Nashville calls itself “Music City” for a reason. With close to 200 music venues, over 180 recording studios, and 5,000 working musicians, it’s impossible to walk around downtown and not hear live music filling the air. This March, our guests will find inspiration for their own songwriting in 5 days and 4 nights of the best of Nashville’s past and present.
Our Nashville Songwriter Getaway includes:
- Songwriting workshops and original song feedback.
- One-on-one song feedback from Murray Foster.
- A workshop with a professional Nashville songwriter.
- Opportunities to network and find new songwriting inspiration.
- A walking tour of Music Row.
- Visits to the Johnny Cash Museum, Patsy Cline Museum, and Ryman Auditorium, the longtime home of the Grand Ole Opry.
- Visits to some Nashville Honky Tonks (including Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge) and legendary original music venues including The Listening Room where we’ll see some of Nashville’s hottest up-and-coming songwriters.
- Lunches at our Getaway House and some of Nashville’s fantastic restaurants
- Dinners at our Getaway House and at some of Broadway’s most popular spots
- Plenty of free time to write songs and explore the local culture.
Workshops and song circles will take place at our Getaway House located in the Johnson-Robinson House at the Scarritt-Bennett Center.
Nashville Songwriter Getaway Pricing
- Songwriter Registration: $1200+HST – EARLY BIRD PRICE $1100+HST
- Non-Songwriting Partner: $800+HST – EARLY BIRD PRICE $700+HST
*Installment plan available
EARLY BIRD PRICE ENDS DECEMBER 31, 2024.
Fees do not include airfare, off-site lodging, breakfast, alcohol, or personal expenses.
Register for The Getaway:
You have the option to make your payment in full at the time of registration.
We are also offering the option of putting down a deposit of $400. Payment in full is due February 2, 2025.
Nashville Getaway Lodging Options
Getaway House Lodging:
Your hosts Mary and Murray have rented the Johnson-Robinson House (part of the Scaritt Bennet Centre) for us to stay at, which will also be the place where we hold all our workshops and song circles. We’ll be referring to it as the “Getaway House.” This house also has two extra private rooms with queen beds available for our guests to rent if they choose (first come first served). If you are interested in staying in one of these two rooms, you can reserve them at the time of your registration for CAD$800+HST . Guests staying at the Getaway House can check in on Friday evening after 4pm, but you will be on your own for meals/entertainment on Friday. The Getaway will officially begin on Saturday morning. Guests staying the Getaway House must check out by 10am on Wednesday morning. Once they are gone, we recommend one of the options below for lodging nearby.
Preferred Lodging:
We recommend staying close to our Getaway House at Scarritt Bennett Center if you want affordable no-frills lodging. Guests can stay in one of three historic residence halls. The rooms are “suite-style”. Suites include two sleeping rooms, most with twin-sized beds, adjoined by a full bathroom with a tub/shower combo. Each dorm suite is equipped with one TV with streaming capabilities, a mini-fridge with a freezer, a microwave, and a dual drip coffee maker/Keurig. Note: No alcohol or smoking is allowed on the campus.
Scarritt Bennett Center
1027 18th Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37212
Visit Website
For individual room bookings, please call 615.340.7469 to speak with a Guest Services staff member. Mention “Toronto Songwriting School” to book a room at our discounted rate of USD$75/night.
Nearby Hotel Options:
There are many hotels throughout Nashville. You can find some comfortable budget-friendly hotels near Vanderbilt University (just a few minutes from our Getaway House). Many of these hotels offer a shuttle to the downtown area or you can take an Uber for less than $10. Some to consider:
- Holiday Inn Nashville-Vanderbilt
- Comfort Inn Nashville Downtown-Vanderbilt
- Moxy Nashville-Vanderbilt
Downtown Hotel Option:
For those who wish to stay near Broadway (about 15 minutes away from our Getaway House by car), we recommend:
Courtyard Nashville Downtown, 170 4th Avenue North Nashville, Tennessee 37219
We’ve arranged for a discounted hotel rate of US$275/night plus taxes at the Courtyard Nashville Downtown for a King Room or US$325/night plus taxes for a room with 2 queen beds. RESERVE YOUR ROOM HERE.
AirBnB
Nashville also has many options for Airbnb rentals. You can rent a room in someone’s home or apartment or rent a full apartment/house for yourself. Many of our guests have used this option for past getaways with positive results. We encourage you read the reviews and host policies if you select this option.
