A word from Rhyan
"If you're here, it means you've already taken one of the most important steps in becoming a great songwriter: you've decided to invest in your craft.
Songwriting isn't mastered overnight. It isn't measured by talent alone, and it certainly isn't measured by the number of songs you write. Mastery is built one session, one lesson, one lyric, and one hour at a time.
The journey can feel overwhelming when you focus on the summit, but every accomplished songwriter started exactly where you are now—with a willingness to learn and the courage to keep showing up.
My goal is to help shorten the learning curve. Throughout our time together, I'll share the tools, principles, and real-world insights I've gained from years of writing professionally and having songs placed in television and film. Together, we'll replace guesswork with intention so you can spend more time creating—and less time wondering what comes next.
Let's get to work."
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-Rhyan Shilrley
Founder and CEO of Songsmith Coaching
A little about me.
I wrote my first song when I was seven years old.
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I can still picture myself sitting at my family's piano, convinced I was writing songs for Tony Bennett—my dad's favorite artist. Somewhere along the way, I also filled notebooks with short stories, comics, and plays that I convinced my friends to perform in our living room.
Looking back, it makes perfect sense that lyrics eventually became my favorite part of songwriting. I've always loved telling stories.
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In 2011, I packed up everything I owned and moved from a small town in Arkansas to Nashville, Tennessee, with one dream: to make a living writing songs.
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Since then, I've been incredibly fortunate to become a BMI Award-winning songwriter, writing for artists including Bethel Music, Leeland, We Are Messengers, Colton Dixon, Rachael Lampa, Jordan St. Cyr, Gateway Worship, MDSN, Gracie Binion and many others.
Along the way, I've also found a passion for writing music for television and film. Songs I've written have appeared in productions such as the new animated film David, Love Is Blind, The L Word, The Perfect Match, Teen Mom, Siesta Key, Katy Keene, Love Island, Ex on the Beach, Make You Scream, and many more.
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As an artist, my project Ri-An has accumulated more than 10 million streams on Spotify, allowing me to experience the industry from both sides of the glass—as both a songwriter and an artist.
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The reason I share any of this isn't to impress you.
It's to encourage you.
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Because I know what it feels like to dream about a career that seems impossibly far away. I know what it's like to wonder if anyone will ever hear your songs.
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The little girl pretending to write for Tony Bennett never could have imagined hearing her music on television, writing for artists she admired, or helping other songwriters pursue the same dream.
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I'm not here to promise that your journey will look like mine.
In fact, I hope it doesn't.
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I hope you build a story that's uniquely yours.
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What I can promise is that I'll share everything I've learned—the victories, the mistakes, the shortcuts, and the lessons that took years to earn—so you can move forward with confidence.
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Because every songwriter you admire started exactly where you are now.
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With one song.
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And the courage to write the next one.
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Let's see where yours takes you.