The Songs to Write Project » songs to write

Songwriting Software

Jayne — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 14:15:11 +0000

I’m both a computer geek and a musician, I’m on the lookout for songwriting software that can assist me. Now that I have lyrics for a first song my next hurdle is learning how to writing music. I’ll be exploring a couple of songwriting software programs in the next few days.

I’ve had a little music theory but not enough to make this an easy task. One suggestion was to find someone else to write the music, but I really want to try this myself. I am slowly learning piano, but I was looking for something that would speed up my understanding of chord progressions and therefore music writing.

I found a very excellent tool for songwriters of all levels. It’s a simple bit of software called Chord Maps. Check it out at http://www.chordmaps.com! I’m already getting great ideas! The site also has a series of theory lessons for songwriters.

The next program to explore is Microsoft Songsmith. I just downloaded a trial version at: http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/redmond/projects/songsmith/index.html You get six hours of play with the free trial. The purchase price for each of these programs is under $30.

Enjoy!

Technorati Tags: how to write a song, how to write music, how to write songs, songs to write, songwriting, songwriting software

Getting My Songwriting Tools Together – Day 2

My First Song!

Jayne — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 01:33:16 +0000

Songwriting is apparently not a linear process. In my last post I talked about starting by creating a list of possible titles and ideas. I did that but didn’t come up with anything inspiring. I got stuck again!

I Asked for Help!

I realized that I just needed a little help to get me started. The target date for writing my first song was fast approaching. (Tomorrow to be exact!) I decided to reach out and ask for help from someone I had not met before but was known to me as a professional songwriter who started later in life, just I am.

Last week I called Rosemarie Ashley of ‘Tude Vox on http://www.SassyAlternativeMusic.com. After reading about her journey on her website I realized that she transformed her self from a non-songwriting singer to a singer-songwriter and she is now writing professionally. I related to her desire to create meaningful and inspirational music because that is what I am working for too.

Rosemarie very graciously spent time with me on the phone and gave me tips on how to get started. I am happy to report that I now have the first draft for lyrics of my first song.

Here are some of the tips from Rosemarie:

There are a number of different ways to start a song.
Pick a subject or idea to explore and write a poem. Ask someone to write the music for it.
Take a piece of music that has the feeling that you want to write about and write vocals for it.
Listen to the music that you will be writing vocals for over and over. Start improvising melody. Get a feel for what the song is telling you, how it makes you feel.
Meditate on the piece
Listen and then set an intention, ask for guidance and listen for the answers.

The subject I picked is a pretty personal one – about a relationship that is bothering me. Here are my first attempts at the lyrics:

My First Song!

A Common Thread

Sailing in the universe
Waiting to be led
You joined me in this world
Pulled by a common thread

We sailed along together
Until it was time to fly
You pushed away, but not so far
Leaving me wonder why

Pulling me to sooth your fear
Yet yearning to be free
You push away from seeing clear
Your own life aside from me

Letting go is painful
Full of anxiety and dread
You’ve joined me in this world
Still joined by a common thread

It’s not complete, but it’s begun finally! Next step is music! My thanks to Rosemarie Ashley for being the catalyst to get me started!

Technorati Tags: how to write a song, songs to write, songwriter, songwriting

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Do You Start Writing a Song with a Title? – Day 5

Jayne — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:55:32 +0000

Part of my daily practice (See Day 3 on Daily Practice Leading to Songs to Write) in addition to practicing piano skills is to work through a section of the Amy Appleby book, You Can Write a Song. I love doing this because it feels to me that I have a songwriting mentor. It probably doesn’t matter what book I use as long as I do it consistently a little bit every day.

Today’s topic is Song Titles. Many songwriters start with a title they believe in and build from there. Others will create the song title after the song is written or in progress. Song titles should give an idea of the subject of the song. Some are more obvious and others are more indirect and allow the listener to discover the true meaning. A catchy or memorable song title is good to strive for in writing pop music.

Song titles fall into a few general formats that can even move the song forward. Here are a few format ideas to think about:

Label. Captures the essence of the song in a word or phrase.
Statement. Sums up the theme and idea of the song. Keep it short.
Question. Asking a question catches the listener’s attention and gets them involved.

