Program Dates:
June 30 – August 1, 2025
Daily Schedule
Monday – Thursday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Lunch Break: 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM
Program Calendar Overview
Week 1: Orientation & Foundations
Topics: Safe space building, identity through music, song structure, systemic oppression
Week 2: Activism
Topics: Trauma and self-regulation, social justice, music in activism
Week 3: Collective Violence
Topics: Racism, xenophobia, school-to-prison pipeline, community trauma
Week 4: Interpersonal Violence
Topics: Gender-based violence, LGBTQ+ rights, boundaries in relationships and art
Week 5: Empowerment & Reflection
Topics: Artist identity, empowerment, celebration, performance prep
Syllabus Summary
- Songwriting (Stephen Lorek): Structure, metaphor, melody, group writing, lyric development
- Production (Mariano Medina): Soundtrap, beat building, vocal tracking, mixing/mastering
- Therapy & Anti-Violence Themes (Chesy Tronchoni Bello): Workshops on trauma, healing, social justice, boundaries, identity
Key Dates
- Orientation: June 30, 2025 | 10 AM–2 PM
- Final Showcase: August 1, 2025 | Soundcheck 4 PM | Performance 6–8 PM
Youth Anti-Violence Songwriting Program Schedule (Schedule is subject to change)
WEEK 1 – Orientation
🟩 Monday, June 30 – Orientation & Safe Space Building
10:00 – 10:45 | Welcome & Introductions
10:45 – 11:30 | Group Agreements + Icebreaker Games
11:30 – 12:30 | Sound Identity Collage (Mariano)
12:30 – 1:00 | Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 | Journaling Prompt: “Why Music? Why Now?” (Stephen)
🟦 Tuesday, July 1 – Writing Lyrics and forming concepts
10:00 – 11:00 | Lyric Brainstorming: Listen to 2–3 iconic songs of different genres, analyze themes and emotional pull.
11:00 – 12:30 | Introduce Soundtrap interface & terminology (Mariano)
12:30 – 1:00 | Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 | Group Storytelling to Song Seeds (Stephen)
🟨 Wednesday, July 2 – Song Structure Basics
10:00 – 11:15 | Intro to Song Structures: AABA, Verse/Chorus (Stephen)
11:15 – 12:30 | Beat & Hook Construction (Mariano)
12:30 – 1:00 | Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 | Group Co-Writing Draft Session
🟥 Thursday, July 3 – What is Violence?
10:00 – 11:00 | Chesy Workshop: Anti-Violence and Systemic Opression
11:00 – 12:30 | Writing & Recording Emotional Sketches
12:30 – 1:00 | Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 | Studio Lab: Sound as Healing (Mariano)
2:00 – 3:00 | Staff Debrief + Student File Review
WEEK 2 Activism
🟩 Monday, July 7 – Lyric Refinement
10:00 – 11:30 | Rhyme, Rhythm, & Flow (Stephen)
11:30 – 12:30 | Advanced Beat Construction (Mariano)
12:30 – 1:00 | Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 | Peer Lyric Sharing
🟦 Tuesday, July 8 – Finding Your Voice (with Chesy)
10:00 – 11:00 | Chesy Workshop Trauma and Self Regulation
11:00 – 12:30 | Chorus Development & Recording Hooks (Mariano)
12:30 – 1:00 | Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 | Group Song Experiments (Stephen)
🟨 Wednesday, July 9 – Story into Song
10:00 – 11:30 | Narrative Lyric Lab (Stephen)
11:30 – 12:30 | Mood-Based Beat Matching (Mariano)
12:30 – 1:00 | Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 | Co-Writing & Arranging (Stephen)
🟥 Thursday, July 10 – Music as Social Change
10:00 – 11:00 | Chesy Workshop: Social Justice & Music in Activism
11:00 – 12:30 | Collaboration Circles (Stephen)
