Hello....
A&R companies, Record labels, Manager or not, Publisher or self publishing, Looking for artists i could write for, Finding out who they are signed to, Library Music, Diversifying as a writer/artist, Writing commercial music for radio, The differences between writing in Nashville and say the UK, How you can have International Success in different markets - Japanese, American, European, UK, X-factor/American idol - The kind of shows that are producing artists who need us songwriters, Pop, Country, Singer/Songwriter, Folk, What makes Commercial music so, um, commercial?!
Songwriter vs Artist.
Just a few things rolling around my head this week then.
The industrial context seminar this week consisted of us discussing the module so far - what we may include in our essay and evaluating what options could work for us based on academic evidence, and evidence from other songwriters. I kind of waver between excitement, determination and having an idea of the things I would like to achieve - and then wavering to the darker side where I feel miles out of my depth and straggling along somewhere behind. But I am here and doing this. And it feels right. So somewhere I need to kick myself up the a** and make the most of this opportunity!!!
Today - I'm writing this blog in a room of delightful musical chaos with guitars and excited chatter floating about... musical patterns emerge and develop and fade into something else. We move rooms and a grand piano dictates the way I type and the mood of the group seems to grow soft and chords will pull on my heart strings to make me feel a bit sad and then an opera voice will fall in rather dramatically and we all laugh. The groove kicks in and I bounce my shoulders as I write, dah da dah da dah!!! What it is about music that adds a dimension to your mood that just wouldn't exist otherwise? How much thinner would life seem? Ha and as I edge towards being philosophical, a conversation about pasties begins. Mmmmm pasties....
So yeah. Another week passes and more questions arise. I feel so full of questions sometimes, I question whether I actual know any answers at all??! So heres a few more floating about in this pea head...
Could I ever be a credible artist? Or maybe even just an artist?! Do I have the ability to write songs for a living? What route should I take? Why do I need music prominently in my life? How does a single chord resonate with a certain feeling? How does rhythm feel like its really inside me? Is music and day to day life so intergrated that they both consist of sounds, beats, noises, patterns, structures, familiarility, exciting moments, pauses, phrases, waiting, emotions, journeys, frustrations? And sometimes made up of not much? Can it be possible to think too much? Do I not think enough? Why do people hold themselves back? Why are things sometimes so hard and daunting? And do the greatest rewards come from the most difficult accomplishments?
I could actually go on for ages but ha I won't, sorry for the moment of self indulgence...
I think I'll finish off with a couple of quotes, well 3 actually cos I like the last one in particular :-) Wish I could imprint these things in my brain so they stuck.
"Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value." - Albert Einstein
"Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors." - African proverb
"I've seen many troubles in my time, only half of which ever came true." - Mark Twain
Thank you for your appreciated attention
With mighty love from the
gabbling, gallivanting, googling, gazing, ghastly, gift-wrapped geek
Thursday, 19 November 2009
Songwriting - Week 6
Hi all :-)
Weeeek 6. Owwwww already. This is course is gonna go way too quick, I just know it!!! Amazing week this week thou, we had Kim Richey with us, whom was the guest speaker and also in the solo songwriting module.
It was fascinating to hear everyones thought's on her, it seemed everyone was really blown away by her, everyone felt they had an invaluable critique of their song this week, and one the great things everyone seemed to say was, well, just how nice she is!! We listened her to speak about her collaborations as a songwriter, and her experiences as an artist. About the pro's and con's of having a manager, the importance of having a booking agent and playing live. we also asked about her experiences when co-writing, along with Paul and Andy , and they discussed splits and general ettiquette!!
I wrote a new song called 20:49 train home this week - got some potential i guess - and i got drums and an elec piano in there too!!! woo!!! can't wait till the rewriting and the collaborative modules next term - i feel these are so important for me.
This is a very short blog - Sorry. just not so much to say this week. Perhaps next week shall be fuller.
