Therapeutic songwriting is back for it’s second series from June to September 2024!

We have partnered with the Pensacola Beach Songwriters Festival again to offer a monthly Community Therapeutic Songwriting Workshop to Pensacola and the surrounding area. The workshop will be offered to the public at no cost and will take place in the atrium at the Studer Community Institute off of Garden & Spring St.

The focus of the workshop is to provide people with tools for accessible, frustration-free therapeutic songwriting and to provide participants with a safe medium for processing emotions or events within the framework of an original song. This second series will specifically feature local guest songwriters telling their stories and sharing a song in a discussion with the host for the first half of each workshop. Then, participants will be invited to join in a collaborative songwriting experience that they can take away after each session.

As a music therapist, Kayla hopes to meet needs in the community for healing, bringing people together and honing the art of songwriting. Kayla is a passionate advocate for mental health awareness and accessibility to therapy services. She is a singer/songwriter and multi instrumentalist and can personally and professionally speak to the powerful therapeutic effect of music and writing songs for the self.

The workshop begins June 29th and will continue on the last Saturday of each month until September. No music or songwriting experience necessary. Bring yourself, friends, and any instruments!

We have partnered with the Pensacola Beach Songwriters Festival to offer a monthly Community Therapeutic Songwriting Workshop to Pensacola and the surrounding area. The workshop will be offered to the public at no cost and will take place at Goat Lips Chew & Brew. Goat Lips is a songwriter friendly establishment that has open mic a few times a week and encourages original music.

The focus of the workshop is to provide people with tools for accessible, frustration-free therapeutic songwriting and to provide participants with a safe medium for processing emotions or events within the framework of an original song. As a music therapist, Kayla hopes to meet needs in the community for healing, bringing people together and honing the art of songwriting. Kayla is a passionate advocate for mental health awareness and accessibility to therapy services. She is a singer/songwriter and multi instrumentalist and can personally and professionally speak to the powerful therapeutic effect of music. 

Assisting Kayla with the workshop will be Ross Orenstein. Ross serves on the Board of Directors for Pensacola Beach Songwriters Festival and coordinates the school visits. He has written over 500 songs for the Songs of Love Foundation. The Songs of Love Foundation is a national nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that creates free, personalized, original songs to uplift children and teens currently facing tough medical, physical or emotional challenges. His “RossO’s Happy Songs for Kids'' album can be heard on all streaming services. Visit Ross’ website at www.rossosongs.com and subscribe to his YouTube channel.

“We are excited  to bring this unique songwriting program to the area,” said SongFest co-founder Reneda Pasquale. “It fits in perfectly with our mission statement and compliments our existing “Music in the Classroom Program.” 

The workshop begins October 1 and will continue on the first Saturday of each month. Make your plans to attend.