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Berry Hill Songwriters Camp

July 26 - August 1 | Maine

Berry Hill Songwriting Camp is a five day highly unique songwriting camp, bringing rare and intimate one on one writing sessions to our songwriters. We are limiting our roster to only four songwriters for an intensive week of writing, co-writing and getting back to nature. The five day camp workshop is held in a beautiful renovated farmhouse in Maine about 30 minutes from Bar Harbor. The home looks over the famous Acadia National Park and it is the summer home of multi-platinum songwriter and top vocal coach, Tina Shafer. The house sits on 100 acres of shore front property and pine tree forests on Newbury Neck.

The four songwriters chosen will live in the house for a week with Tina and her teaching partner, Nick Deutsch. There will be a final performance for the local people on Newbury Neck on our final night held in the huge barn on Tina’s property.

Tina will be working with award winning songwriter Nick Deutsch who is also head of her listening team for the New York Songwriters Circle.. a legendary performance platform that Tina has directed since 1991; home to such artists as Norah Jones, Billy Porter, Lana Del Rey, John Oates, Gavin DeGraw, Vanessa Carlton, Pixie Lott, Siedah Garrett (Man In The Mirror, Michael Jackson) Hall of Fame writers Rodney Crowell, Steve Dorff and Hugh Prestwood…to name a few…both Nick and Tina run the New York songwriters Circle to present.

The Venue

The land has a private path to the back shore for walking and meditation… uniquely the home is located just 3 miles from a famous dock where fresh lobster is served every day with corn on the cob and home made blueberry pie. There is bike riding available for free time, in- house meals prepared by Chef Laurie Rokakis who is known on Yelp for her famous blueberry pies and also was head chef at Blue Hill Inn.

There are four spacious bedrooms upstairs…two with shared twin beds and two with queen beds. One pair of writers can share a room for a $200 discount.

There is a shared bathroom upstairs for our writers with shower and bath. Nick and Tina will use downstairs Bath.

Topics
To Be Discussed

Why do we write songs?

How does nature affect my observational skills in songwriting?

What poets can we study and draw from?

What is our true voice in songwriting and how do we find it?

Meditation and songwriting.

How do I write for my vocal range… writing for another artist… how is it different?

How does my vocal range affect my songwriting… tips from top vocal coach TINA SHAFER How can I find the deep core of inspiration that lives inside me from observing nature and what is around me?

How has the business changed today?

Is a record deal necessary?

When is it time for management?

How do I get gigs?

How to I balance working and songwriting.

Daily Itinerary

Day 1

9am:
Breakfast from chef Laurie Rokakis

10am:
Nature walk to the back shore

11am:
Break for water and bathroom

11:30:
TOPIC OF THE DAY: What is a song, what does it mean to you? where do songs and words come from? Why do we have to write?

Discussion

1pm:
Break for lunch

2pm:
Small one on one writing with Nick and Tina 4:30 break

5pm:
Review of the days writing

6-7pm:
Refreshments

7:30:
Dinner

Total Cost

$1975.00

All inclusive (room, all meals, refreshments, all one on one sessions, one day trip to Bar harbor)

Day 2

9am:
Breakfast from chef Laurie Rokakis

10am:
Nature walk or bike ride

11am:
Refreshment break

11:30:
TOPIC OF THE DAY: how has the business changed? How can my voice be heard today?

Discussion

1pm:
Break for lunch

2pm:
One on one writing session with Tina and Nick

4:30:
Break for refreshment

5pm:
Review of todays writing

6-7pm:
Refreshments

7:30:
Dinner

Total Cost

$1975.00

All inclusive (room, all meals, refreshments, all one on one sessions, one day trip to Bar harbor)

Day 3

9am:
Breakfast

10am:
Nature walk or bike ride

11am:
Refreshment break

11:30:
TOPIC OF THE DAY: Meditation…how can I find my true voice inside? discussion.

Discussion

1pm:
Break for lunch

2pm:
One on one writing with Tina and Nick

4:30:
Break for refreshment

5pm:
Review of writing

6-7pm:
Refreshments

7:30:
Dinner

Total Cost

$1975.00

All inclusive (room, all meals, refreshments, all one on one sessions, one day trip to Bar harbor)

Day 4

9am:
breakfast

10am:
Nature walk or bike ride

11am:
Refreshment break

11:30:
How do I co-write? Session includes

co-writing with a partner

Discussion

1pm:
Break for lunch

2pm:
Writing time with Tina and Nick.

Preparation for performance.

4:30:
Break for refreshment

Total Cost

$1975.00

All inclusive (room, all meals, refreshments, all one on one sessions, one day trip to Bar harbor)

Day 5

8am:
Breakfast

9am:
Our last day… plan trip to Acadia National park and Barharbor

Time TBD
Dinner in Bar harbor at Testa’s Lobster house

Total Cost

$1975.00

All inclusive (room, all meals, refreshments, all one on one sessions, one day trip to Bar harbor)

About Us

Tina Shafer

Tina Shafer is a multi platinum selling songwriter having written for such world renowned artists, as Celine Dion, Phoebe Snow, Emmy and Tony Winner Billy Porter, Sheena Easton and Donna Summers just to name a few.. She has had her songs in Major motion pictures and “One Life to Live” theme song with Albert Hammond.

