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ENDORSEMENTS!

THIS Class is one of the best investments I've made in my songwriting journey - Doak ****

Hi Deanna! thanks for all the great scoop and I appreciate you too... words alone can not express how much this class has taught and helped me!! I can certainly see why you have the great reputation you have and how this class has been so successful. So thank YOU for a wonderful experience!
--Ava Rives

I wanted to thank you so much for teaching this songwriting class. I've learned so much more than I even thought I would. I'm at a stage in my life where being a mom takes precedence, but I know this stage won't last forever. So I wanted to be educated about how to be a songwriter, and maybe go at a slower pace than someone who can go full tilt at it. I hope to take your class again, maybe in a few years when life is different. But the things you taught and the things that the guests taught will help so much when I have an afternoon to myself every once in a while.
--Rebecca Robison

One of the first things I did when I moved to town almost 6 years ago, was sign up for Deanna Walker's Songwriter Series. I had met her husband Rick who was teaching at an NSAI camp before I moved here and met her briefly during a critique session with him. I instantly knew that the closer I could get to these two precious and talented people the better I would feel. Especially being in a new place, learning a new business, and where the most important thing you need to do early on is meet people, network, and establish relationships. In Deanna's class we got the opportunity to learn and practice our songwriting skills, with her as our always patient and encouraging guide, and then each week she would amaze us by bringing in as guest speakers and teachers the likes of Jeffrey Steele, the Big & Rich boys (pre and post record deal), Rivers Rutherford, Cliff Audretch (then a plugger at Windswept pub., now A&R at Universal), Sam and Annie Tate, Lari White, and countless countless other artists, songwriters, and music business people. All very successful industry professionals we either wanted to be like, or wanted to know. And we got to do both in Deanna's class. Truly, there are SO many priceless bits of information I learned for the few semesters I took this class that still come back to me when I need it most. One is Rivers saying, "Looking back, if I could change one thing, it would be not to worry so much." Another is hearing all the successful songwriters talk about how even when songwriting was bringing in no money at all and they had to work all kinds of crappy jobs, they fit songwriting in... 10 o'clock at night, 5 in the morning, whenever their schedule allowed. It had to be a discipline thing. So, how bad do you want it? You simply MUST take the Blair Songwriter Series with Deanna Walker to find out, and have a blast doing it. If the art of music or the music business interests you, if it's your passion, or if you just wanna see and learn and make lifelong memories and relationships, for heaven sakes, take this class. I promise you'll end up wanting to take it again and again! ( :

Love, Luck, and Laughter,
Evie Nicole

"Attending The Blair songwriting class several years ago was the most helpful and insightful experience I've ever had in my own work as a songwriter. The passionate and delightful Ms. Walker brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to help each student discover how to tap into their own unique creativity and understand the craft of the art of songwriting. Presenting an array of amazingly talented successful guest speakers from every facet of the music industry each week is priceless in scope and depth. Simply inspiring........I highly recommend immersing yourself in this class. It will change your life." -- Jim Stephens --

Hey Deanna,
Last semester was my first in the class. I enjoyed it tremendously. Writing songs is new to me, comely late - in mid-life. The guests have helped me to get a grip on this mysterious thing of inspiration. Each guest brought a unique insight into the craft and the business of songwriting. Deanna's great questions drew out their knowledge and experience in a very helpful way. Thanks for making this class available!!
Libby Shipp

Deanna Walker's songwriting class at Vanderbilt is phenomenal. I recommend everyone take it. No matter what level songwriter you are, you are sure to benefit greatly, as I have, from her techniques and from the incredible guest speakers she brings into the class. It's definitely worth the money over any other class.
-Sage Keffer

Deanna,
Just sending a note to you telling you that I really enjoyed your class on Hit SongWriting.In addition to being very informative and educational to writers in the crafting of a song, it is an excellent avenue of networking and meeting music industry professionals and songwriters who are making things happen.
David Akins, Copperhead Music Management

There's a real camaraderie in Deanna Walker's songwriting class. It's a chance to not only stretch and exercise your creativity but the information given from hit-writers is invaluable. Everyone and anyone who comes to Nashville for songwriting should take this class!
Julie Delgado

So much of the talk in town is about "gatekeepers" -- what receptionist, what publicist, what factotum knows somebody who knows somebody who knows somebody. Deanna introduces the class to gate openers -- writers, producers, engineers who themselves know the secret handshakes that can open doors for an aspiring writer and artist. How else would I know (insert pretty much any famous writer's name here) on a favorable basis were it not for Deanna and her weekly murderer's row of guests. More to the point, they know me.
Ed Branding

This was one of the most amazing courses I have ever taken!!! It was so incredibly inspiring I wrote over 70 songs in the 3 months after completing this course. I love Deanna she is so awesome and she gets some of the most incredible songwriters in the industry. How exciting is that!!!!!

Aurora Borealis

Thanks for putting on such an awesome class. To have chance, not only to learn the actual craft but to listen and talk to hit writers here in Nashville, is a true gift. Thanks so much. To be able to listen to stories about songs and other writers’ own journeys has been inspirational – and I met some cool friends and co-writers through your class too – thanks.

Lorna Flowers

Hey Deanna,

It's still the best thing in this town, for sure.

Chad Nygard

Deanna Walker remains the single most important mentor I have ever had. She brings out the best in every student she has by nurturing and fostering the artist within them. I hesitate to even think about where I would be today had I not been the lucky recipient of her magical enthusiasm and encouragement.

Keeley Valentino

I took Deanna’s class when I first moved to Nashville. Not only was it a great way to meet some other writers and artists, the guest speakers Deanna brought in helped me get up to date with what was happening on Music Row right now. An invaluable class and great teacher--

Susan Anders

Nashville is about the music business. The Blair Songwriter Series is an excellent way to learn about the business and meet the songwriters that have written the songs you know. Deanna's class was time very well spent.

Thank you,
Fran MacLeran

Hi Deanna! I can't wait for my next semester in your class! Especially the monday night songwriter class. The insight that I get from your guests is information that cannot possibly be taught in a standard curriculum. It is life, street learning and experience of seasoned songwriters. You just can't get that anywhere else. Thank you.

Seeya soon,
Mark Armstrong

Hi Deanna,

Thank you for a wonderful class. It’s always inspiring hearing songwriters talk about the process of writing, all the quirks and the happy accidents. And in the case of your guests it’s been a privilege to hear these stories and insights from some of the songwriters whose work I’ve long respected. You have a great talent for putting them at ease and bringing out the best. Your class is unique in that it combines these rich stories with hands on craft work in an ongoing setting. I hope it will continue for years.

Linda Titolo

Deanna,

Thanks for a an amazing experience! The personal insights from numersous professional songwiters and industry pros are inspirational as well as educational.

Thanks,
Lisa Pursell

The experience and knowledge that I gained from the Blair Songwriter Series was invaluable. I enjoyed meeting wonderful songwriters, and making new friends, as well. I've recommended this awesome class to many songwriters, and will continue to do so. Thank you for the great opportunity!

Lisa Hannah

"Deanna is completely into song writing and she has a true camaraderie with both pro and aspiring songwriters. She is honest, yet supportive giving solid advice. The guests she invites are real with the students, yet inspirational. This class helped my song writing tremendously."

Amy Frederick

"The awesome Blair Songwriter Series taught by Deanna Walker is an essential on your Nashville journey."

Ryan