Monty Harper

Q: What makes you think I need song coaching?

A: Clearly you’re already curious about hiring a song coach, so yes, you very likely can benefit from the service.
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Q: What’s the difference between coaching and co-writing?

A: If you hire me as a coach, you will write and own 100% of your own song. I will make suggestions only at your request and you’ll be free to use them or not as you see fit. You will pay me directly for my time. I will accept the work if I feel like I can help you improve your song.
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If you engage with me as a co-writer, we will split ownership of the song. We will both write or re-write parts of the song and we’ll each advocate strongly for ideas we like. My payment will come from shared royalties. I will accept the work if I feel excited about potentially creating a song together that will find an audience. 

Q: I’ve gotten feedback on my songs before and it was frustrating / painful / a waste of time. How will this be any different?

A: I’ve been to those feedback sessions, too — where everyone just wanted a pat on the back and actual feedback was frowned upon, or people’s reactions were downright mean, or comments were well-intentioned but mostly irrelevant, or where people offered opinions mostly as an excuse for hearing themselves talk.  

My feedback approach is based on the Liz Lerman Critical Response process. I’ve used it with kids and adults, in groups and in one-on-one sessions. It’s designed to keep the writer in control so you get exactly the feedback you want and need in order to write the song you’re striving to write.

I’ve never seen this process fail to help a writer improve their song. This is why I’m happy to offer my “Final Session Free” guarantee: I will bill you AFTER our session, allowing you to refuse payment if you don’t find it helpful.
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Q: Isn’t songwriting subjective? What does it even mean to “improve” a song?

A: Yes, all art is subjective. But you and I both know that some songs move you, some songs get stuck in your head, some songs make your audience laugh or cry or dance, and some songs… don’t. This isn’t down to luck. Effective songs work their magic for reasons. My clients are often surprised by how much more satisfying a song can get as it moves from draft to draft to draft. If you haven’t experienced the excitement of watching your song blossom into its full potential, you’re missing out! 
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Q: I know how to revise my songs. My final drafts are way better than my first drafts. Why should I hire a song coach?

A: No matter how good you are on your own, an objective expert opinion can: 

1. Speed up your process, 
2. Identify problems and uncover potential you may not have seen for yourself, 
3. Call you out when you’re settling. (I do it myself - “this works well enough, right?” - and my wife always calls me out on it! Sometimes you just need that trusted someone to remind you you can do better.)

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Q: I perform and record my own songs. My fans love them. I seem to be doing fine. Why should I hire a song coach?

A: If you’re happy with things the way they are, maybe you don’t need to hire a song coach. Then again, why are you reading this right now? Perhaps you have a feeling that before you spend a lot of money on musicians, studios, producers, engineers, mixing, mastering, and marketing, you need to make sure your foundation - your songwriting - is as strong as possible.

I can help you discover the potential each song has for improvement. If I don’t think your song can be improved, or you don’t find my suggestions helpful, then giving it a try will cost you nothing, thanks to me “Final Session Free” guarantee.
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Q: I’m not trying to be a professional musician. I just have this one idea for a song I really want to write. Is it appropriate to hire a song coach?

A: Totally. I’ve helped clients polish up their one-off songs — songs written for a significant other, songs written for work presentations, etc. As long as you feel motivated to write the song yourself, I can guide you. 

If you aren’t sure about doing the writing yourself, you might want to hire someone to write the song from scratch or to co-write it with you. I do that too, so if you aren’t sure what role you want me to play, we can have that conversation before scheduling a session.
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Q: Are there songwriters a coach can’t help?

A: Sure. If you aren’t serious about writing the best songs possible, then no coach can help you. This includes two categories: 

1. Those who want the hard work done for them. 
   I will tell you in general terms how to improve your song. I will even give specific suggestions or options if you ask for them. But I can’t write YOUR song FOR you. Only you have the unique outlook and creative vision to write your own song.
    