Love Love Love
from the
Fanatic, freezing, following, far-fetched, fearful, fictional, flavoured forearm.
Weeeek 6. Owwwww already. This is course is gonna go way too quick, I just know it!!! Amazing week this week thou, we had Kim Richey with us, whom was the guest speaker and also in the solo songwriting module.
It was fascinating to hear everyones thought's on her, it seemed everyone was really blown away by her, everyone felt they had an invaluable critique of their song this week, and one the great things everyone seemed to say was, well, just how nice she is!! We listened her to speak about her collaborations as a songwriter, and her experiences as an artist. About the pro's and con's of having a manager, the importance of having a booking agent and playing live. we also asked about her experiences when co-writing, along with Paul and Andy , and they discussed splits and general ettiquette!!
I wrote a new song called 20:49 train home this week - got some potential i guess - and i got drums and an elec piano in there too!!! woo!!! can't wait till the rewriting and the collaborative modules next term - i feel these are so important for me.
This is a very short blog - Sorry. just not so much to say this week. Perhaps next week shall be fuller.
Love Love Love
from the
Fanatic, freezing, following, far-fetched, fearful, fictional, flavoured forearm.
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
Songwriting - Week 5
Week 5. This came round quick!!
(And meaty apologies for the late arrival of this blog)
So starting from the top...
Monday Monday, no longer is it a dreary, weary effort to haul myself from my bed and face a week at work in the same chair, saying the same things on the phone, wearing the slight vacant expression on my face. Monday is Funday! Woo har!
Although to be fair, this Monday wasn't actually the typical bouncing girl going into uni - was a bit of a weird day - woke up a bit sad with no apparent reason really. And this in itself was confusing.. but what would normally seep into a grim week was over by 10 mins into the seminar (About 10:10.) So this was nice !!
Because how could Motown not cheer any one up??! Marvin Gaye to Diana Ross, beautiful soulful melodies, and being able to lose yourself in music that I only then realised had been such an inspiration to me. I found I was improving my listening. Cos we figured there's listening, then there's listening... I love both. Ooh I hope this course doesn't ever stop me from the 1st kind of listening - the kind without too much analysis, concentration or agenda. But then I'm really enjoying being able to listen - because there is just so much to listen for - and I guess its the kind of thing where the more you put in, the more you get out. (I may just apply this to every aspect of my life from NOW!)
So anyway, apart from the listening and the listening.. (could I say this word any more?!) we looked at a lot of songs written by Dozier and Holland - and the style of writing and the structure's seem to have some general themes running through - e.g. pre - chorus? what pre-chorus?! Or maybe just a line or two at the most? Fantastic momentum, rhythm and sometimes such simple honest lyrics. Varying structures from A-B-A-B-A-B to A-A-A-A-A ( Where did our love go - Holland, Dozier, Holland) and before I knew it, lunchtime arrived and I was in a much better frame of mind.
Tuesday (My busiest and by far my favourite day) Solo songwriting - where for the 1st time - I felt comfortable with my song - I didn't have the irritating desire to make endless apologies and excuses about the song. On The Edge was played to eager talented ears and helpful nice constructive things were said.
Tuesday tottered along with 3 an a half hours spent learning recording techniques, drum programming and general 'logic' madness. And another guest lecturer gracing us with his presence was publisher Andy Grahame whom, with a wealth of A&R, Publishing and Management experience answered question after question. These Industrial Context lessons have multiple effects on me... On one side, its reassuring, inspiring and makes things that little bit clearer about the music industry. On the other side, some harsh realisations rain down, and it seems that its a cut throat place to be. Rejections, struggles and instability seem to be inevitable. Perhaps necessary? Songwriting at a high, commercial, successful level, it appears may well be something so so few songwriters wil be able to achieve. But I kind of feel that's okay. After all, isn't it sometimes the hardest things in life, the things that are most worth having? (Something like that anyway...!)
