About Our Retreat

Uke Can Write a Song! is a three-day workshop built for anyone who has ever wanted to express themselves in song. Do you have a stack of half-finished lyrics written in a notebook, but never was able to put them together in a completed song? Are you looking for new ideas and approaches both lyrically and musically? Do you feel somewhat intimidated by all of this?

Our retreat is just the experience for you! No music theory background required. No "good voice" required. Just an open mind and a willingness to make something new. We'll provide you with the tools in your "songwriting toolbox" to allow you to create a unique and personal musical creation.

What you'll do:
• Learn the chords and techniques to help you in your writing, in a non-overwhelming way.

• Break down what actually makes a song work: melody, lyrics, structure, and that elusive "hook"

• Write your first verse and chorus in small groups, with plenty of guidance and zero judgment

• Get hands-on feedback from Dani & Ben

• Finish the retreat with an original song you wrote yourself and an opportunity to perform it at our Monday afternoon concert.

Who it's for: Everyone! Total beginners and more experienced songwriters and uke players will get dedicated time to dig deeper into craft, try new techniques, and get coaching and feedback on works in progress.

The vibe: Relaxed, encouraging, and sometimes a little silly. Bad first drafts are celebrated. Nobody performs anything they don't want to. Work on your own or collaborate with another attendee. By Monday afternoon, you'll walk out with a finished song (or at least a good start on one), a few new chords in your fingers, and probably a new favorite ukulele-playing songwriting friend or two

Bring: A ukulele (loaners available), a notebook, and an open mind.

Basic schedule:  Dani and Ben will be putting together a more detailed schedule after Dani wraps up the Reno Uke Fest, but here's a very basic outline of the long weekend's activities:

Friday, February 12 • 5:00 - ???
Check in at the Old Town Cultural Center, introduction to the weekend from Dani & Ben, song assignments, and workshops

Saturday, February 13 • All Day
Workshops, group strum and open mic with Lansing Area Ukulele Group, workshops, Elderly Instruments visit, free time to work on writing, & more

Sunday, February 14 • All Day
Workshops, writing time & individual coaching, open mic, & more

Monday, February 15 (President's Day) • Morning to early afternoon
Writing time & individual coaching, performance of songs

Again, this will be much more fleshed out in the next few weeks, but this will give you an idea of what the weekend will look like.

Your Coaches
Danielle Herreid, aka Dani Joy, is a performing ukulele artist, songwriter, instructor, and co-producer of several festivals, including Reno Ukefest, UkeWest Online Ukefest, Puerto Vallarta Ukulele Escape, Women’s Bass Camp, and Central Coast Ukefest.

Several of her original songs, co-written with Grammy Award-winning artist Daniel Ho, are featured on the album Drop in My Flower. Dani often draws songwriting inspiration from her travels and enjoys experimenting with unconventional approaches to writing music. She’s rolled musical dice to let chance shape a melody, built chord progressions entirely by ear, and used music theory to explore the haunting sounds of minor keys. Her approach to songwriting combines intuition, experimentation, and a willingness to follow an idea wherever it leads. Website

Ben Hassenger is known as “The Ukulele Ambassador of Michigan” and hosts a variety of ukulele festivals and events including Mighty Uke Day, Midwest Uke & Harmonica Camp, and the Ashokan Ukulele Weekend. He is also a prolific songwriter, with two original songs about the Detroit Tigers in the Baseball Hall of Fame and has just finished up an inspiring year-long songwriting challenge;
writing over 52 songs in the past year. Website

The majority of our sessions will be held at the Old Town Cultural Center at 408 E. César E. Chávez, a new space for the arts in historic Old Town Lansing and run Ben Hassenger and the Music is the Foundation non-profit; opening in the summer of 2026 when Ben's partner Rhea retired and closed the beloved Old Town General Store. Programming is constantly evolving and expanding, hosting concerts, group lessons, retreats, folk art demonstrations, and more. More information and schedule for the OTCC here. 

Lodging at the Cosy Koi B&B

For our out-of-town guests, we have arranged to use an entire home close to Old Town Lansing, hosted by our friend and Lansing ambassador, Diane Sanborn.

The historic Cozy Koi Bed & Breakfast houses were originally built in 1906 and, over the years, was owned by multiple important Lansing figures. Diane purchased the original home in 1988 and the house next door (where we will be staying) shortly thereafter. After renovations, the Cozy Koi Bed & Breakfast was officially opened on September 25, 2007. Since then, it has given guests from all over the world a home-away-from-home during their stay in Lansing, Michigan.

The home we'll be using is located at 720 North Seymour Avenue, Lansing, MI 48906, less than a mile from the Old Town Cultural Center where most of the activities will take place.

The home consists of five bedrooms of varying sizes (King, two Queens, one full, and one twin) all with private bathrooms. The rooms are outfitted with antique furnishings; each is a unique and special place to sleep. There are two kitchens available for our use (meals are not provided). The large dining room and adjacent community room which are great for hanging out with and getting to know each other as well as a comfortable space to work on your songs. 

Optional Activities, Restaurants, etc.

Elderly Instruments is known as one of the premier stringed instrument stores in the country with a large selection of ukuleles and accessories. Just blocks away from the Old Town Cultural Center. you'll want to stop in while you're in town.

Tim Grimm in Concert Thursday, February 11 at The Robin Theatre. You will find no finer songwriter than Tim Grimm and if you are coming in early, you can listen to him at this intimate performance space.

Lansing Area Ukulele Group (LAUGH) Strum and Sing, Saturday February 13 at Sir Pizza Old Town Pub. This is the largest ukulele group in Michigan, who get together the second Saturday of each month to strum and sing together with time set aside for an open mic. 

Please let us know a little bit about you:
• What experience do you have in songwriting?
• Do you consider yourself a beginner, confident beginner, or intermediate ukulele player?
• What would like to learn and take home with you from this retreat?