Your Story, Your Song — Step-by-Step Guide
How to fill out the questionnaire and send your story
Welcome!
This guide walks you through every step of the "Your Story, Your Song" questionnaire — from clicking Create Your Song all the way to pressing Send My Song. Don't worry about making your answers sound polished — just tell the story in your own words. Required fields are marked with *.
Click "Create Your Song"
On the Your Story, Your Song page, click the Create Your Song button. It opens the questionnaire on its own clean page — no scrolling through information first.
Enter Your Details
Your Name *
Type your first and last name, or however you'd like Dave to address you.
Your Email *
Enter the email where Dave can reach you to confirm details and send your finished song.
Who/What is the song about? *
Type the name of the person, pet, place, or moment the song is about. First name only is fine.
Your connection to this (optional)
Type your relationship — e.g. wife, husband, son, mother, best friend, childhood home, favorite pet, or favorite car.
Where Should I Mail Your Finished CD?
Dave mails the finished personalized CD anywhere in the world. Enter the full mailing address where you'd like it delivered. Shipping is free to all US addresses; international shipping is calculated at checkout.
Country *
Choose your country from the dropdown. If it isn't listed, pick "Other" and Dave will follow up.
Street Address *
Type your street number, street name, and apartment or unit number — whatever the post office needs.Example: 123 Main St, Apt 4
City *
Type the city or town your address is in.
State / Province / Region (optional)
Type your state, province, or region. (Labeled "State" for US, "Province" for Canada.)
ZIP / Postal Code *
Type your ZIP code (US) or postal code (international).
Tell Me Enough to Write From
All three boxes below are required. Each one needs at least 100 characters (about two sentences). A character counter below each box turns green when you've written enough. The more detail you share, the more personal the finished song becomes.
Three memories you'll never forget *
Write down moments as they come — a place, a day, a habit, a funny story, something they always did, a conversation you keep coming back to. Include a few sentences for the best results.Minimum: 100 characters
What made this person special? *
A few words about their character — kind, stubborn, hilarious, brave, gentle, a natural leader, the heart of the family. Include a few sentences for the best results.Minimum: 100 characters
What did they love? *
People, places, hobbies, foods, songs, teams — the everyday things that made them light up. Include a few sentences for the best results.Minimum: 100 characters
Add Extra Details (Optional)
A phrase they often used (optional)
A saying, a nickname, how they answered the phone, the advice they always gave — anything that sounds like them.
What should the song make the listener feel? (optional)
Type the feeling you want — joyful, comforting, uplifting, romantic, peaceful, or deeply emotional.
Anything you definitely want mentioned — or don't want mentioned? (optional)
For example: "Please mention their three grandchildren" or "Please don't include anything about his illness."
Choose Music & Voice (Optional)
Preferred musical style (optional)
Pick from the dropdown — Country, Pop, Rock, Gospel, Folk & Americana, Classical, Jazz, and many more. Choose "Other / Not Sure Yet" and Dave will suggest something from your story. If you're not sure what a particular style sounds like, you can play a short 25-second clip of the style you've selected to hear a musical example. Please keep in mind this is an example only — your finished song will be written and produced for your story, so it won't sound exactly like this clip.
Choose a Voice (optional)
Pick from the dropdown — Male, Female, Both, Child Male, Child Female, a mixture of adults and children, or "Surprise Me."
How should their name be pronounced? (optional)
If the name could be said more than one way, type a quick hint. Example: "MARE-ee" or "KAI-ah."
Suggested CD / song title (optional)
Type a title if you have one in mind, or leave it blank — Dave will suggest a few after reading your story.
Upload Photos (Optional)
Photo for the personalized CD (optional)
Click the CHOOSE PHOTO button and select a clear, meaningful photo — a favorite portrait, a candid moment, or one of them doing what they loved. To replace it, just click CHOOSE PHOTO again and pick a new one. To remove it completely, click DELETE PHOTO.
Add a second photo (optional)
Want two images on the CD? Click the second CHOOSE PHOTO button and add another photo — for example, a second person or two favorite moments. To remove it, click DELETE PHOTO. Leave it blank if you'd rather use just one photo.
Add a Personal Message (Optional)
Personal Message From You (optional)
Type a short note (about 25–40 words) that will be printed on the CD insert. It turns your CD into a personal gift they can hold and reread for years. Maximum 300 characters.Example: "Mom, thank you for a lifetime of love, encouragement, and wonderful memories. This song was created especially for you. We love you more than words can say."
Choose Companion Songs (Optional)
Your personalized song comes first on the CD — but a CD can hold up to 70 minutes of music. Click the "Choose from more than 200 songs" bar to open the song catalog. Search for songs, click to add them, and the total time is tracked at the bottom. You can add up to 70 minutes of companion songs. This step is entirely optional — you can also choose songs later once your song is finished.
Send My Song
Once all required fields are filled (name, email, mailing address, who the song is about, and the three story boxes with at least 100 characters each), the Send My Song button becomes active. Click it to submit your story to Dave.
You'll see a confirmation message and a Continue to Payment — $79 button to complete your order through Stripe's secure checkout.
Save & Come Back Later
Not ready to finish? Your answers are saved automatically on this device as you type. To continue later on any device, click Save & come back later.
You'll need your email address entered first. Dave will email you a private link — open it anytime, on any device, and your story picks up right where you left off.
Continue to Payment — $79
After you send your story, a confirmation email is sent to your email address. Click the Continue to Payment — $79 button to go to Stripe's secure checkout and enter your card. Your mailing address is already collected from the form, so there's nothing else to fill in. Once payment is received, Dave schedules your song for production and begins creating it. When your song and CD are complete, he mails your finished CD to the address you provided.
$79 — free shipping to all US addresses. International shipping is calculated at checkout.
Skybrook Studios
Songs That Inspire. Stories That Last.
Questions? Email dave@skybrookstudiosmusic.com