Wednesday was jam day. And no not the raspberry variety. Grand Piano, a fantastic big space with many a guitar and oodles of talent floating in and out of the lovely chapel arts centre. And even a bit of opera and a spot of ballroom dancing, (and no not the serious variety!)
Thursday was the 1st open mic I have done in maybe a year or so... and it was good!! and surprising not as scary as previous ones I had done. The eccentric host even participated with a spot of harmonica - lovely stuff!!!
So to wrap up then...
With every week that passes - I try to remember and take in everything I can, because I have a feeling taking this MA could be the best decision I've ever made
And P.s Is it just me that has to mutter 'Never Eat Cake Eat Sausage Sandwiches And Remain Young' when spelling 'necessary'??! ( I even had to mutter it again then!)
Thank you for your time - these blogs, (as random, odd and occasionally zzzzz as they are) are quite important for me to do. I think. So thank you for reading!
Love from the
edible, eligible, evenly empathising, eggcup with a touch of eiderdown xxx
(And meaty apologies for the late arrival of this blog)
So starting from the top...
Monday Monday, no longer is it a dreary, weary effort to haul myself from my bed and face a week at work in the same chair, saying the same things on the phone, wearing the slight vacant expression on my face. Monday is Funday! Woo har!
Although to be fair, this Monday wasn't actually the typical bouncing girl going into uni - was a bit of a weird day - woke up a bit sad with no apparent reason really. And this in itself was confusing.. but what would normally seep into a grim week was over by 10 mins into the seminar (About 10:10.) So this was nice !!
Because how could Motown not cheer any one up??! Marvin Gaye to Diana Ross, beautiful soulful melodies, and being able to lose yourself in music that I only then realised had been such an inspiration to me. I found I was improving my listening. Cos we figured there's listening, then there's listening... I love both. Ooh I hope this course doesn't ever stop me from the 1st kind of listening - the kind without too much analysis, concentration or agenda. But then I'm really enjoying being able to listen - because there is just so much to listen for - and I guess its the kind of thing where the more you put in, the more you get out. (I may just apply this to every aspect of my life from NOW!)
So anyway, apart from the listening and the listening.. (could I say this word any more?!) we looked at a lot of songs written by Dozier and Holland - and the style of writing and the structure's seem to have some general themes running through - e.g. pre - chorus? what pre-chorus?! Or maybe just a line or two at the most? Fantastic momentum, rhythm and sometimes such simple honest lyrics. Varying structures from A-B-A-B-A-B to A-A-A-A-A ( Where did our love go - Holland, Dozier, Holland) and before I knew it, lunchtime arrived and I was in a much better frame of mind.
Tuesday (My busiest and by far my favourite day) Solo songwriting - where for the 1st time - I felt comfortable with my song - I didn't have the irritating desire to make endless apologies and excuses about the song. On The Edge was played to eager talented ears and helpful nice constructive things were said.
Tuesday tottered along with 3 an a half hours spent learning recording techniques, drum programming and general 'logic' madness. And another guest lecturer gracing us with his presence was publisher Andy Grahame whom, with a wealth of A&R, Publishing and Management experience answered question after question. These Industrial Context lessons have multiple effects on me... On one side, its reassuring, inspiring and makes things that little bit clearer about the music industry. On the other side, some harsh realisations rain down, and it seems that its a cut throat place to be. Rejections, struggles and instability seem to be inevitable. Perhaps necessary? Songwriting at a high, commercial, successful level, it appears may well be something so so few songwriters wil be able to achieve. But I kind of feel that's okay. After all, isn't it sometimes the hardest things in life, the things that are most worth having? (Something like that anyway...!)
Wednesday was jam day. And no not the raspberry variety. Grand Piano, a fantastic big space with many a guitar and oodles of talent floating in and out of the lovely chapel arts centre. And even a bit of opera and a spot of ballroom dancing, (and no not the serious variety!)
