SoundLab: Create Your Own Hits

Greetings Musicians, @Rosabella Mina @Kiruba Collins @Jocelyn Mejia @Alex Olson @Michele A. Olson @Kailiee @Rosa Mina

We’ve had a very productive start as we explore the fundamentals of songwriting and composition. Over the past few rehearsals, we’ve focused on building the essential foundations that will support your creative process as we begin crafting original music together. Each week, new layers are added—so it’s important to review and strengthen every step along the way.

Here’s a quick recap of what we’ve covered so far:

• Functional Harmony – Understanding how chords and progressions create emotion and structure.

• Lyric Writing – Continue journaling and refining your ideas. Your lyrics should show your message through imagery and descriptive language, not simply tell the listener what to feel.

• The Groove – We discussed the three key parts:

Greetings Musicians and Parents,

I hope your weekend has been productive and refreshing. We’re continuing to review and grade music assessments, and we’ve identified a few key areas where we can all improve. To support your progress, I’ve created a quick practice cheat sheet for you to reference during your sessions.

The numbers are written specifically for piano players, but the notes apply across all pitched instruments.

A gentle reminder: every lesson must begin with the Circle of 4ths scale exercise. We want these patterns to become second nature. Use the reference sheet during practice, but remember — you’ll need to memorize your scales. Music is built on scales, and understanding them makes it much easier to recognize patterns and play with confidence.

Please make use of these notes, come prepared for rehearsals starting this week, and ensure all assignments are complete.

Parents: Please plan to join us for the first five minutes of rehearsal…

Greetings Sound Lab Group,

I’m beyond excited for us to begin this journey together. Though our group is small, you are the pioneers of this program—and that makes you mighty.

As songwriters, talent is only part of the equation. Great songs come from reflection, honesty, and a clear message. Before we play a single note, I want you to take inventory of yourselves. Ask: What matters to me? What do I enjoy, dislike, or feel deeply about? Journal these thoughts and bring them with you. We’ll share, discover common threads, and use them as creative fuel.

Songs often spring from lived experiences. For example, Deep Purple’s classic Smoke on the Water was born from a real fire they witnessed in Montreux. That single moment became one of the most iconic songs in rock. Inspiration can come from anywhere—your job is to notice it.

This week, jot down experiences or moments that made…

Dear Musicians and Parents,

We are thrilled to welcome you to Sound Lab: Create Your Own Hits—a brand-new program that I firmly believe will become one of our most exciting and sought-after opportunities in the future. Each of you is a pioneer in this first-ever session, helping bring to life something we’ve been dreaming of offering for years.

You are here because you are ready to stretch your creativity and challenge your minds. Let me be completely transparent: this will not be a “follow-the-leader” program where you simply copy what is shown. Instead, this experience will require you to learn, analyze, study, and then create.

The exciting part is that you will not be alone. We have a wide range of resources and industry professionals eager to share their expertise, guide you through the process, and help you bring your ideas to life. The goal is for each of you…