2. Those who just want a nice pat on the back. 
   If I don’t think I can help you improve your song, I won’t schedule a Zoom session. If I schedule a Zoom session, I will be kind and supportive, but also honest. I will point out ways in which your song falls short or needs improvement. I’m not going to waste your money telling you your song is perfect the way it is! If that’s all you really want to hear, please don’t hire a songwriting coach.

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Q: Can you coach me if my songs aren’t children’s songs?

A: Sure! Children’s music happens to be one of my specialties, but the principles of good songwriting transcend genre. If it turns out your songwriting isn’t the sort I can sufficiently wrap my head around, I will either let you know and decline to schedule a session, or you may decline to pay for your session as per my “Final Session Free” guarantee.
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Q: What songwriters do you admire the most?

A: My list of favorite songwriters includes: The Beatles (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison), Paul McCartney (as a solo artist), They Might Be Giants (John Linnell and John Flansburgh), Paul Simon, Billy Joel, The Kinks (Ray Davies), The Beach Boys (Brian Wilson), Chuck Berry, Carole King, Elton John and Bernie Taupin, Rogers and Hammerstein, The Sherman Brothers, Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, Randy Newman, Neil Innes, Tom Lehrer, Tom Chapin, Joe Raposo, Bill Harley.
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Q: I want to write like somebody not listed above. Can you still help me?

A: Sure. When you fill out your session form, refer me to the artist in question along with an example song title, and I’ll listen. Most likely I'll dig it. But if I feel like I can’t wrap my head around what you’re wanting to write, I’ll let you know, and I’ll decline to schedule a session.
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Q: What are your own strengths and weaknesses as a songwriter?

A: How clever of you to ask!

My strengths
I have two specialties: 1. children’s / family music, and 2. complex, scientific lyrics. 

I learned writing partly by trial and error in front of the most demanding audiences - kids. I know how to be clear, land a great punch line, tell a good story, write a catchy melody, and engage the listener. 

I'm good at using technical, scientific words and ideas while also making sense to a layperson. I learned this by writing songs based on interviews with scientists about their research. I can design an entire song to accommodate key words that normally wouldn’t sing well. I can hang complicated concepts around a central emotional theme that helps the listener appreciate the song even if they don’t get all the details. 

I’m also really good at matching words and melody. I’m a great believer in and studier of “prosody” in all its forms. Prosody is the element of songwriting that makes words plus music add up to magic.

My weaknesses
Music theory is not my strong point. I know enough to get by. I use a lot of creative chord progressions in my own writing, but I’m mostly going by feel and couldn't give a technical explanation of why they work.

There are whole genres I’m not super familiar with (see my list of favorite writers above). So for example if you’re writing a hip hop song, I will NOT be able to make statements like, “I think you’re going for kind of a DJ Grandmaster Flash thing here - you might want to tweak this to get a similar effect.” However I will still be able to say things like, “This line would make a hooky vehicle. You could strengthen the verse by using it as a pattern for the rest of the lines.”
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Q: Why are you doing this?

A: I'm always keen to turn my songwriting skills into income, so it isn’t totally altruistic. But I ain’t getting rich at it — I do this because I can talk shop about songwriting all day long. I enjoy it. I’m a songwriting geek. And I enjoy helping people. I like the feeling that my expertise makes a difference out there in the world, and this kind of work extends my reach - my input will help your audiences fall in love with your songs, even if they've never heard of me.
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Q: Where can I hear your songs?

A: All my released recordings are on Spotify, Amazon, Apple Music, etc. I have additional recordings on BandCamp and YouTube, including songs I wrote with kids as a teaching artist and songs written for clients. I also post a brand new original song every Monday on YouTube. If you Google me, you'll find me.

Go see if you like my writing, but also rest assured I’m not going to try to make your songs sound like my songs. I want to help you write as well as you can in your own voice, style and genre.
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Q: Can you make me rich and famous?

A: No. You should view anyone who promises you that with deep suspicion. I don’t know how to get your song placed with an artist or how to find you any kind of paid work. I’m all about helping you write the best songs you can. The rest is up to you.
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Q: Can you promise you’ll make my song better?