Thursday was the 1st open mic I have done in maybe a year or so... and it was good!! and surprising not as scary as previous ones I had done. The eccentric host even participated with a spot of harmonica - lovely stuff!!!
So to wrap up then...
With every week that passes - I try to remember and take in everything I can, because I have a feeling taking this MA could be the best decision I've ever made
And P.s Is it just me that has to mutter 'Never Eat Cake Eat Sausage Sandwiches And Remain Young' when spelling 'necessary'??! ( I even had to mutter it again then!)
Thank you for your time - these blogs, (as random, odd and occasionally zzzzz as they are) are quite important for me to do. I think. So thank you for reading!
Love from the
edible, eligible, evenly empathising, eggcup with a touch of eiderdown xxx
Saturday, 31 October 2009
Songwriting Week 4
hy hello my little turtles,
Thank you for reading... :-)
Week 4 has passed with a blink of the eye as they say.. (they do you know!) and again my knowledge and understanding of songwriting/music within an industrial context and also technically is growing - although my god, there is so much more I need to know. Monday saw a 3 hour seminar, listening to and discussing songwriting within a historical context - this week mostly looking at Lennon/McCartney songs (ace!) and I'm starting to develop skills so I can begin to analyse things like structure slightly more than before. I found a lot of the songs we listened to had such varying concepts and surprising elements. For example in 'Can't buy me love' and 'She loves you' there's this idea of a double chorus which for me brings a new layer to the song's and keeps the momentum going - both such great song's for me where all sections (verse, chorus, another chorus etc) are so fantastic - you don't believe that they can keep adding these emotive, catchy melodies!
It was such a great session - especially being more familiar with these songs and finding more resonances between ideas, sections, concepts of other songs and mine.
Tuesday saw 2 guest speakers join 2 of our already knowledgeable lecturers which altogether was a fantastic range and depth of experience - answering all the questions we could ever want to ask.
Will Hicks and Jez Ashurst were guest speaking and discussions regarding writing for radio took place - and top tips for doing so! Being able to ask Will (whom not only did this same course last year and now whom works within production and also from an A&R perspective) what kind of direction he see's the popular music industry heading was so interesting, we got to hear about the kind of artists his company is working with at the mo. It appears that there has been such a great influx of edgy, ballsy female artists (Think Florence and the Machines, La Roux, Little Boots, Lady Gaga etc to name a few) in recent times, that this now seems to be creating space and demand for male artists/bands - although this inevitably will perhaps swing in another new direction at any given time. We discussed so many topics - the difference's between the British music industry and say the American, Japanese and European markets - and the whole session was so important for us because this is learning the industry firsthand - invaluable!
Tuesday also saw the solo songwriting module continue - Jez joined us in this module this week and I performed my new song for him and the group. My god it was nerve wracking. The night before, I was still working out the melody and what bits i wanted where... it was about 2 in the morning, still not close to being happy with it and i was like... RIGHT I GIVE UP!! - I'm just going to play an old song I've written previously! Because you kinda want to make a good impression on these people right??! Not turn up tired, nervous and garbling strange sounds. But if there's 1 big improvement I know I need to make, its extending my catalogue of songs - and by keeping up this momentum of writing new songs, it can't be anything but goodfor my progress really. So I stuck with the new one. I performed my song 'Only you' (well, just about!) and got some really good feedback and really useful thoughts on how I can improve it.
I think the more you begin to critique other's work and listen to what people say about yours, it really starts to make some sense in discovering your strengths and weaknesses - it feels ilke it opens you up to be able to start looking within, and work out what it is you really want - what part of you it is that wants to express itself. And I think the strengths we learn about ourselves give us reason to keep going!! For me - I love melody. When I listen to music I hear the overall concept of the song - and the melody for me tell's the story - creates and brings emotions to the surface. Whereas although I have always loved writing lyrics - on a first time listen of a song they take the back seat a little. I feel its so important for me to recognise these things about my writing - and I'm looking forward to many more observations to come as I keep exploring styles/genres/structures and writing methodologies.