There are numerous professional techniques to make a title interesting and catchy that come from using the figures of speech that creative writers use. Rather than study them right now, in the interest in starting to write lots of songs, I’m starting a list of titles on as many themes a possible. I’ll post some of these in the next day or two.

How about you? Please comment below on your technique for getting started on songs to write.

Technorati Tags: how to write a song, how to write songs, songs to write, songwriting

Daily Practices Lead to Songs – Day 3

Jayne — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 23:38:02 +0000

Yesterday I talked about the tools I’ve been collecting and using to begin this year long songwriting project. I don’t expect to sit down immediately and start churning out songs, especially since this is new to me. I have friends who tell me of spontaneously having songs come to them in dreams, both sleeping and day time dreams, but they where active in the practice of music on a daily basis. I believe the practice must come first to prime the pump of creativity.

Here’s how I’m priming the pump…

Do Your Dailies

One thing that I find gets in the way of any creative expression is the day-to-day distractions. I’m sure you know what I mean. Life gets in the way of other plans. Unless I specifically set aside time to clear the junk out of my head, the really creative thoughts get lost in the rush. So there are two things I do every day now to help prime my creative brain.

Centering (or meditation practice) that involves relaxation and clearing my mind and emotions. I do at least 15 minutes a day, preferably in the morning.
Writing is the second daily activity that I have practiced on and off for years. I write at least three pages long hand in the morning. Nothing special, just what’s on my mind. It’s amazing how ideas just flow through my pen some times. I first picked up this practice reading The Artist Way, by Julia Cameron.

I have other things I do each day like read special affirmations and goals. Now it’s time to add daily practices related to my big goal of becoming a songwriter. I have been spending 15 minutes per day at the piano and piano exercises. And I am spending 15 minutes per day completing a songwriting exercise. The amount of time I set aside for each activity is a minimum. 15 minutes is doable. I can always spend more time if I have it. I often do.

The third new activity is to write this blog about my experiences with the Songs to Write Project. I believe that if I can become a songwriter, anyone can. The blog helps to keep me accountable.

Oh, and I believe in measuring progress so I created a checklist just to keep myself on track. I’ve found them very helpful. Send me a message if you would like a copy of it.

How about you? How do you keep yourself on track with your goal to learn how to write songs?

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Getting My Songwriting Tools Together – Day 2

Jayne — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 21:48:11 +0000

Welcome to Day 2 of the Songs to Write Project. Yesterday I set out on this big journey (for me) to fulfill a life-long dream. I’ve been setting up my tool kit and my processes to ensure my success.

My intention is to learn to play piano well enough use it to compose at first. To create melodies I know I will need to learn a bit more about harmony and chords than I do now. Songs need to have melodies that follow certain conventions, of course, in order to be appealing and pleasing to the ear. I’ve learned that creative genius comes from being prepared with the fundamentals first. Learning chord structures and chord progressions is a great place to start.

To me, song lyrics should be singable, interesting and ideally have meaning. I like lyrics that have some surprises. What to write about seems to be a common dilemma with new songwriters. One suggestion I’ve heard is look at your every day experience for inspiration. Write about what you know and what moves you in your daily life.

References

I’ve done a lot of research to find songwriting and piano instruction books to help me along. For now I’ve chosen two simple books by the same author that are very easy to follow. The author is Amy Appleby and the books are You Can Play Piano and You Can Write a Song.

I have a small electronic keyboard that I’ve had for years. It’s a Yamaha PSR-270 with a midi hook up for my computer. The midi is useful for learning as well as for recording.

I discovered a shareware computer game called PianoHead that is very helpful for learning notes, scales and intervals on the piano. When I hook my keyboard to my laptop I can improve my skill easily and in a fun way. I read music but I’ve played solo instruments all my life and only learned the Treble clef. Harmony and chords are a whole new world. PianoHead is helping me learn to hear notes, intervals and to read the Bass clef.

