Bring Your Song to Life

With Guildhall Songwriting Professor Fini Bearman & Pianist Tom Cawley (Raye, U2, Peter Gabriel)

Sunday 24th May, 10 - 5pm
@ The Vortex Jazz Club, London 
10 places only | £100 P/P
Book Your Seat
Book Your Seat

Just bring your song and we’ll do the rest!

You've written songs, but you haven’t played them with anyone else yet. Perhaps you’re worried they’re not good enough. Maybe the idea of playing them with a professional musician seems somehow audacious. I’ve been there. And I can tell you that songs come to life not in your head but in the room. So this step is essential.

YOUR GUIDES

Fini Bearman

I have spent over two decades living inside the song; writing them, performing them & recording them. I know what it feels like to find the the perfect melody or lyric - something that won't leave you alone - but to have no idea what to do with it next. It was my passion for songwriting that drew me to teaching - not just from a technical perspective - but looking at the whole, beautifully vulnerable journey of bringing something from inside your head out into the world. As a professor of songwriting at the Guildhall School I have helped hundreds of songwriters to find & harness their unique voice. As an artist I have released 5 albums & collaborated on countless others. I've sat on the jury for the Ivor Novello's & I've been nominated for various awards (most recently, Deutsche Jazz Preis). I know how to draw out the heart of a song even when the writer can’t see it yet.

Tom Cawley

Joining me is Tom Cawley, one of the most brilliant & musically expressive musicians; a highly renowned & respected pianist who has recorded and performed with artists all over the world such as Raye, Peter Gabriel & U2. Beyond the technical virtuosity, it's his intuition & empathy as a songwriter that sets him apart, as well as his ability to get inside the song and understand what it needs to bring it to life. 

What happens on the day?

Your Time In The Room

You will get dedicated 1:1 time with both me & Tom working through your song together, making arrangement decisions, exploring performance choices, and hearing it transform from the version in your head into something real and alive.

How To Prepare

All you need is the rough idea for a song & a chart or lead sheet. If the idea of writing your song out on paper feels daunting, don’t let that stop you. I offer each participant the option to have their song written out in advance so Tom has what he needs on the day.

Your Time In A Room

You will get dedicated 1:1 time with both me & Tom working through your song together, making arrangement decisions, exploring performance choices, and hearing it transform from the version in your head into something real and alive.
Sign Up Here
Sign Up Here

The Venue

The Vortex Jazz Club

There's a reason we're doing this here and not in a hotel conference room. The Vortex Jazz Club is one of London's most respected independent music venues. It is a small, intimate & independently run jazz club (there is a whole team of volunteers who work at this venue, every night of the week!) that has been at the heart of contemporary jazz and alternative music for 30 years. (check dates)
When you get up on the stage to sing your song in a space like this, it will make you feel alive, like you’re part of something. There is a sense of lineage and legacy.  The setting tells you that what you've written deserves to be taken seriously. And that's half the battle won.

This Workshop is for you if…

  • You're writing songs at home but you’ve never heard them played by a professional musician.
  • You know that your song is saying something meaningful but you don’t know if it’s coming across yet.
  • The idea of bringing your song to a professional feels audacious, but you’re ready to give it a try!
  • You’ve written songs for years but you’ve never had the confidence to share them.
  • You’ve never rehearsed your own songs and wouldn’t know where to start!
  • You want someone else to handle the logistics so you can focus on the song.

  • "I felt like I had forgotten how to write and now I feel excited to be writing again."

    Rosie

  • "I was stuck in a creative hole. I couldn't finish anything I started and I lost all my confidence. Fini helped get me unstuck and creating again."

    Lucy

  • "I would never have imagined I’d feel this much self-belief in my creativity!"

    Lydia

  • “Working with Fini has been an absolute game-changer. I genuinely don’t know where I’d be if I hadn’t found her!”

    Kate

  • “If you’re ready to unlock your songwriting potential and unleash the music within you, I highly recommend you give Fini a try… It’s an opportunity for growth, creativity, and musical exploration that you won’t want to miss out on!”

    Anita

  • “She is a great mentor- providing just the right amount of guidance to allow me to develop my own approach & style.”

    Ajda

  • “Fini’s knowledge, warmth & support were invaluable!”

    Myra

FAQs

  • Not at all. Tom is one of those rare musicians who can step inside any song & find what it needs, whether it's jazz, folk, pop, soul, or something you can't quite categorise yet. Bring whatever you've written and we can figure it out - no song discrimination here! It all belongs in the room.

  • This isn't a performance workshop so as long as you can deliver the song and you are happy to workshop arrangement suggestions, this is absolutely fine.

  • No, they just need to be in a state that could be workshopped, for example a verse and chorus; words and harmony but no melody. The workshop is an opportunity for you to find the answers you are looking for.

  • You can record / film the time your slot with have with Fini & Tom.

  • If you are unable to make a chart then don't worry - I offer every participant the option to have their song written out in advance so Tom has what he needs on the day. We can sort this out together once you've signed up - don't let this be the thing that stops you!

  • You will have half an hour in the room with me & Tom to workshop your song, which will include time to try out arrangement & performance suggestions, plus any compositional details that need figuring out. I will do my best to ensure no participant feels rushed during this valuable time.

  • This is one of the hidden gifts of the day. You get to watch every other song go through the same process- the choices, the discoveries, the moments something suddenly falls into place.

  • Your song (and lyrics if you need them!), plus any snacks or packed lunch.

  • We will break for lunch from 1-2pm. Dalston is a vibrant area with a lot of cafes & eateries, including a great selection of Turkish and Middle Eastern restaurants.

  • Your session will take place in front of the group, but as a ticketed event I will do everything I can to make the day feel safe & inclusive. I realise that for some people this might feel like a big ask, but don't forget that everyone is in the same boat- working with a brand new song -and actually this will create a really supportive and generous atmosphere, because we’re all in it together. I think you will also be surprised at how quickly the self-consciousness drops once we're workshopping & realising your musical vision - whatever the song in your head sounds like!

  • Then we will be right there with you. This isn't a performance, it's a process of experimentation, and perhaps  stepping out of your comfort zone. I've spent twenty years helping people through exactly this moment. There's no pressure to give the perfect performance, it's about the song, and we can do it together.

  •  If you have a song you believe in and you're ready to hear what it can do, you belong!

  • Absolutely- that's exactly what the 'Be In The Room' ticket is for. You'll spend the full day inside the process-  watching ten songs come to life, experiencing how arrangement and performance decisions get made in real time. A lot of people find attending a workshop like this as a non-participant, or audience member helps give them the confidence to bring their own song next time.

  • You're welcome to, but you don't need to. Tom will be on piano, and the focus is on your song - the melody, the lyrics, the harmony and groove. If playing guitar or ukulele helps you feel grounded or adds to the song, then please do bring it along.

  • The Vortex is a small, intimate jazz club in Dalston which is fully accessible (there is a lift at the back of the downstairs club which will take you to upstairs, where our workshop will take place. It's worth checking their website or with with them directly if you have any other specific needs, and I would be happy to help with this once you've signed up.

  • With only 10 places, each one matters. Full refunds are available up to 14 days before the workshop. After that, your place may be transferred to someone else but isn't refundable. If you wish to do this please be aware they will need to fill out the same questionnaire to ensure they have something suitable & understand what’s involved. If something unexpected comes up, please do get in touch- I will want to help you out if I can!