Songwriting camp to assist aspiring young musicians

By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on January 22, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

Shaela Miller and some of her music compatriots are giving a boost to the Lethbridge Girls Rock Camp with a fundraising weekend songwriting camp.
The camp, which runs today and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Owl Acoustic Lounge is for aspiring songwriters between the ages of 12-18.
Because of COVID-19, Miller is limiting the number of attendees to 20.
The camp is for all genders, the Lethbridge singer/songwriter said Friday, and is aimed at youth who already have aspirations to be songwriters.
“It’s kind of for beginner to intermediate songwriters so kids that are already aspiring songwriters, not someone who’s never held an instrument in their lives,” Miller said.
It’s for youth “who could use a little more guidance. We’ve got a bunch of different mentors, local songwriters, we’ve got lessons planned, all kinds of stuff.
“The goal is to have them co-write a song with one another, break into groups or just write a song individually over the two days that we are there to help them and guide them and work with them towards that. And prepare them with some tools for how to combat writer’s block and some good tools for brainstorming. And just explain our different processes for songwriting.
“There’s so many ways to do it and so I wanted to have a whole bunch of different mentors there to just explain their process so these people can understand that there’s so many different ways to do it.
“And there’s no wrong way as long as you get a song in the end,” Miller said.
The camp is a community affair with many businesses supporting. The Owl has provided its space for the camp.
The Girls Rock Camp is a pay-as-you-can organization which hasn’t run for the last couple years because of the pandemic, and Miller and others want to help it get back on its feet again, she said.

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