Take songwriting lessons with me!

I am a skilled and experienced songwriter, arranger, and orchestrator working in many genres. I teach songwriting skills to pupils of all ages. I can help you whether you are just starting your songwriting journey, or are looking to level up your skill set!

Check out my singer-songwriter page for many many examples of my work. Lyric sheets coming soon!

I teach primarily over Zoom, and home visits are also available. Email me to set up a free consultation!

Skills taught:

  • Beginning songwriting: musical theater, rock, pop, country, folk, and/or alternative

  • Leveling up: how to hone or finish the songs you’ve started

  • Composing in Garageband

  • Composing in Logic

  • Intro to Finale (Dorico coming soon!)

  • Arranging & Orchestrating: turn your song into a score

  • Basic production: create a fleshed-out demo of your song

Students must:

  • Play an instrument that allows for simultaneous singing (basically anything but winds)

    OR

  • Read and write notated music or chord symbols

    OR

  • Have already written some songs their own way

Also available:

  • Lyric-writing lessons (students interested in becoming lyricists, or in strengthening lyric writing skills)

  • Composition lessons (students interested in setting others’ lyrics to music; must be able to read music)

Pearl’s Training:

ADVANCED STUDENT of Composer-Lyricist William Finn

STUDENT OF Daniel Zaitchik

Professional musician on piano, accordion, guitar, bass, violin, viola and mandolin

Professional actor-musician on Broadway and prestigious regional theaters across the country

Songwriter for 15+ years

CV:

THE WINTER’S TALE at Hartford Stage, directed by Melia Bensussen, May 2023

Wrote additional music & arrangements, played Violin, Strohviol & Guitar onstage as part of role, some musical improvising onstage.


AGING GRACELESSLY: PEARL RHEIN TURNS 39, a concert of original music at Green Room 42

Composer/lyricist, arranger/orchestrator/copyist. Played piano, synth, viola, electric guitar, vocals.

HATCHETATION, a new musical by Amy Jo Jackson:

Workshop directed by Arpita Mukherjee at Eugene O’Neill Theatre National Playwrights Conference, 2021

Concert presentation at Rockwood Music Hall directed by Arpita Mukherjee, 2023

Arranger, orchestrator, add’l vocal arranger. In performance: played acoustic & electric violin, melodica.


BOOKS AND INSTRUMENTS: MUSIC BY PEARL RHEIN, a concert of original music at 54 Below

Composer/lyricist, arranger/orchestrator/copyist. Played piano, violin, accordion, guitar, vocals.


WOMEN IN THE HISTORY OF S.T.E.M., an educational song cycle commissioned by The Newman School in New Orleans, LA

Composer/lyricist/writer. Played piano, accordion, guitar, banjo, vocals.

GREAT COMET AT 54 BELOW, a concert - 1 original song, 1 arrangement

Composer/lyricist, arranger. Played violin, bodhrán, vocals.


THE PERSEPHONE PROJECT, workshop of a new TYA musical (produced by Ma-Yi Theatre Co)

Composer/lyricist. Played guitar, accordion, lap dulcimer, vocals.


THE RED LETTERBOX, part of Brooklyn College grad festival (directed by Sarah Rasmussen at Classic Stage Company)

Composer/lyricist. Played ukulele, vocals.


ANYUTA, a 1-act musical (reading at UCSD)

Composer/lyricist. Played piano.


Frequent contributor to concerts presented by Maestra, Ring of Keys, Necromancers of the Public Domain, & Bushwick Book Club