Itinerary
We will be continuing to add items to the itinerary as we get closer to the trip. Some events may shift based on weather and scheduling changes.
SATURDAY
Welcome to Nashville! We’ll get to know each other on Day 1 with a songwriting workshop, songwriting exercises, and a song circle. Lunch and Dinner provided.
SUNDAY
On Sunday, we’ll get to know Nashville better with a visit to the Johnny Cash Museum and the Patsy Cline Museum. We’ll continue diving into our own songwriting with a workshop and writing exercise. Light breakfast, lunch and dinner provided.
MONDAY
On Day 3, we’ll visit the Ryman Auditorium, a world-renowned concert hall, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame landmark, and the former home of the Grand Ole Opry. This historic venue is still hosting some of the best music in the world, and our time there will inspire our own work. On Monday evening, we’ll visit the iconic Song Suffragettes songwriter showcase to see some of Nashville’s best up-and-coming female songwriters. Light breakfast, lunch, and dinner provided.
TUESDAY
On Tuesday, we’ll continue to learn about the music and songwriting scene of Nashville with a walking tour of Music Row. We’ll also share some of our own songs and spend a final evening enjoying the best of Nashville’s food and entertainment. Light breakfast, lunch, and dinner provided.
FAQs
What time does the getaway start and end?
We will meet at the Johnson-Robinson House at 11am on Saturday.
The getaway will end Tuesday evening after dinner.
Are instruments provided?
We do not provide instruments. But we will help you arrange rentals. You can of course bring your own instrument. Please verify all special baggage requirements with your airline.
I’m new to songwriting. Is this right for me?
Yep! These songwriter trips are designed for all-levels from first-time songwriters to seasoned pros. We’ve even had people who don’t play an instrument. This is a supportive and welcoming group. You’ll be writing songs in no time!
What if my spouse/partner/non-songwriting bff wants to come?
Great! We have an option for that! This trip has a lot of activities for them to participate in and the city offers a lot of things for them to do during songwriting workshops. Just select the option to bring a non-songwriter guest when registering.
How do I get from the airport to downtown Nashville?
You have a few options!
Bus Line 18 runs from the airport to the central bus station in downtown Nashville. Take the bus to the very last stop on the route. From there, you can transfer to other bus lines serving the metropolitan Nashville area. (Lines 3 and 7 have stops along the Vanderbilt campus.) For a complete schedule of Line 18 and all other bus routes in the WeGo system, please consult this link: https://www.nashvillemta.org/Nashville-MTA-Maps-and-Schedules.asp. Depending on where you are going (and the time of day), it may be more convenient to take a Lyft or Uber from the bus station to your final destination.
Uber and Lyft are also available in Nashville. In the Ground Transportation Center, look for signs that say “Ride App Pickup.” There are 3 zones: A, B, and C. Lyft picks up from Zone A, and Uber picks up from Zones B and C. Both apps require you to provide the address of your final destination, so make sure that you know that when you request a ride. You will see the estimated fare before you accept the ride. You will receive information about your driver and the driver’s car, as well as an estimated arrival time, once your request is confirmed.
Taxis are also available at the airport. Taxi companies and estimated fares are listed on this website: https://www.flynashville.com/ground-transportation/Pages/taxis.aspx..
What if I don’t want to go to one of the scheduled activities?
That’s absolutely fine! We’ll stay connected with you so you can rejoin at the next one. Please note that if you go off exploring on your own, we will not be able to provide transportation. That said, Nashville is a very walkable city with most sights within a mile of downtown. There are also a lot of transportation options including a free city bus loop, taxis, and Uber/Lyft.
Are we going to the Bluebird Cafe?
The Bluebird Cafe is one of several fabulous small venues that focus on original songwriting in Nashville. Unfortunately, the Bluebird can’t accommodate groups, so instead we’ll be going to the very popular Listening Room Cafe. Don’t worry, the same artists play both rooms, so we’ll be sure to see some great Nashville songwriters.
Can I bring my pet?
Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate pets on our songwriter getaways.
Can I bring my child?
Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate children on our songwriter getaways. In addition, please note that many clubs in Nashville require that guests be age 21 or over to enter.
Register:
You have the option to make your payment in full at the time of registration. We are also offering the option of paying in three monthly installments. The installment option will only be available until November 15th.
Cancellation Policy
Participants who cancel one month before the getaway will receive a full refund minus a $100 cancellation fee.
If a participant cancels after February 21, 2025, the participant will receive a 50% refund.