Blair Hit Songwriter Series and CreatiVets

Deanna Walker interviews Claude Kelley and Chuck Harmony for the Blair Hit Songwriters podcast

Blair Songwriter Series

Learn songwriting and music business from extraordinary legends and up-and-comers!! Join instructor Deanna Walker and industry luminaries over Zoom and in-person for incredible, up-close and personal conversations about all aspects of songwriting, artistry, and the music business.

*This fall, connect with MASSIVE HIT SONGWRITERS, ARTISTS, and PRODUCERS like:

SHANE MCANALLY (Multiple Award-Winning, Multi-Platinum, Multi-#1 Hit Songwriter); AUTUMN ROWE (Grammy-Winning Songwriter/Producer); BEN BERGER (Award-Winning Writer/Producer, won Billboard Top Rock & Top Radio Song for “Shut Up and Dance); Nelly Joy (Extraordinary Artist/Songwriter/Business Insider—our most popular podcast guest!); DON HENRY (Grammy-Award Winning songwriter, “Country Song of the Year”); and MORE!

Get your SONGS CRITIQUED BY BIG LEAGUE INDUSTRY PLAYERS like:

CLIFF AUDRETCH, III (Publishing/Label/Management, Greatshakin’ Music); SARAH FELDMAN (Reach Publishing); EMMA KIEFER (Boom Music Group); BOBBY RYMER (Music Den); CHRIS OGLESBY (BMG); and SARAH SCHUMACHER (Curb Publishing).

Jump in to our brilliant Folk/Singer-Songwriter Panel with DAVID G. SMITH (Artist, Philanthropist, with Chart-Topping new album, Witness); CHRIS KESSENICH (Lead Singer/Songwriter, Arts Fishing Club); ANNIE BENJAMIN (Artist, Poet, Playwright).

Supercharge your career with our “PROMOTE YOURSELF” PANEL WITH OLIVIA KING (Pop-Soul Artist/Entrepreneur, with a combined social media following of over 250K) AND BRIANNA DEMAYO (Owner-CEO Taste Creators).

Learn the financial ropes with MIMI MCCARLEY (Collab Music Group), and reps from the MLC, ASCAP, BMI and SESAC!!

The class is capped at 18 full participants (those who can have songs critiqued by hit songwriters and publishers) with an unlimited number of observers (observers can participate in every way other than song critique).

Follow us on Facebook: @BlairHitSongwriterSeries; Follow us on Instagram:  @bhsongwriters 

*Guests subject to change

Testimonials

There is no better class to learn all the facets and faces of becoming a songwriter or artist than Deanna's class. I've gone from a student in the class, soaking up every word, to becoming a songwriter now with enough success in writing to give some insight back as a guest. I sat there and learned and I was able to actually apply the lessons and make it my life. It's the easiest shortcut to being a better songwriter there is.

- Jon Nite
Multiple No. 1 hit songwriter, including "I Hope" (Gabby Barrett/Charlie Puth) and "Break Up In the End" (Cole Swindell)


Deanna's songwriting class was instrumental in helping me approach songwriting as a craft. Learning from her Nashville perspective on songwriting, and lyricism in particular, has given me a leg up in the pop world. Years later, I still find myself using some of her tricks in my writing sessions!

- Michael Pollack
"Memories" (Maroon 5), "Holy" (Justin Beiber/Chance the Rapper), Katy Perry, Jonas Brothers


Anyone who wants a comprehensive knowledge of the music industry in all facets should absolutely take Deanna Walker's class. The access that one gets through her class to various songwriters, publishers, producers and executives is an exceptional learning tool for those who are trying to hone their craft and learn the business. As a young songwriter in town, her class was invaluable to me on my journey in the industry!

- Jesse Rice
CMA, AMA, ACM and Billboard Award winner; record-breaking, diamond level hit "Cruise" (Florida-Georgia Line)


Deanna brings in an endless and varied array of the world's greatest songwriters to teach, up close and on a very personal level. Nowhere else will you get to meet this breed of genius. Deanna is an inspiration - full of encouragement, and so very talented herself. She's the perfect teacher for this class. No matter what age or level of experience you are, if you love to write songs, this class is a rare chance to learn from world-class, chart-topping talent. You will come out of each class, head spinning from the "secrets" of success, and if you're like me, you'll go straight home, or to a bar, or coffee shop or heck, right to your car, and immediately start writing! I don't think there's anything like this anywhere else on earth. This class is enchanting, all wrapped up in Deanna's humongous heart of a smile. It's all good, folks. Tap this ... now! 

- Jackie DiPillo 
CreatiVets logo

CreatiVets

CreatiVets has partnered with Vanderbilt’s Blair School of Music to create a songwriting course exclusively for veterans. CreatiVets mission is to empower wounded veterans to heal through the arts and music. The class, hosted by veteran Rick Beresford and Deanna Walker, and is free to veterans around the country on a first-come, first-served basis. It’s presented entirely on Zoom and is limited to 12 full participants (those who can get their songs critiqued) and 20 observers (observers can participate in every way other than submitting material for critique). The class will cover a range of topics, including songwriting craft, creativity, an introduction to production and recording, and will include song critiques with the hosts and major music industry publishers.

Fall 2023 Courses

Blair Hit Songwriter Series

Special guest artists each week make this class sparkle. From Nashville, Los Angeles, Atlanta and beyond, guests include the music industry's finest songwriters, publishers, producers, and performers. Connect, ask questions, hear the stories behind the songs, and get your songs critiqued by Professor Walker and industry guests. The class is presented on Zoom and limited to 18 full participants (those who can get their songs critiqued) with an unlimited number of observers (observers can participate in every way other than submitting material for critique).

Tuesdays 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Learn More and Register

CreatiVets

CreatiVets has partnered with Vanderbilt’s Blair School of Music to create a songwriting course exclusively for veterans. CreatiVets mission is to empower wounded veterans to heal through the arts and music. The class, hosted by veteran Rick Beresford and Deanna Walker, and is free to veterans around the country on a first-come, first-served basis. It’s presented entirely on Zoom and is limited to 12 full participants (those who can get their songs critiqued) and 20 observers (observers can participate in every way other than submitting material for critique). The class will cover a range of topics, including songwriting craft, creativity, an introduction to production and recording, and will include song critiques with the hosts and major music industry publishers.

Mondays 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Learn More and Register