Well, I'm sure I have kept you long enough. So again - ta for reading and come back to me next week??
Farewell
from the dissolving, dusky, directionless, drafty, dramatic duck
x x x x
Thank you for reading... :-)
Week 4 has passed with a blink of the eye as they say.. (they do you know!) and again my knowledge and understanding of songwriting/music within an industrial context and also technically is growing - although my god, there is so much more I need to know. Monday saw a 3 hour seminar, listening to and discussing songwriting within a historical context - this week mostly looking at Lennon/McCartney songs (ace!) and I'm starting to develop skills so I can begin to analyse things like structure slightly more than before. I found a lot of the songs we listened to had such varying concepts and surprising elements. For example in 'Can't buy me love' and 'She loves you' there's this idea of a double chorus which for me brings a new layer to the song's and keeps the momentum going - both such great song's for me where all sections (verse, chorus, another chorus etc) are so fantastic - you don't believe that they can keep adding these emotive, catchy melodies!
It was such a great session - especially being more familiar with these songs and finding more resonances between ideas, sections, concepts of other songs and mine.
Tuesday saw 2 guest speakers join 2 of our already knowledgeable lecturers which altogether was a fantastic range and depth of experience - answering all the questions we could ever want to ask.
Will Hicks and Jez Ashurst were guest speaking and discussions regarding writing for radio took place - and top tips for doing so! Being able to ask Will (whom not only did this same course last year and now whom works within production and also from an A&R perspective) what kind of direction he see's the popular music industry heading was so interesting, we got to hear about the kind of artists his company is working with at the mo. It appears that there has been such a great influx of edgy, ballsy female artists (Think Florence and the Machines, La Roux, Little Boots, Lady Gaga etc to name a few) in recent times, that this now seems to be creating space and demand for male artists/bands - although this inevitably will perhaps swing in another new direction at any given time. We discussed so many topics - the difference's between the British music industry and say the American, Japanese and European markets - and the whole session was so important for us because this is learning the industry firsthand - invaluable!
Tuesday also saw the solo songwriting module continue - Jez joined us in this module this week and I performed my new song for him and the group. My god it was nerve wracking. The night before, I was still working out the melody and what bits i wanted where... it was about 2 in the morning, still not close to being happy with it and i was like... RIGHT I GIVE UP!! - I'm just going to play an old song I've written previously! Because you kinda want to make a good impression on these people right??! Not turn up tired, nervous and garbling strange sounds. But if there's 1 big improvement I know I need to make, its extending my catalogue of songs - and by keeping up this momentum of writing new songs, it can't be anything but goodfor my progress really. So I stuck with the new one. I performed my song 'Only you' (well, just about!) and got some really good feedback and really useful thoughts on how I can improve it.
I think the more you begin to critique other's work and listen to what people say about yours, it really starts to make some sense in discovering your strengths and weaknesses - it feels ilke it opens you up to be able to start looking within, and work out what it is you really want - what part of you it is that wants to express itself. And I think the strengths we learn about ourselves give us reason to keep going!! For me - I love melody. When I listen to music I hear the overall concept of the song - and the melody for me tell's the story - creates and brings emotions to the surface. Whereas although I have always loved writing lyrics - on a first time listen of a song they take the back seat a little. I feel its so important for me to recognise these things about my writing - and I'm looking forward to many more observations to come as I keep exploring styles/genres/structures and writing methodologies.
Well, I'm sure I have kept you long enough. So again - ta for reading and come back to me next week??
Farewell
from the dissolving, dusky, directionless, drafty, dramatic duck
x x x x
Friday, 30 October 2009
Songwriting Week 3
Okay, so it's actually week 4. But only just so it's all goooood.