12:30 – 1:00 | Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 | Studio Recording Begins (Mariano)
2:00 – 3:00 | Maintenance & Staff Sync
WEEK 3 Collective Violence
🟩 Monday, July 14 – Vocal Recording Intro
10:00 – 11:30 | Recording 101: Diction, Breath, Emotion (Stephen)
11:30 – 12:30 | Intro to Mic Use + Tracking Demos (Mariano)
12:30 – 1:00 | Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 | Track Vocal Hooks
🟦 Tuesday, July 15 – Trauma Awareness (with Chesy)
10:00 – 11:00 | Chesy Workshop: (Systemic) Racism and Xenophobia
11:00 – 12:30 | Personal Timeline Activity & Songwriting (Stephen)
12:30 – 1:00 | Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 | Production Lab: Intro to EQ (Mariano)
🟨 Wednesday, July 16 – Lyrics & Emotion
10:00 – 11:30 | Emotional Lyrics with Imagery (Stephen)
11:30 – 12:30 | Recording Harmonies (Mariano)
12:30 – 1:00 | Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 | Solo + Group Edits
🟥 Thursday, July 17 – Reframing Our Stories
10:00 – 11:00 | Chesy Workshop: School to Prison Pipeline
11:00 – 12:30 | Hearing Health presentation with Dr. Udayan Shaw from Jefferson Hospital
12:30 – 1:00 | Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 | Vocal Edits & Arranging
2:00 – 3:00 | Debrief + Track Review
WEEK 4 Interpersonal Violence
🟩 Monday, July 21 – Final Mix Prep
10:00 – 11:30 | Song Structuring & Intro Writing (Stephen)
11:30 – 12:30 | Mixing & Arrangement Lab (Mariano)
12:30 – 1:00 | Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 | Review All Project Status
🟦 Tuesday, July 22 – Performance Confidence (with Chesy)
10:00 – 11:00 | Chesy Workshop: Gender based Violence& LGBTQ+ Rights
11:00 – 12:30 | Live Practice with Feedback
12:30 – 1:00 | Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 | Polish Intros & Transitions
🟨 Wednesday, July 23 – Set List & Review
10:00 – 11:30 | Final Lyric Cleanups
11:30 – 12:30 | Track Bouncing & Publishing
12:30 – 1:00 | Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 | Peer-to-Peer Feedback Circle
🟥 Thursday, July 24 – Group Respect & Studio Etiquette
10:00 – 11:00 | Chesy Workshop: Boundaries
11:00 – 12:30 | Final Edits & Re-Tracking
12:30 – 1:00 | Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 | Clean-Up & Archive Projects
2:00 – 3:00 | Studio Reset + Debrief
WEEK 5 Empowerment and Reflection
🟩 Monday, July 28 – Publishing & Album Prep
10:00 – 11:30 | Uploading Tracks to Bandcamp or Drive
11:30 – 12:30 | Digital Cover Art Creation
12:30 – 1:00 | Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 | Finalize Album Title + Credits
🟦 Tuesday, July 29 – Why Our Voice Matters (with Chesy)
10:00 – 11:00 | Chesy Workshop: Artist Identity
11:00 – 12:30 | Record Artist Statements
12:30 – 1:00 | Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 | Final Review of Song Meaning
🟨 Wednesday, July 30 – Dress Rehearsal
10:00 – 12:30 | Full Set Run-Through
12:30 – 1:00 | Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 | Final Production Notes
🟥 Thursday, July 31 – Celebration & Closure (with Chesy)
10:00 – 11:00 | Chesy Workshop: Closure + Reflection
11:00 – 12:30 | Creative Journaling & Gratitude
12:30 – 1:00 | Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 | Playlist Party & Setup for Showcase
2:00 – 3:00 | Debrief + Volunteer Assignments
🎤 Friday, August 1 – Final Showcase
- 4 PM: call time and sound check
- 5:30 PM: Doors open to the Public
- 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Public Performance + Song Debuts
🎶 Student songs premiered, family & community celebration
