As part of our plan for 2012 we are seeking to encourage songwriting for the local church and we are pleased to announce the launch of the VRUK Songwriter Intensive programme headed up by our songwriting coach and mentor Nigel Briggs. Nigel is responsible for worship, media and creative events at Trent Vineyard and also works with us one day a week to help develop songwriting around the movement. Nigel was himself mentored and trained years ago by Brian Doerkson and has been writing songs and leading worship ever since.
So what is a Songwriter Intensive?
We’ve piloted three separate intensives over the last 6 months and the feedback from the songwriters involved has so far been really positive.
This is how it works: We would love to know about people in Vineyard churches who are already writing worship songs which are being used in small groups and church worship times. The aim of this is to help people develop and grow as songwriters and to ultimately resource the local church with great new worship songs. We are taking referrals from church pastors as we want to work closely with the local church developing new songs at a grass roots level.
The Songwriter Intensive takes place over two week days at the VRUK studio in Hull; we cover travel expenses of the attendees, feed them and accommodate them in the VRUK artist flat for one night. The first day is predominantly given to Nigel teaching the craft of songwriting and helping people hone and improve their creative process. Songwriters are invited to bring with them existing songs and ideas and will have the opportunity to collaborate with the other attendees and record the songs in the studio on the second day. Our feeling is that one of the main strengths of this is the concept of getting people to write together and input into each other’s songwriting and recording process.
We simply ask to have first refusal on publishing any songs that are written and recorded during the two day process at VRUK, and that none of the songs that are brought to be worked on are tied in to existing publishing contracts.
We aim to run Songwriter Intensives every six weeks throughout this year. If you are in a Vineyard church and this interests you, please contact your Senior Pastor as we will be taking recommendations directly from them.
If you are a leader of a Vineyard church and would like more information,
please give Jimmy a call on 01482 462690 or send an email to info@vineyardrecords.co.uk
