andreastolpe.com Reviews 

Andrea is a true master of the songwriting craft, and she’s also inspiring, genuine, and really just a cool person! I can’t give this retreat enough stars. I look forward to using what I’ve learned from Andrea, and I’m excited that I met so many awesome folks to be a part of my songwriting community/support group!

It's a great retreat for those that want to develop both skills and community. It was the perfect thing for me and I feel fortunate that I was able to attend.

At the retreat we were able to learn new ways to think about lyric writing during the lectures and then put those lessons into practice by working in groups. In the evenings we could socialize with people that have very different backgrounds but have the same passion for songwriting. The food and secluded location also added to the experience. The only thing I would of wanted more of would have been to discuss what to do with a song after it is written. Most of us were Indy artists and writers and will never get signed by a company to write music. We need to learn more about the importance of MegaData, ISRC codes, IPI/CAE numbers and distribution.

one hundred stars!! Andrea is such a powerful educator. she has an immeasurably valuable ability to meet you where you are, no matter where you are coming from. i am a person who craves an unvarnished truth, and i love how specific and helpful her insights are. the openness, the curiosity, the kind nurturing, the tools, the craft, it’s a tremendous experience. i am so much more confident as a writer now! i am much more tuned to my instincts and my tools. i am beyond thrilled with the entire experience!

Can I give a 10 out of 5?
A fellow retreat buddy said "There will forever be before this week and after this week," and I can't think of a better way to sum it up. I feel like my world got bigger in all the best ways. I feel so encouraged not only as a musician but as a person.

Thanks to this retreat, I have grown tremendously as a songwriter. Andrea and her team have designed an experience that is bountiful with learning opportunities. During this time, I have learned to become a better writer, collaborator and musician.

Andrea was very knowledgeable with the craft of songwriting. She was very easy to learn from and she created a very enjoyable retreat experience with the other writers!

I made some great connections and gained new experience & confidence in co-writing! I also really appreciated the guest speakers who gave the industry talk.

Andrea has a remarkable ability to get to the heart of songwriting issues and demonstrate solutions. She is no-nonsense and supportive, which can be a difficult balance to strike. This was the week I needed it to be.

Easily the best week of my life. Such an organic and creative experience. I finish the retreat having made life-long connections and friends and the tools I need to improve my songwriting. Special thanks to Andrea, Madison, Hannah & Mark for making me feel so welcome for my first time in the states. I can’t wait to come back to Nashville

This retreat was just about everything I was hoping for and even more. I got to connect with my writing thanks to all of Andrea's lessons and advice, as well as my fellow songwriters who made the learning experience a fantastic one! It was totally worth it and I would do it again any time.

Well organized! Great information. Overall amazing experience.

I attended a songwriters' retreat and it was nothing short of incredible. So much solid, pragmatic methodology punctuated by experiential wisdom and context. The balance between pedagogy and hands-on learning, and the facilitated interactions with other songwriters suggests I'll both remember (or at least have great materials to refer back to) and put into practice the things I learned.

The whole experience was exactly what I was looking for. being in a bit of a songwriting rutt before the retreat, I had only written maybe a song per month... During the retreat I wrote 4 songs (3 cowrites) and in the two weeks since the retreat I've written 6 songs. I definitely got the inspiration I was looking for through this retreat. I learned alot from Andrea and the best part about it was the amazing community of likeminded songwriters who traveled from all around the world to be there. Highly recommend for any songwriter who wants some inspiration and motivation to get writing. Or songwriters just starting out, it is a great atmosphere. Also, the resort grounds were beautiful.

I had a very nice experience with Andrea's mentorship program. She was responsive, supportive, and provided helpful critiques of my songs. Andrea knows how to remain encouraging even while providing critiques. Her insight got me out of some of my typical songwriting "ruts" and had me approaching things in new ways.

Andrea's knowledge extends beyond the craft of songwriting to the business side, and I received helpful and realistic feedback in that regard. It probably goes without saying, but you are still the one that needs to make your career happen. But if you want someone you can really trust to improve your songwriting, Andrea is a great choice.

I enjoyed the sense of connection and community. I would have like more teaching from Andrea.

Andrea provided a holistic retreat for every personality type and creativity level. I loved that the group was around 30 artists, allowing each individual to get what they needed from one another and the retreat organizers. The retreat felt like a 'family' rather than a typical conference/training. For me, the retreat confirmed some of my writing techniques, and the retreat was liberating in that it gave me the freedom to learn about the songwriting process in a safe, creative environment.

What an amazing week! Andrea has such a wonderful way of demystifying the songwriting process and freeing artists to use practical and tangible tools in order to tap into the magic within. I walked away with new friends, and a new fire to explore my own process as a songwriter.

The people made it great and the full agenda kept us going and interested. A lot of information is packed into a well thought out agenda and the changes from last year are improvements in my opinion and last year was great too.

I appreciated the practical tips Andrea provided to help me bust out of my writer's block and to help me revise/improve my songs. She gave me a lot of tools to think about and use. Andrea also built an exceptional community of songwriters with varying skills, strengths, and talents. The people were open-minded, collaborative, and super supportive. As a result, the songs created at the retreat were amazing.