A: I can promise you’ll leave our session knowing how YOU can make your song better. In fact I guarantee it with my “Final Session Free” guarantee, which is a fancy way of saying you don’t have to pay unless you’re satisfied with my feedback.
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Q: What if it turns out my song is perfect the way it is?

A: No song is perfect, but if I can’t offer up a way to improve your song, I will congratulate you, I won’t schedule a Zoom session, and I won’t charge you anything for evaluating your song. 
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Q: Will working with you make me a better songwriter?

A: I’ve been told by clients that it does. I’m very forthcoming with the reasons for my suggestions, and each session is a two-way conversation, where you’re always welcome to ask questions. So if you’re earnest about learning, my process will help you learn.
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Q: Should I worry about you stealing my song?

A: Heck no, I’m not going to steal your song. Here are four good reasons you can trust me on that: 

1. Stealing your song would be highly unethical and is not in my best interest if I want to continue earning income from song coaching, which I do. 
2. I’ve written hundreds of songs and have no trouble generating my own good ideas. 
3. I write songs out of a need to express myself. Passing your song off as my own would not fulfill that need. 
4. If you’re worried I might try to make money off your song — I have no idea how to get a song on the charts, even if it has hit potential, and I’m not going to spend my time trying to figure it out. That part’s up to you.

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Q: How do I schedule a session?

A: Fill in this form and I’ll get back to you with my availability. The form does not obligate you in any way. 
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Q: What do I get when I schedule a coaching session?

A: One session covers one draft of one song. I will listen carefully to your song and take notes on where I think improvements can be made. Then we’ll meet on Zoom to discuss the song. At the end of our session you’ll get a copy of my written notes and a recording of the Zoom call.
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Q: What is the Zoom meeting like? 

A: We’ll chat for a bit and I’ll explain my process before I start the clock. Then we’ll have a relaxed but structured conversation about your song. My goal is to understand your vision for the song, identify any issues standing in your way, and give you the tools you need to polish your song up to its full potential. I want you to walk away feeling excited and energized about writing your next draft.
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Q: Do we need to do written notes AND a Zoom call? Can I choose one and skip the other?

A: My written notes are mostly to help me prepare for our Zoom call. Having a face-to-face conversation is the best way for me to provide useful feedback sensitive to your particular goals for your particular song. After we've done a few sessions, if you want to change the process, we can talk about that.
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Q: How do I know if my song is ready for your feedback?

A: My feedback will be most helpful when you have something you can present (a complete or partial draft) and you're still willing to make changes to improve upon what you have. Remember, I'm not just going to tell you it's perfect - if that's what I think, I won't schedule a session. On the flip side, you need to present something significant for me to respond to; if all you have is a concept, maybe you're looking for a co-writer, not a songwriting coach.
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Q: Can I ask follow-up questions and/or have you look at my revision?

A: If you think of a question you should’ve asked after the fact, you can email me. I’m happy to answer a quick question or two, but I also reserve the right to bill for my time if it’s starting to add up. I’ll also be happy to provide feedback on your revision during a separately-scheduled follow-up session. Each session covers one song or revision.
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Q: If you coach me, does that make you a co-writer?

A: No. I will help you identify problems with your song; it’s up to you to fix them. I’ll make suggestions if you want, and you will then be free to use them or not as you wish. You will keep 100% of your copyright and 100% of the credit for writing the song.
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 Q: Can a session involve more than one song?

A: Each session covers one song or revision. You can bundle more than one session into a single Zoom call, but only if the sessions are paid for in advance. See below for details.
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Q: What forms of payment do you accept?

A: Venmo or PayPal. 
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Q: Do you charge by the hour or a flat fee per session?

A: I charge an hourly rate, and I bill for preparation time as well as our session time. Most songs can be completed for well under $100. My current rate is stated on my response form. 