Becoming a songwriter in fun, but it’s also serious business as an adult. It requires learning and changes in habits. As with any major goal I’ve achieved in my life, I will need to find a process that includes daily activities. One doesn’t learn to play piano or become an accomplished songwriter over night. We can accomplish amazing things just chipping away at it even 15 minutes a day. Tomorrow I’ll share more about the daily practices, routines and disciplines that I’ll be putting in place.

How about you? What practices and disciplines do you use to accomplish your goals? What daily activities are important for your songwriting. I’d love to know so please comment below.

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The Songs to Write Project – Day 1

Jayne — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 00:35:22 +0000

Today is the official Day 1 of what I’m calling “The Songs to Write Project.” My dream and ambition when I was a teen was to write songs and sing. That was a very long time ago. (And I’m not going to say just HOW long!)

Over the years I’ve started and stopped the process of songwriting before I even got one song committed to paper or recorded. Was it lack of courage or lack of the right support and resources? Possibly both. I was recently cleaning out clothets (an excellent thing to do to spark change in one’s life, by the way) and I found a notebook with lyric ideas and fragments I started over 10 years ago! Then last year I started this blog only to let it sit idle.

I’ve never lost my passion and desire to make music, though. I just haven’t put all the pieces together to make it happen – yet. 2010 is the year. I promise.

I am making a promise to myself to put together the pieces and produce. Produce songs, bad songs and good songs, it doesn’t really matter. As Julie Cameron says in her book, The Artist Way, “Take care of the quantity and the Universe will take care of the quality.”

I also promise you, the reader (whoever you are and for whatever reason you are reading this blog – whether it’s because you have your own buried desire to write songs or you just want to see me possibly make a spectacle of myself), I promise to write about what it’s like to go from a complete beginner as a songwriter to creating a body of work, recording and actually performing that work. I promise to write every day to share my resources, the pieces I’ve found to help me. I’ll share the challenges I’m facing, too.

How about you? Have you had a desire to start writing songs? What’s stopping you? Please comment below. I’d love to hear from you.

Tomorrow I’ll share the process I’m using and the resources I’m using.

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Everyone Has Songs to Write and a Story to Tell

Jayne — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 02:41:34 +0000

Have you ever wonder if you have songs to write inside of you? If you’re like me you’ve experienced hearing a song playing on the radio that you relate to so much that it seems like it’s about your life and how you were feeling right then. It’s like someone put a sound track to your life.ï¿½ My favorite example of that was the songs from Joni Mitchell’s Blue album. (from my codependent, “he done me wrong” period). I could put on Joni and feel some how comforted and understood. On the other hand, no one else’s songs quite express exactly what I experience and what I have to say.

I have believed for a long time that had songs to write inside of me without knowing how to go about it. Many attempts at writing, books read on theory and I have yet to finish my first song. Yet, I remain completely fascinated by songwriting and how songwriters write songs.

This blog is dedicated to bringing out the inner songwriter and story teller in everyone one who suspects they have songs to write. For everyone who has wanted to write songs or tried and gave up, we will explore everything about songwriting from where successful songwriters get their ideas for songs to write, how to write lyrics, melodies to how to get recorded or published.

Take Vermont native, Pat Kelley, Owner Operator of Kelly Automotive Sales and Services for instance. He really dabbled in songwriting for decades while running his business in Vermont. It was a chance meeting with Nashville songwriting giant, Bucky Jones (Eight #1 hits and 25 Top 10 hits since 1975) that gave him the catalyst to really encourage him write songs in a big way.

Kelley was interviewed by Robert Smith in his weekly blog about Vermont and New Hampshire. He tells his story of meeting Bucky Jones and how he came to be a featured songwriter on the Nashville’s America’s New Artists Tour. Pat says he gave a tape of his songs to Bucky Jones to listen with the understanding that he would get honest feedback and coaching.

Jones liked the songs enough to encourage him to keep writing and even proposed songs to write together. To date they have written 20 songs together and Kelley will have two that he has written on his own that will been recorded on the new Mike Kidd album. “That’s a remarkable feat for any songwriter – especially a new one.” Read the article about Pat Kelley and his music.

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The Songs to Write Project – Day 1