Charlotte Hatherley

Remove the Blank Page

Most creative people don't struggle because they lack ideas. They struggle because they don't know how to begin. In this session I'll introduce the creative systems I've developed through years of touring, writing, teaching and research. We'll explore why beginning with a blank page rarely works, and how concepts, constraints, artist research and experimentation can remove the fear of starting altogether. We'll cover: Concept-led creativity Creative constraints Artist research Practice research Building momentum Recording ideas without judgement The "Twenty Seconds" principle This lesson is for musicians returning after a long break, songwriters stuck at the beginning and producers with too many unfinished ideas. Anyone who feels paralysed by the blank page will get something out of this!

Hybrid Performance & Sonic Mutation

Based on my MA research and published paper, this workshop explores how technology has transformed my relationship with the guitar. Rather than thinking about virtuosity in traditional terms, we'll explore how Push 3, Ableton Live, Max for Live and effects processing can become creative partners. We'll cover: Guitar as a sound source Push 3 performance workflows Hybrid analogue/digital performance Max for Live devices Signal chains Sonic mutation This lesson is for guitarists, Ableton and Push 3 enthusiasts and producers wanting a more performative workflow

Building Creative Systems

What this lesson covers How do you stop making the same music over and over? This workshop explores the psychological side of creativity - using new tools, playful constraints and deliberate disruption to keep curiosity alive. We'll explore: Creative habits Productive detours Ableton Extensions and Max for Live Oblique Strategies Happy accidents Creative momentum This lesson is for musicians who feel stuck and anyone wanting to rediscover play

Turning Everyday Life into Creative Work

One of the biggest changes in my own practice came when I stopped trying to escape life through creativity and started making creativity from life itself. In this lesson we'll explore: We'll explore: Field recording Family archives Memory Place Found sound Personal narrative Building a unique sonic palette This lesson is for songwriters, film composers, ambient artists and producers looking for a distinctive sound

Making Music When Life Gets Busy

Many musicians don't stop creating because they lose talent. They stop because life changes. This workshop explores how to build a creative practice that fits around work, family, freelancing and everything else life throws at us. Topics include: Invisible work Time poverty Twenty-minute sessions Perfectionism Creative confidence Returning after a break Building momentum This lesson is for.....almost everybody! Especially parents, professionals, freelancers, carers and anyone rebuilding an creative life

Writing to Brief Without Losing Yourself

Production music, sync and commissions often come with very specific briefs. Rather than seeing those constraints as limiting, we'll explore how they can actually encourage originality. We'll cover: Understanding briefs Developing concepts Research Finding your own voice Workflow Finishing work Client communication This lesson is for library composers, film composers, freelancers and professional producers

Experimental Guitar Processing

For many guitarists, years of practice can become a double-edged sword. We develop habits, favourite sounds and familiar ways of playing that eventually become difficult to escape. In this workshop I'll demonstrate how I've moved away from thinking about the guitar as an instrument that simply plays notes, towards thinking of it as a source of texture, atmosphere and sonic possibility. Using Ableton Live, Push 3, Max for Live devices, guitar pedals and hybrid performance techniques, we'll explore how processing can become part of the compositional process rather than something added afterwards in the mix. Rather than aiming for technical perfection, we'll use creative constraints, improvisation and experimental processing to uncover unexpected sounds and new musical ideas. We'll cover: Designing creative guitar signal chains Building hybrid analogue/digital workflows Max for Live devices Ableton Extensions and audio effects for creative experimentation Push 3 as a live performance and processing instrument Improvisation as a compositional tool Creating evolving textures, drones and cinematic soundscapes Capturing and developing happy accidents This lesson is for guitarists looking to break out of familiar playing habits, Ableton Live and Push users wanting to integrate guitar into their workflow, producers interested in experimental sound design, film/TV and production music composers, electronic and experimental musicians and anyone curious about developing a more personal sonic identity.