Ups, downs, highly blessed feelings, low down doubts. Part of this adventure feels like I'm in a bubble - caught up in good spirits, greatly inspiring people and nourishing freedom. Other parts of it give a sense of being disconnected, on a tangent, blurring at the edges so time skips past.
I think there's so much comfort in doing a course like this that I know already I won't want to leave. But on the other side, perhaps at all starts from there. So much I want to do, achieve. I want a top 40 hit. A song on the radio that gets played till even I get sick of it. I want 20 hour days that take it out of me. I want to be able to perform live and enjoy it rather than wanting to hurl. I want to collaborate, and be good at it. I want to write, write, and write some more. I want to be good. Really good.
But I want to change the 'want' into a word that comes somewhere close to 'am.'
Changing tack (which unrelated, I find an odd expression,) I feel I am finding my direction a little more. My first in depth 'remote' critique arrived, which helped place the song within a genre (Yes it's Pop. I think maybe I always knew) and this I am happy with.
This weeks blog is short I know. next week will be longer and better I promise
With love
the cracking, cuddling, cone shaped caterpillar x x
Ups, downs, highly blessed feelings, low down doubts. Part of this adventure feels like I'm in a bubble - caught up in good spirits, greatly inspiring people and nourishing freedom. Other parts of it give a sense of being disconnected, on a tangent, blurring at the edges so time skips past.
I think there's so much comfort in doing a course like this that I know already I won't want to leave. But on the other side, perhaps at all starts from there. So much I want to do, achieve. I want a top 40 hit. A song on the radio that gets played till even I get sick of it. I want 20 hour days that take it out of me. I want to be able to perform live and enjoy it rather than wanting to hurl. I want to collaborate, and be good at it. I want to write, write, and write some more. I want to be good. Really good.
But I want to change the 'want' into a word that comes somewhere close to 'am.'
Changing tack (which unrelated, I find an odd expression,) I feel I am finding my direction a little more. My first in depth 'remote' critique arrived, which helped place the song within a genre (Yes it's Pop. I think maybe I always knew) and this I am happy with.
This weeks blog is short I know. next week will be longer and better I promise
With love
the cracking, cuddling, cone shaped caterpillar x x
Friday, 16 October 2009
Songwriting - week 2
October 16, 2009 - Friday
Week 2 - Songwriting
Current mood: blessed
Well hello there.
Week 2 of the course and I can't believe how much I have learnt already.
This week we listened and discussed lots of Hank Williams, Robert Johnnson and even some Johnny Cash :-)
I managed to grasp more info about the Music Industry in 2 and a half hours than I have ever before in my lifetime!!
However, with every question answered, another unfolds...
I'm thinking a lot about commercial music - the balance between writing for what matters to the songwriter and writing to have a 'hit'. To make money. Is there a middle ground? Does a songwriter have to like what they write?
I found an article, discussing how songwritings are being to encourage to explore new genres. Rather than take on genre specific writers, the writers they have are being pushed to write for new genres:
"But Warner/Chappell Music has set out to match some of its genre-specific songwriters with artists outside of their traditional musical scope. The idea is to diversify songwriters' talent and ultimately find success on the charts, says Greg Sowders, senior VP/head of A&R (artists and repertoire) U.S. at Warner/Chappell Music.
"Pop music today is a mishmash of everything -- it's a hip-hop song next to a rock song, with maybe a Taylor Swift country ballad that sneaks in," Sowders says. "So to compete with the way things are now -- and to keep up with the iTunes market, where it's clearly a singles-driven business -- we had to take our writers and decide how to move forward."
(http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSTRE5790UW20090810)
Does this diminish the hope for new songwriters? Or is it indeed hopeful that the music industry is fighting back to stay with the different times?
