotiated rate), plus $35.16 Taxes, $10/night historic preservation fee, $10/stay gratuity, and meals (2 dinners, 1 lunch).
In addition to the standard amenities, these rooms offer an additional small sitting area
$948.62 Tier Three | Upgraded Suites
Suite 8 Log Cabin includes a single King Size European Plush Bed, a large soaking tub and shower, fireplace with sitting area, and small private porch; occupancy for up to two people
Suite 9 Cottage includes two Queen Size European Plush Beds, a large soaking tub and shower, fireplace, kitchenette with small eating area, and small private porch; occupancy for up to four people
Suite 21 includes a single King Size European Plush Bed, a large copper soaking tub, separate large walk-in shower, and sitting area; occupancy for up to two people
Suite 23 includes a single King Size European Plush Bed in a large private bedroom with fireplace and sitting area, full kitchen and dining room with access via Lobby stairs, front and back decks; occupancy for up to two people (Suite 23 reserved for Darden Smith and use as a group meeting/dining area)
Total includes $750 (25% off negotiated rate), plus $47.40 Taxes, $10/night historic preservation fee, $10/stay gratuity, and meals (2 dinners, 1 lunch).