She has also been the Director of the legendary New York Songwriters Circle for almost 30 years and “in the round show case” held monthly every Monday at The Historical Bitter End in the West Village… home to such artists as Nora Jones, Jessie Harris, Vanessa Carlton, Lana Del Rey, Gavin Degraw, Big and Rich, Meagan Trainer, Rob Mathes, John Oates, Marc Cohn….As a vocal coach she has also worked with some of today’s most famous artists including Lana Del Rey, Vanessa Carlton, Avril LaVigne, Billy Porter, Joey McIntyre (new Kids on the block), Jesse Harris. She teaches in her studio in NYC.  She is winner of the Kennedy award for outstanding New Talent and mentorship

Nick Deutsch

Nick Deutsch (is a New York based piano playing indie pop Singer/Songwriter originally from Wilmette Illinois. Jazz arranging and harmony brought Nick to New York University where he met and became friends with Tina Shafer, CEO of the New York Songwriter’s Circle (has worked with Avril Lavigne, Taylor Swift, Vanessa Carlton, Gavin Degraw, Norah Jones). Her support and guidance led Nick to booking shows at CBGB’s, The Bitter End, Rockwood Music Hall, Café Vivaldi, Ella Lounge and working with producer Joey Auch. He has shared the stage with established singer-songwriters Ian Axle, (Great Big World) Billy Porter (Kinky Boots) Rob Mathes (Sting), Lizanne Knott, Andrew Fortier, Ari Zizzo and Jillette Johnson as well as recorded with American Idol’s finalist Marissa Pontecorvo. Songs off his EP’s “Crazy Ride and Heartsaver” have let to nominations for Best Pop Male Vocal (2013 IMEA Awards), The Great American Song (2013 POP Category) and featured interviews with Pop Vulture Magazine, Apple Inc. the Huffington Post and Buzzfeed. Nick was the recipient of a 2011 Philadelphia Songwriter’s Project Award, a 2011 New York Songwriter’s Circle Award, a 2014 American Songwriter’s Award Nomination, a 2014 International Songwriter’s Contest award, 5 UK songwriting semi-finalist nominations a 2014 ISC award, an International Vocalist Runner Up Nomination, two IMSTA New York Songwriter award winner and his lyrics (Crazy Ride/Hooking Up) have won nominations and been printed in the nationally published American Songwriter magazine (May 2014/August 2017). Additionally his music has been featured on nickelodeon’s “Jagger Eaton’s Mega Life” and TV Land’s “Younger”. He is currently signed as a performing singer and pianist with Stephen Beyer Productions where he plays regularly in NYC venues.

Application

If you need to ask some questions or make any enquiries prior to sending us an application, email us HERE and we will get back to you.

Testimonials

I started studying voice and songwriting with Tina after a break I took from music. She showed me how to keep going when I didn’t have the spirit to. She continually helps me to work on my chest range and inspired me to write most of the songs on my most recent EP. Not only is she an expert in her field, she is the most beautiful person inside and out and her desire to help her students become great is truly inspirational.

– Kiyomi Hawley

I’ve been a student in several songwriting master classes led by Tina.  The experience was amazing, and I return every chance I can get.  Tina creates an ultra-positive, nurturing environment, where songwriters can present their work without fear, while still receiving serious constructive feedback.  I can without a doubt attribute significant growth in my own songwriting to her master classes.

  Foster Provost (Student)

“Tina Shafer is a brilliant singer-songwriter, instrumentalist and teacher.

She has had an enormous influence on many songwriters by creating a community, building confidence, providing constructive criticism, and imparting all the skills needed to write great songs. As a vocal coach, she has also achieved amazing results, as is clear from listening to her students sing at the New York Songwriters Circle, which she has run for over 25 years. Tina cares about the people she works with, and inspires us all to do our very best. She has a fantastic network which includes some of the most talented musicians on the planet. This in itself is incredibly valuable. For example, she introduced me to the perfect producer/instrumentalist for my songs. My musicallife has been forever changed, for the better, by Tina. If you work with her, you too will be transformed by her superlative energy, caring and talent.”

– Cliff Hurvich (Student)

I met Tina Shafer about seven years ago when a music partner of mine couldn’t stop talking about this  multi-platinum songwriter he met in New York City. Having a degree in music composition myself, Tina invited me to a songwriting master class. As soon as I met her, I loved her immediately. I knew this was someone who had worked hard for her prestige, somebody who had honed in very seriously on her craft. I knew this was a coach who had it all.

When she agreed to be my voice teacher, I was ecstatic. She’s instructed many of my musical influences, and I couldn’t believe I could be associated with her, her colleagues, or the New York Songwriter’s Circle. I knew that this was a woman who could guide me. This was a musician who could teach me. Read More 


– Kathleen Gaunt (Student)

Directions

to the Songwriter’s Camp

Airport :Bangor, Maine
Delta and American airlines

Driving is preferable if possible for an additional car 8 1/2 hours from NYC

For those who have kids under 18, and want to stay on the Neck, there are plenty of rentals through VRBO.