Collaborative Songwriting at Gorton Center

Collaborative Songwriting Bring your creativity and make music together in this three-part songwriting session with musician Nigel Haye. All musicians and music lovers are welcome. Bring an instrument if you play one. You can also join without one. Part 1: Share & Listen (January 27) Bring a song or demo you’ve written. Share it with the group and get feedback. You can also simply share your work and enjoy hearing what others create. This part will grow as more participants bring songs and demos to share. Part 2: Create Together (February 3) This session forms the heart of the workshop. Gather in a circle and create a brand-new song together. Start by choosing a vibe or theme. Then build a melody and develop the song’s structure and instrumentation. Use the instruments you bring or try something new. We’ll also have extra instruments for anyone who needs one. You can contribute lyrics, melodies, rhythms, or ideas. Everyone can play a part in the creative process. Part 3: Perform & Record (February 10) Bring the finished song to life with a group performance. Share it with other attendees, parents, or the group itself. We’ll also record the final song. Anyone who wants a copy can receive the audio file. Come ready to listen, experiment, share ideas, and make something new with others. No one needs to arrive with a finished song. Just bring your creativity and a willingness to collaborate! Ages 13+ Meet the Instructor My music journey began at the beginning of the COVID pandemic in February 2020. I started learning nursery rhymes like Mary Had a Little Lamb, scales, chords, and different techniques. This eventually led to exploring dynamic fingerpicking techniques within the next two years, modeling artists like Elliott Smith and Hozier. I have since written many songs, some of which have been released under my name Nigel Haye on all streaming platforms. I have been fortunate to start teaching classical guitar at a music shop in Mchenry for the past two years, having a total of 10+ students throughout my time teaching/performing there. During the past three years, I have also become competent in piano, drums, bass, and singing. This helps being able to push/sway a potential song idea that comes up, in multiple different ways. I graduated with a B.M. in Music Production from Elmhurst University in 2026. During my senior year, I was fortunate to serve as president of the songwriting club, SEMFA (Student Entertainment: Music & Fine Arts). During this time, I created some new opportunities that the club had never seen before, such as creating a tangible, mixed audio recording of every song created, club merchandise, and establishing an executive board to protect the club’s longevity for years to come. We hosted bi-weekly meetings that would have anywhere from 10-30 students at every meeting to make/share music together.