andreastolpe.comReviews of andreastolpe.com

An amazing songwriting experience! I highly recommend for songwriters who want to sharpen their craft and discover what co-writing with others can bring.

This was my second time attending one of Andrea's retreats (the first was in Nashville) and I fully enjoyed it. For those who haven't done this before, there are two key pieces of the experience. First, Andrea brings together a bunch of capable songwriters and then puts us in intentional groupings each day to co-write a song, which we perform that evening. Second, there are lectures on songwriting approach and technique. The parts I like best? I really appreciate how Andrea chooses the songwriting groups -- I think we all have a little PTSD from when teachers would say "now find a group" and we have to scurry around and make sure we invite people to our group for the right reasons. I smile when, during a lecture, Andrea will say "okay, that was the polite answer, now let me tell you what I really think" and gives us some real talk. And it's a treat when Andrea sits down at the piano to illustrate a point and plays and sings something totally gorgeous. Finally, I would say it was a special bonus that her husband Jan was at this retreat and he did special interest lectures on production. So in summary, highly recommended. I think Andrea runs a great program and brings together some really nice people from a LOT of places to have fun writing songs together.

I had the most amazing week at Andrea's retreat. It was such a treat to dedicate time to the craft of songwriting guided by Andrea's expertise and teaching skills and surrounded by such a talented, kind and supportive group of songwriters. It was so inspiring to see how many great songs came to life through the cowriting sessions in such a short amount of time. I left the retreat feeling energized, inspired and with a renewed confidence in my ability to keep growing and move my songwriting forward. A huge thank you to Andrea and her team for creating such a unique and warm experience!

Andrea Stolpe California Songwriting Retreat July 2026 Absolutely Wonderful Experience !!! Incredible amount of essential information on how to enhance songwriting encompassing music, lyrics, production and creative teamwork. Fun interfacing with a great group of friendly people. Andrea's special in depth reviews of songs by attendees were enlightening and most helpful. Jan Stolpe provided a wealth of valuable information and clarity in regards to production. Daily, diversified small groups were assigned to create new songs in an afternoon, performing live each evening. Erin Workman visited with lots of essential solid information regarding publishing, A & R,vocals, artist development, education and performing. Daily hikes, Yoga, meals, wonderful weather, fine accommodations, and late evening jams kept everyone busy. Honestly, at the week's end I was tired from long days, After driving home, I briefly reflected, wishing the Retreat was still going. I wanting to immediately return for another week. I really enjoyed meeting so many talented people who inspired and taught me. Bless you all. May our paths cross again. Get Musically Charged, Invigorated and Energized. Attend an Andrea Stolpe Retreat !!! HIGHEST RECOMMENDATIONS !!! Enthusiastically Submitted, Steve Garvey

Andrea is an exceptional teacher, and I truly feel honored to have been in the room learning from her. Her knowledge, generosity, and ability to guide the creative process are remarkable. My only suggestion would be regarding the balance between collaborative writing and individual songwriting. I came to the retreat expecting to spend more time developing my own songs. While the collaborative writing exercises were valuable and taught me a great deal, I felt that one or two days of group writing might have been enough, leaving more time for participants to receive guidance on their own material. I realize this is a challenge with a group of 30 people, and I’m not sure what the best solution would be. One idea might be to have a daily lottery where a few participants are randomly selected to come to the front of the room and spend 20–30 minutes workshopping one of their own songs with Andrea. Even those not selected would likely learn a great deal by watching the process. Thank you so much for the entire experience. It was inspiring, educational, and deeply worthwhile. I would absolutely attend another retreat, especially if there were an opportunity for more work on participants’ own songs. Jo-Ann 🎼♥️

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The whole experience was very intimate, secure, and facilitating creativity through song and community.

It's a good retreat for someone that is just staring to write songs.