Los Angeles based songwriter and graduate of Berklee College of Music teaches songwriting lessons through customized programs

Find out more about Sierra

• 1) When did you first develop a passion for music and your favorite instrument?

  One of my earliest memories as a child is my mom telling me that songs were written down.
  
  I was amazed by music when I was little. I would sing nonsense for hours and hours until my parents begged me to stop. Because I sang whatever came to my mind, I just assumed that's how everyone else did it. It caused me to be blown away by people singing together. "How do they all think the same thing at the same time and then sing it all together?!" I remember thinking. Asking my mom this question she looked at me and said, "well, they write it down." And just like that, massive lightbulb! I'm pretty sure I wrote my very first song after that. "Well, if they can write it down, I can too!" and thus was born a songwriter. Putting words to melody for as long as I can remember and I don't ever plan on stopping!

• 2) Is there a particular type of music or artist that you listen to on a loop without it driving you crazy?

  Lake Street Dive, Lianne La Havas, Dua Lipa, Doja Cat, Khalid, Julia Michaels, and Taylor Swift are some of my favorites! I listen to a wide range of music, so this list is constantly changing.

• 3) Explain to us the most difficult or riveting course you could personally give to a student of music.

  I think the most difficult thing about songwriting is often not writing the song itself, but the stories we tell ourselves about what we're writing. Self doubt, perfectionism, and shame are always present at every level of songwriting and hinder us the most when trying to producing our best work.
  
  
  
  If I were to design a difficult (yet transformative) course for a student, I would have them write one terrible song a day for a whole month, interspersed with deep dive lessons on song form, rhyme, melody, literary devices, and other songwriting techniques. The goal is to get the student out of their own head and unafraid of failing to write a masterpiece, while giving them the tools and practice to eventually be able to make the masterpiece a reality.
  
  
  
  We would also intensely study other songwriters in the student's chosen genre. There is so much to learn from those who have been previously successful - there's so much to learn!

• 4) What do you think is the most complicated instrument to master and why?

  While each instrument has its own complicated path to mastery, I believe the voice is one of the most challenging. Unlike any other instrument, your voice is physically a part of you. It's constantly changing with the weather, your environment, and as you get older. It even changes based on the food you eat! Knowing your voice deeply enough to ride the wave of all these changes takes lots of time, attention, and practice.
  
  The voice, however, is a very subjective instrument. There are plenty of garbage singers who consistently woo audiences because their emotional delivery outweighs any concerns for technique.
  
  Every instrument has its ups and downs. Some have a steep learning curve, others are more intuitive. Mastery of all instruments takes dedication and consistency, but I believe journeying with the voice is one of the most rewarding.

• 5) What are your keys to success?

  One of the most important keys to success that I've discovered is how to work regardless of your emotional state. Songwriting is an inherently emotional endeavor, but it is imperative that you are not tied to the whims of "inspiration" to create. Having a solid foundation with the technical elements of songwriting is essential, because when inspiration does strike, you want to be able to capture it expertly. Writing when not inspired is how you practice the technical aspects.
  
  Other important keys to success are to eat right, exercise and SLEEP! The "starving artist" lifestyle is in no way optimal for creativity. It's a complete myth that you have to stay up until the wee hours of the morning to produce great art. Take care of yourself and you will be rewarded!

• 6) Name three musicians you dream of meeting in your favourite bar in the early hours of the morning. Explain why.

  My first musician would be Joni Mitchell. She has had such an iconic career and is truly an artist through and through. I would love to talk to her about her journey and gain some wisdom from her many years of writing music.
  
  My second musician would be Paul McCartney. To be a part of the most legendary band of all time must have been insane and I would love to hear some of his stories. He surely also has some amazing songwriting tips!
  
  My third musician would be Stevie Wonder. He's a complete genius and I would love to hear how his brain works. People like him operate on different planes of existence and to get a look into his head would be amazing.

• 7) Provide a valuable anecdote related to music or your days at music school.

  Before I committed to music school, I was at a different college studying theatre. This program was not centered around music, but did have a musical theatre writing class. I immediately signed up for this my first semester. It was taught by an eccentric man who's successful band had written a show on Broadway, to much acclaim, a few years prior. From the very beginning he put me and everyone in the class in unique positions to get out of our comfort zone to create weird, yet wildly rewarding art.
  
  Nobody in the class except for me and one other girl new how to play any instruments. On day one, he passed around three guitars, some drums and a keyboard and said "okay we're going to write a song." The people who had gotten guitars quickly learned how to play two chords, the drummers started banging out a rhythm, and the keyboardist improvised a small melody. As they were getting in the groove, he told the rest of us to write some lyrics. I jotted down some random thoughts before he turned to me and said "okay Sierra, sing us what you wrote." My first thought was "No way! I wrote nonsense! This is going to be soooo bad." So I got up there and stood still for a few minutes in a panic. Sensing my distress, the professor said, "Just sing what comes to your mind. Don't worry about it, just listen to the music and sing." So I did. And when I tell you that what came out of my mouth was somehow a fully formed song I am not joking! It had loud moments, quiet moments, and a remarkable flow. Our hodgepodge group of amateur musicians created something beautiful.
  
  This is a testament that anyone with the willingness to try can create beautiful music. Sometimes technique and music theory are irrelevant and what truly matters is connecting to the people around you. The experience taught me that when you release your expectations, magic can happen.

• 8) What are the little touches that make you a Superprof in music?

  I have experienced it all! Since I've been writing songs for most of my life I doubt there is any struggle or question you could throw at me that I haven't seen or felt before. I'm very invested in my student's success and can't wait to help you realize your potential.
  
  I'm always available between lessons for questions or feedback and I'll share a Google Drive folder where you can keep all your audio files and lesson notes organized in one place.
  
  I can't wait to meet you!