Expect to grow—as a songwriter, a collaborator, and an artist. You’ll meet with your peers every two weeks in a small, supportive group of teen artists from across the city. At each Guild Meeting, you’ll write, share, learn new music and production skills, and have the opportunity to get 1:1 coaching from a variety of professional mentors. Between sessions, you’ll also check in virtually with your main mentor to keep your creative momentum going. You’ll finish the season with a DIY collaborative recording session with your new friends and a final Listening Party to celebrate your work!

Any student based in the greater Nashville-area currently in 8th–12th grade who wants to make music, be part of a creative community, and grow their skills. You don’t need any formal training—just an open mind and a willingness to participate.

The program is completely free, thanks to our generous funders and partners — the TN Arts Commission and the Scarlett Family Foundation (thanks guys!)

We provide all supplies, gear, and studio access at no cost to families.

For families that are able, we welcome (but do not expect) tax-deductible donations within their means to support the future of the program.

Yes, as long as you can commit to showing up. We meet every other week to make it easier to balance with school and other activities. We ask students to attend at least 5 out of 7 group Guild Meetings and to give advance notice if you’ll need to miss a session. Virtual mentor check-ins are short and flexible—and scheduled around your availability.

This is a collaborative program that doesn’t work without meaningful participation! Since this free program often has a waitlist for participation, we ask all students and mentors to mindfully commit to full participation.

Yes! Girls Write Nashville centers the experiences of female-identifying, femme, and gender-expansive youth, though all students are welcome to apply and participate if our community and mission speak to you.

This program is designed for intermediate to advanced youth artists, and we recommend that students be able to independently complete at least one, short original song as they enter the program. Students at this level tend to thrive most in the program.

That said, community is a core part of the Guild—and if you’re unsure whether you're a fit, we encourage you to apply or reach out with questions. You don’t need formal music training, and the program focuses more on creative development than step-by-step instruction.

In our group sessions, we use a supportive, holistic feedback method that honors every stage of development along the artistic journey.

Youth creators do! All songwriting and publishing rights belong to the student who created the work. Students also retain full copyright over their original master recordings. created over the course of programming.

In the case of collaborations or co-writes between students, ownership is equally shared among the collaborators.

Adult artist mentors are here to guide your process—not co-write. To protect students and avoid creating shared intellectual property between adults and minors, mentors do not write on, co-write, or contribute to student compositions.

We believe in supporting full creative agency, which means we do not censor student work. Students are welcome to include swear words or sensitive content in their original songs, as long as those choices are artistically motivated and reflect their authentic voice.

As teaching artists, we model professionalism by using non-explicit versions of songs during lessons and ask that all participants—students and mentors—refrain from using profanity during conversation in program spaces.

We recognize that songwriting can be a space for processing real emotions and experiences. Our role is to support that expression safely and respectfully.

That said, we have a zero-tolerance policy for hate speech, both in conversation and in creative work. Language that promotes harm, violence, or discrimination toward any group or person is never permitted.

All of our mentors and program staff are background-checked and complete our trauma-informed artist facilitator training before working with students.

Mentors are professional musicians, producers, songwriters, and teaching artists who are committed to creating safe, inclusive, and empowering spaces for youth. Many of them return year after year because of how meaningful the program is to them.

We prioritize creating a community where students feel supported, respected, and free to express themselves—creatively and personally.