In songwriting lessons, we will be going over song form, chord progressions, melody creation, rhythmic basslines, drum programming and much more!

I specialize in beginner to very advanced training in Songwriting and Music Composition.

If you are ready to start taking your music skills SERIOUSLY then stop wasting time and money on teachers who don't fully understand the instrument or subject matter themselves. My name is Russ and I have been playing guitar professionally for 20 years and teaching music and producing records for over 15. I have a Platinum #1 Billboard charting record under my belt, worked with artists such as Mac Miller, Sean Kingston, Red Velvet, Lifehouse and more; and have composed music to 100s of your favorite TV shows! Feel free to browse my official website for a full list of credits. Want to learn to shred guitar? Produce beats? Write your own songs? Dive into theory? Record yourself? This page is the one stop shop. Feel free to reach out with any requests or questions!

Parking Lots and Poetry, Francesca's award winning album was received in 2010 to rave reviews. “Francesca’s songs have great musicality and the lyrical quality of a real poet. We come across countless artists and Francesca’s music genuinely cuts through.” -Joe Cuello, Vice President of Creative Music Integration for MTV I regularly collaborate with composers of many genres and am on several songwriting teams. One of my most recent credits was featured on America's Got Talent in 2020 and received the Golden Buzzer with Voices of Our City Choir. I lead weekly songwriting sessions with dozens of songwriters collaborating regularly. Few practice or teach the songwriting craft day in and day out as I do.

As an award-winning singer/songwriter myself, I am here to help you take your own thoughts and emotions and turn them into works of art. In our lessons, we will focus on learning the different types of song structure, accessing your creative brain, and using both words and melody to fully express the emotion or story you're wanting to convey. We will also learn how to make a polished demo, create lead sheets for musicians to play your songs, and how to envision the production of your song. I am so excited to start this wonderful journey with you!

Learn about rhythm, melody, harmony, and dynamics and how they affect your songwriting. Break down songs that you like to learn about the elements that make you like them and make them compelling to others.

I will teach you the basic concepts of how to compose songs and make those musical ideas of yours a reality. Through music theory techniques, progression theory, lyric concepts and ear training, we'll take that song that's "in your head" and make it into a reality you'll be proud of!

Influenced by country music artists like Carrie Underwood and Faith Hill, along with pop icons Kelly Clarkson and Adele, Carolyn has used her big, powerful voice to create her own style that captures the true essence of country-pop. She released her debut EP in 2018 independently, which peaked during pre-order at #7 on iTunes Country charts. Since then, she has opened for artists such as Chase Rice, Ashley McBryde, Walker Hayes, and kicked off NY’s Country 94.7 Stars and Strings event at the Barclays Center starring Sam Hunt, Dustin Lynch, Chris Janson, Runaway June, and more. ‍ Carolyn released her highly anticipated single in 2019, and the track was named one of the Top 15 Songs at CMA Fest 2019 with features in Hollywood Life, Celebuzz, among others. Her last single was released to critical acclaim, with features in Taste of Country, The Boot, Sounds Like Nashville, and the music video was added into rotation on The Country Network. Splitting residency between New York and Nashville, Carolyn has begun to make a name for herself in Music City, being tapped "One to Watch" by the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) and a Next Up Now artist by CMT.