Another module that we take, encourages us (or forces us!) to write a new song for the group each week and crticique each other's work and receive a critique from the course tutor. Last week, I struggled somewhat. With all the new information my unexercised brain has recieved regarding AABA structures or ABCDE or AAA, making sure a song has momentum to keep moving forward (be it through the lyrics or the chord progression) and all the music we listened to from the 1920's to 1950's. Combined with reading about balanced and unbalanced verses, the number of syllables one can/should/not use, and where the primary and secondary stresses are... I became a bit overloaded!!! - and I think I began to focus on everything apart from what the song meant to me.
So after several 'half' songs I wrote 'Let the sunshine' which was simple in structure, and really summed up the happiness I have felt over the past couple of weeks.
In other news, I have started to explore the wonders and confusion that is the mac and the recording software of Logic. This has been fun.(hmmm) Would have been better if I'd known what on earth I was doing. But with the tutorials that begin next week I know that a whole other side of songwriting is going to open up for me... ooh I can't wait!!!
The people I am starting to get to know are holding in me in more awe than ever.
And the family,friends and boyfriend I have already, I appreciate more than I could have imagined.
I think doing a course in what you love is soul strengthening. My main focus of my life at the moment is on everything I want it to be - And not many people get to say this.
I am fully aware that this kind of thing isn't something I can take for granted and life can drop you hard as quickly as it lifts you up.
But for now I am the biting, barmy, ballooning, bouncing baffled blighter.
Much love
Linzi x x x
Week 2 - Songwriting
Current mood: blessed
Well hello there.
Week 2 of the course and I can't believe how much I have learnt already.
This week we listened and discussed lots of Hank Williams, Robert Johnnson and even some Johnny Cash :-)
I managed to grasp more info about the Music Industry in 2 and a half hours than I have ever before in my lifetime!!
However, with every question answered, another unfolds...
I'm thinking a lot about commercial music - the balance between writing for what matters to the songwriter and writing to have a 'hit'. To make money. Is there a middle ground? Does a songwriter have to like what they write?
I found an article, discussing how songwritings are being to encourage to explore new genres. Rather than take on genre specific writers, the writers they have are being pushed to write for new genres:
"But Warner/Chappell Music has set out to match some of its genre-specific songwriters with artists outside of their traditional musical scope. The idea is to diversify songwriters' talent and ultimately find success on the charts, says Greg Sowders, senior VP/head of A&R (artists and repertoire) U.S. at Warner/Chappell Music.
"Pop music today is a mishmash of everything -- it's a hip-hop song next to a rock song, with maybe a Taylor Swift country ballad that sneaks in," Sowders says. "So to compete with the way things are now -- and to keep up with the iTunes market, where it's clearly a singles-driven business -- we had to take our writers and decide how to move forward."
(http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSTRE5790UW20090810)
Does this diminish the hope for new songwriters? Or is it indeed hopeful that the music industry is fighting back to stay with the different times?
Another module that we take, encourages us (or forces us!) to write a new song for the group each week and crticique each other's work and receive a critique from the course tutor. Last week, I struggled somewhat. With all the new information my unexercised brain has recieved regarding AABA structures or ABCDE or AAA, making sure a song has momentum to keep moving forward (be it through the lyrics or the chord progression) and all the music we listened to from the 1920's to 1950's. Combined with reading about balanced and unbalanced verses, the number of syllables one can/should/not use, and where the primary and secondary stresses are... I became a bit overloaded!!! - and I think I began to focus on everything apart from what the song meant to me.
So after several 'half' songs I wrote 'Let the sunshine' which was simple in structure, and really summed up the happiness I have felt over the past couple of weeks.
In other news, I have started to explore the wonders and confusion that is the mac and the recording software of Logic. This has been fun.(hmmm) Would have been better if I'd known what on earth I was doing. But with the tutorials that begin next week I know that a whole other side of songwriting is going to open up for me... ooh I can't wait!!!
The people I am starting to get to know are holding in me in more awe than ever.
And the family,friends and boyfriend I have already, I appreciate more than I could have imagined.
