Workshops
Patterns in Repeat: A Songwriting Workshop, with Lilly Bechtel
In this collaborative workshop, we will explore the use of refrains in the songs we love and the songs we make. How do great choruses gradually build meaning each time they appear? How do we write songs that speak to what is universal while still conveying a voice that is our own? What makes repetition effective, and how can we engage it more thoughtfully and skillfully in our own work? The afternoon will consist of a dynamic blend of writing, conversation, and listening to music, and leave students with further prompts, writing exercises, and tools to expand their sense of possibility in their songs. The overarching workshop structure will move in response to the curiosities and goals of those present and beginner songwriters (as well as the songwriting curious!) are welcome.
Date and Time:
Sunday, 9/28
1pm – 4pm
Skills Required:
This workshop is open to all levels — no prior songwriting experience is necessary. Curiosity, a love of music, and a willingness to experiment are all you need! Ages 15+.
What to Bring:
- A notebook and something to write with
- Optional: the name of a song with a chorus you love (email this ahead of time to Lilly at nightteachermusic@gmail.com if possible)
About the Instructor:
Lilly Bechtel is a poet, musician, and trauma-informed yoga instructor with 15 years of experience leading creative writing and mindfulness workshops. Her music has been noted in Relix magazine and featured on NPR and her non-fiction and poetry has appeared in Poetry, elephant journal, The Huffington Post, Barrow Street Journal, The Faster Times, The Brooklyn Rail, and USA Today. Lilly is the recipient of a fellowship from The Vermont Studio Center and in July 2020, she completed an MFA in Poetry from Warren Wilson. Since returning to her hometown of Charlottesville she has continued to write songs and poems as well as perform and tour under the name Night Teacher. She is currently working on her second album of original music, Year of the Snake, which will be released in October 2025.