Pre-paid sessions are charged a per-session rate, tailored to each client, based on the average amount of time spent on your songs in the past.
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Q: Do you offer any discounts or specials? 

A: Pre-paid sessions receive a 10% discount on the hourly rate. I may offer additional deals from time to time. Please follow me on social media to stay in the loop.
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Q: Are you willing to barter?

A: Sure - if you offer expertise I can use. (Some things that come to mind: Lyrics videos for my songs; drum, guitar, or keyboard tracks for songs I’m recording; social media help.) It can’t hurt to ask.
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Q: What if your bill turns out to be way more than I expected or can afford?

A: My preparation time is usually 10-20 minutes, and you will have control over the length of our Zoom session, so a surprisingly large bill is unlikely. If you are unable to cover the bill right away just let me know and we’ll suspend future sessions until you’re able to catch up. I also offer the “Final Session Free” guarantee, which means if you feel the feedback you received was not worth the price, simply decline to pay, and we won’t book any future sessions.
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Q: What happens if I don’t show up for a scheduled session?

A: If you can’t show up for a session, please let me know at least a day ahead of time and we can re-schedule. If you fail to show up without letting me know, I will go ahead and bill you for my preparation plus a 30-minute Zoom session. Once you’re paid up I will provide you with my written notes.
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Q: Can I pre-pay for sessions?

A: Yes. You can pre-pay for between two and five songs at a time. Your per-song fee will be based on your previous average time per song, with a 10% discount off that total.
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Q: Can pre-paid sessions cover revisions?

A: I would love to give feedback on your revisions. Feedback on a revision counts as its own session.
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Q: Can we talk about more than one song in a session?

A: Each session covers one song or revision. But you can bundle more than one session into a single Zoom call. For example, if you have pre-paid for three sessions, you will get written notes and a zoom conversation for each of three songs or revisions. If you want to do the zoom conversations all at once, that's fine. However, the three pre-paid sessions do not cover feedback on four different songs.
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Q: Is there an advantage to pre-paying for sessions?

A: Several!

• You'll get a 10% discount off my hourly fee. 
• If my fee goes up, any pre-paid sessions will be unaffected. 
• You’ll get feedback on a certain number of songs (however long it takes) at a fixed price per song.
• You’ll get priority scheduling. 
• You may get extra time out of me at no additional cost.

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Q: Does your “Final Session Free” guarantee apply to pre-paid sessions?

A: No. There are no refunds for pre-paid sessions.
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Q: Can pre-paid sessions or left-over time be refunded?

A: If unforeseen circumstances keep me from fulfilling my end of the deal, then I will refund any time remaining on your account. Otherwise, no. But if you need to miss a session, it can be re-scheduled. Just please let me know at least a day in advance.
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Q: Do pre-paid sessions expire?

A: No. You may schedule your pre-paid sessions any time.
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Q: Can anybody schedule a pre-paid session?

A: No, you need to be a current client in good standing, meaning you have completed at least one previous session and you don’t have any unpaid bills.
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Q: Can I schedule additional pre-paid sessions at the same price as previous pre-paid sessions?

A: No. The price will be based on your average session length, which will have changed (up or down) when you purchase again.
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Q: How do I schedule pre-paid sessions?

A: Shoot me an email with the number of sessions you want to schedule. I’ll get back to you with the cost and my current availability.
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Q: What if our session doesn’t help me improve my song?

A: If you find my process unhelpful for whatever reason, you may decline to pay for the session. No hard feelings. However, you do need to be paid up in full in order to schedule any future sessions.
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Q: How do I invoke your guarantee?

A: You can just ignore my bill (and subsequent reminders) if you want, but it would be nice of you to let me know you are declining to pay for the session and why.
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Q: Won’t you go broke with this “Final Session Free” guarantee?

A: I feel confident I provide a valuable service at a reasonable price and most people will be happy to pay for it once they’ve received it.
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Q: Does your “Final Session Free” guarantee apply to pre-paid sessions?

A: No. There are no refunds for pre-paid sessions.
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