song-writing course tutors

This is without a doubt the most demanding course that we offer and the tutors are dedicated to helping new writers understand the reality of writing songs for a living. These courses push musicians to deliver career breaking tunes, through a series of lectures designed to focus on different aspects of the writer's craft taught by internationally successful hit writers.

		Ian Sillett - Head of Song Writing Ian started playing the piano at 5 years old. As a teenager he won the National Yamaha/Times Educational Young Songwriters Award. Finishing his A-Levels Ian won a place at Leeds College of Music where he studied piano until he was offered a place to be the first intake of students at LIPA. Since graduating Ian has been busy as a pro musician with jobs such as performing, writing & producing. Ian has travelled worldwide playing concerts & festivals. As a session player he has played for Beverley Knight, Jamelia, Blue & Sugababes & played alongside luminaries such as Mark Knopfler, Joan Armatrading & Sir Paul McCartney. Ian is also keyboard module leader for Musicians Channel on SKY TV. He has been signed to Fused & Bruised & East West Records and had publishing with Jimmy Ruffin at Ruffland Publishing Ltd. Ian has composed & orchestrated for film which won several international awards & is now currently co-writing & co-producing a double album for Disney. Ian is also a qualified music teacher.

		Astrid Williamson - Song writing Tutor Astrid became a cult figure in the late 90’s as lead singer, songwriter and founder member of NME darlings Goya Dress, a highly influential Scottish trio who made the seminal album ‘Rooms’ for the infamous Nude Records. She worked with the legend John Cale (Velvet Underground) which was an invaluable and unique experience.

		Jez Ashurst - Song Writing Tutor Jez is a Songwriter, Composer, Programmer, Producer, and Session Guitarist / Vocalist. 2005 Saw Jez writing with many hit artists and Songwriters in the U.K and U.S including James Bourne (Busted), Chris Braide (Kylie, Beverly Knight, Will Young) The Noise Next Door, Young Heart Attack, Cliff Jones (Gay Dad) and Country Writers Kim Richey (Trisha Yearwood #1) Odie Blackmon (George Strait #1) and Tom Douglas (Tim Mcgraw #1) As singer/guitarist/writer in his own band ‘Farrah’, Jez has toured Europe and Japan this year promoting their 2nd album ‘Me Too’ and supporting Ash, Hanson, Phantom Planet and the Bluetones along the way.

		Steve Hillier - Song writing Tutor Steve is a Songwriter and Record Producer who’s worked with everyone from Keane to Gary Numan. Having started his career as a DJ and events promoter at the age of fiftenn, he has worked with legendary record labels including Food, Parlophone and Factory. Steve is also the founder member and main songwriter of the band Dubstar, who have scored nine top forty singles so far. As well as having international hits with artist such like Bebel Gilberto and Karen Mok, Steve writes on the subjects of songwriting and the music industry for the BBC, Mixbuss and Future Music magazine. Steve will be running the Raw Material’s sessions, where his unique insight into creativity and effective working will be an inspiration to every student.

		Ken Rose - Song Writing Tutor Ken was born in Los Angeles. He grew up hanging around the legendary Sound City recording studios (Nirvana, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty...) where he got his first taste of the recording business. Ken’s love and respect of all musical styles and his unique approach to artist development have led him down an interesting creative path. Ken is an artist, writer, producer and multi-instrumentalist. As a staff writer at Warner-Chappell, EMI, Famous Music Corp. and Giorgio Moroder Music Ken has had the chance to co-write with some of the worlds most talented and successful songwriters. Ken is currently writing for a handful of major label acts as well as developing new talent. His quarterly intensive writer seminars have been successful in London, and worldwide. His song contributions to Roch Voisine’s French and English records have earned him double platinum status, while his co-writing and production work with new artists has earned him cuts in Ireland, England and America. Ken recently played guitar on Marianne Faithfull’s "Songs of Innocence and Experience" world tour and is a member of her band. Ken is now based in his writing room at Livingston Studios in North London.

		Iain Archer - Song writing Tutor From Northern Ireland, and now living and working out of London, Iain Archer is a songwriter, musician, artist and producer. Iain has made four solo albums to date, the first released in 1995 on Scottish Indie Sticky Records, the most recent appearing in October 2006 on PIAS/Wall Of Sound Records. Throughout his work as a singer-songwriter, Iain has collaborated on many other projects including The Freelance Hellraiser, Duke Special, Fionn Regan, Hayley Hutchinson, The Reindeer Section, Jacob Golden and Snow Patrol. He received and Ivor Novello Award in 2005 for his work on Snow Patrol’s breakthrough album ’Final Straw’ including co-writing the top 5 single ’Run’. Iain also appears on the album ’Eyes Open’ and has played acoustic guitar with the band throughout their Arena and festival appearances of 2007. He has also toured as a singer-songwriter, supporting the likes of John Martyn, Nils Lofgren, Athlete, David Gray to name a few.

		John Hogg - Song Writing/LPW Tutor John Hogg formed the band Moke in 1998. After touring the US with bands such as The Black Crowes and The Goo Goo Dolls, recording two albums (’Superdrag’/’Moke’ in the US & ’ Carnival’), Hogg went on to become lead singer of the band ’Hookah Brown’, touring and writing with Rich Robinson (lead guitar) during the recent Black Crowes hiatus. He has since written the soundtrack to ’The Good Cop’ directed by Alan Westaway and is currently involved in co-production with ex band-mate and new producer Sean Genockey (Tom McRae, Reuben, Manic Street Preachers, Suede, Starsailor, Kubb, Boy Kill Boy). His new band HOGG (featuring Martin Wright and Jesse Wood, son of Rolling Stone Ronnie) is currently performing live around the UK.