The Pat Pattison seminars are an event that I look forward to now like Christmas. My wife and some of my close friends have heard me rave about him so much that they, too, get excited for me when I tell them there's a seminar coming up. My wife simply won't let me miss it as it always puts me in such a good mood.
-Austin Music Foundation Master Class Participant
I was just at your Sydney workshop and am now in a stunned uneasy space. I feel like I don't want to go outside where bright light and busy people might snap me back, I just want to sit still and absorb. It was very disturbing and at the same time overwhelmingly exciting for me to be exposed to so many insights on lyric writing in such a sound, insightful and unrefutable way, that I almost wanted to run and hide for fear of discovering too many of my own limitations. But I could not.
I have been a songwriter all my life and I also run quite a large Songwriter network here in Sydney and have even won the odd award. But nothing, nothing I have ever discovered personally or read from any text has even come close to matching the wisdom, wit and genius you share so warmly and humorously in your workshops and books. I can honestly say that I will never be the same person or writer again. I know they are only words Pat, but THANK YOU so much. I wish I could put little sparkles on each of those letters because my heart is so alight right now and tears are welling up just writing this. I will be forever in your debt.
-Keith Armitage
Director - Songwriters Live
The seminar was AMAZING. I haven't been able to stop ranting about it. That was hands-down the best course I have ever been on. And it really revived my creative side. I am feeling all excited about music again. Wow! So thrilling. Pat is very inspiring!
-Nina
New Zealand
Please pass on to Pat my thanks for such an excellent course. This is probably the most important and profound piece of learning I've ever done. I can't praise him highly enough.
-Zed Brookes Program Co-ordinator at Music & Audio Institute of New Zealand
Thanks for the information. After years of plunking around trying to do lyrics, I found Pat Pattison's book on Better Lyrics. There is genius in being able to teach, and he has it. Thanks for bringing it to the Net…
-Dave Green (via email)
I have to thank you very much. I just purchased your books "Writing Better Lyrics" and "Songwriting: Essential Guide To Rhyming". Wow.
I began reading them this morning and have already completed one song. Family Rhyme was especially helpful to me. It's as if a key to a door was handed to me.
I can't wait to get to my notebooks to finish some incomplete songs. I don't know how better to thank you then to recommend your books to others.
Buddy Zapata
What I like about your books is they are like buying better tools, or using tools you didn't have before. The lyricist has ideas and paints colors, patterns and shapes, but a better paint brush and more paints, various sized canvas and other tools can help one do more…They help one become better at the craft… I appreciate and respect your work.
-John Bernstein (via email)
Pat Pattison shares song/word wisdom…
Read the Australian Performing Right Association Newsletter Article here.To the Songwriters Association of Canada:
I very much enjoyed the entire seminar... especially Pat Pattison.
- Robyn Driscoll, Surrey, BC
Thoroughly enjoyed Pat Pattison's lecture on songwriting, and the co-writing session!
- Shazia Islam, North Delta, BC
Pat was the most enjoyable part of the day.
- Sharon Ogilvie, Windsor, NS
A-1, Pattison could come back every year.
- Diana Block, Dundum, SK
It was great to have such an inspiring, comprehensive workshop with a lyric focus. Pat's style was encouraging, informative and always with a sense of humour so we could absorb even the most technical grammatical information.
-Catrina Seiffert
Melbourne, Australia
I have gone through many of the exercises in your books -- they are most helpful, and I really value your seminars, especially this last one...
For a long time, I've been looking for ways to emphasize the meanings of my songs. I was on the right track, but you nailed it with this seminar. Now they have more life -- they breathe! It was as though you took blah phrases in black and white and added a rich color palette. You've given me some tools it might have taken me a lifetime to figure out on my own. I really appreciate that. Thanks for being such a great teacher.
-Joanne Ritter (via email)
I've got to take the time to say how wonderful 'Writing Better Lyrics' is. Completely inspirational - every time I sit down with it it inspires me to start writing.
I've read quite a few lyric books and WBL is head and shoulders above the rest in content, form, tone and effectiveness. I just want to say thanks.
- Ben Hall (via email)
I would like to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to return to Vancouver, Canada. I attended both the Weekend to Better Lyrics and the Songposium.
I just wanted to let you know that I am putting what I learned to work and am really having fun with it. Even though I have been writing a long time, I still learned so much over the weekend.
I thoroughly enjoyed your class.
-Robin Brock (via email)
The best piece of news I heard that night was simply about writing from the heart. Contrary to all this stuff we hear about writing songs that are simple and fit a market, Pat said the very best thing you can do for yourself is to write the most personal, self expressive songs you can. That way, your songs will never sound pretentious and, more importantly, they will always be something only you could have written, and this'll get attention.
-Scott Tougas Boston Songwriter's Workshop
I just wanted to say thanks for your amazing instruction. At the time, I really didn't know what I was doing, and the songs (and poems - I loved the poetry class) I was writing in your classes were not so great (especially at the beginning), but you were so encouraging to me. The tools I learned in your class are extremely useful to me every day.
I've released two full-length albums and one EP, which I've been licensing quite a bit (they've been featured on TV shows like The Black Donnellys, Felicity and All My Children as well as in theaters across the US), and I have a new full-length coming out in the fall. I know that I would not be writing with the confidence I do if it wasn't for your classes. It rarely takes me over an hour or two to start and finish a song, and this is because I have such a wealth of tools at my disposal now.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your help and patience and guidance.
-Mike ShmidMy home is a mess and my family hasn't eaten since your books arrived. WOW! I feel like an artist who has finally been introduced to the color wheel. I can't believe I've released two CDs without this background. Yikes! Thanks for all you do.
-Paddy Dougherty
I entered a Short Story (which happens to be a spin off from object writing way back) entitled The Old Truck in the Writing Smarter 2002 Competition, San Gabriel Writers League, Georgetown, Texas. I won first place, Mainstream Short Story Category. I was astounded ...
I would not have been inspired to write the way I do without the 5 year, every day object writing exercise you taught me. I intend to go forward with songs and prose/poetry, notwithstanding that I may never make a penny. Emerson says, "The reward of a thing well done is to have done it." Thanks for your encouragement and the skills you sought to beat into my head.
-Polk Shelton (via email)
President, Austin Songwriter's Group
