
Connecting communities to promote healing through songwriting
Your Song is a collaborative songwriting program that connects performing arts centers, musicians, and artists with vulnerable communities to promote healing and community connectedness.
The purpose of your session is not to write a hit song. The purpose of this songwriting session is for you to go through the process of writing your story. To find your voice through song.
As a songwriter, Kyshona has had the privilege of working with adults and youth experiencing homelessness, incarceration, trauma and isolation. As a music therapist, she worked for more than 13 years in treatment facilities, rehabilitation programs, mental health facilities, forensics units, nursing homes and special needs schools. With a degree in Music Therapy from The University of Georgia and over 10 years of songwriting experience, Kyshona has merged her two worlds to focus on one mission: To be a voice and a vessel for those that feel lost, forgotten, silenced and who are hurting.
Goals and objectives for each individual’s session can range from processing trauma, unblocking creativity, building self esteem, setting goals and intentions, and stress management. These sessions will also allow you the opportunity to focus on and carve out time for yourself, your personal needs and to simply play.
Therapeutic Songwriting Workshop
A curated writing session (either virtual or in person) centered around resistance, self esteem, positive social interactions, creativity and letting go of fear. This session can be geared towards various populations; veterans, families, individuals, social groups, corporate groups, rehabilitation centers or those experiencing incarceration. Participants will engage in journal prompts, guided discussion and finally collaborative songwriting. At the end of the session, participants will record a rough demo to be shared with all.
Songwriting for Youth
Very similar to therapeutic songwriting, this workshop focuses mostly on the importance of self expression and providing a creative outlet for young people to process the world around them. These sessions can be curated for specific age groups from elementary school aged to high school, and can be a one time session or a recurring session over days or weeks. If you’re feeling fancy and have the technology, there is also an option to add a focus in music production via Garageband, Protools, Bandlab or Soundtrap.
Legacy Songwriting
Songwriting with our elder community, using personal story as the basis for original songs. Legacy sessions can be scheduled with an entire family present or just one on one. Writing prompts are curated based on the individual (or family’s) subject of choice with the goal being to focus on capturing forgotten or unknown chapters of a person’s legacy.
Reminiscence Groups
One hour group or individual music therapy sessions focusing on reminiscence, memory and social skills. Using music from the participants’ early years as a tool, these sessions encourage group discussions, cognitive engagement, group singing and movement.
Listen.
Enjoy this playlist of songs written in 2024 with youth, adults and elders from all over the U.S.
This was one of the most exciting and uplifting experiences of my life. I was daunted by the prospect of songwriting but Kyshona made everything seem so easy. She encouraged me to find my voice and I would recommend the activity to anyone.
— Sandra (U.K. Your Song Participant)
Contact
Feel free to contact us with any questions.
Email
info@yoursong.org
Phone
(888) 980-9779 x1