I think doing a course in what you love is soul strengthening. My main focus of my life at the moment is on everything I want it to be - And not many people get to say this.
I am fully aware that this kind of thing isn't something I can take for granted and life can drop you hard as quickly as it lifts you up.
But for now I am the biting, barmy, ballooning, bouncing baffled blighter.
Much love
Linzi x x x
Songwriting - Week 1
October 7, 2009 - Wednesday
Week 1 - Songwriting Current mood: gallantCategory: Blogging
I thought I would document my progress as a songwriter this year.
I am in my 1st week of an MA Songwritng Course (Well the only MA Songwriting course in fact) This week I have...
Been overwhelmed by the options open to me.
Been overwhelmed by the competition out there.
Been intrigued by listening to some work from many great songwriters - particularly Rodgers and Hart, Cole Porter, George and Ira Gershwin, Lennon/McCartney, Ellington and artists such as Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell.
Listened to songs written by my fellow students and have been so impressed and proud to be working with some great charcters and souls.
Received my 1st Critique of 'Happy for you'- some really useful feedback and comments.
Discussed recent activity within the music industry.And have pretty much grinned non-stop all week at the exciting year I have ahead of me.
I have been thinking this week about areas of the industry that interest me - commercial music in particular. How much of the top 40 is considered to be 'great songs'? How much is considered to be 'well written songs'? How many of these songs will our children hear? How disposable is popular music now? Does any of it reflect our culture and make a difference to current issues within society? Is the top 40 even a true representaion of popular music anymore? Do people still buy music when they have a worldwide library at their fingertips? Maybe these questions will be explored over the next few weeks. Maybe none of the questions can be answered?
It's been a great week. And its only Wednesday.
I've never woken up so early with so much enthusiasm.
I've felt a lot of apprehension - and at many points self doubt has crept into my mind, perhaps more than before. But I'm not letting it have too much effect on my actions - my brain has far too many other things going on!
Thank you for reading this.
And please get in touch if you can think I could write about any other things that may be of interest.
Yours trulyLindsay the airy, animalistic, accepting, apparently able anchovy.
(I never said I wasn't a bit odd.)
xxx
Week 1 - Songwriting Current mood: gallantCategory: Blogging
I thought I would document my progress as a songwriter this year.
I am in my 1st week of an MA Songwritng Course (Well the only MA Songwriting course in fact) This week I have...
Been overwhelmed by the options open to me.
Been overwhelmed by the competition out there.
Been intrigued by listening to some work from many great songwriters - particularly Rodgers and Hart, Cole Porter, George and Ira Gershwin, Lennon/McCartney, Ellington and artists such as Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell.
Listened to songs written by my fellow students and have been so impressed and proud to be working with some great charcters and souls.
Received my 1st Critique of 'Happy for you'- some really useful feedback and comments.
Discussed recent activity within the music industry.And have pretty much grinned non-stop all week at the exciting year I have ahead of me.
I have been thinking this week about areas of the industry that interest me - commercial music in particular. How much of the top 40 is considered to be 'great songs'? How much is considered to be 'well written songs'? How many of these songs will our children hear? How disposable is popular music now? Does any of it reflect our culture and make a difference to current issues within society? Is the top 40 even a true representaion of popular music anymore? Do people still buy music when they have a worldwide library at their fingertips? Maybe these questions will be explored over the next few weeks. Maybe none of the questions can be answered?
It's been a great week. And its only Wednesday.
I've never woken up so early with so much enthusiasm.
I've felt a lot of apprehension - and at many points self doubt has crept into my mind, perhaps more than before. But I'm not letting it have too much effect on my actions - my brain has far too many other things going on!
Thank you for reading this.
And please get in touch if you can think I could write about any other things that may be of interest.
Yours trulyLindsay the airy, animalistic, accepting, apparently able anchovy.
(I never said I wasn't a bit odd.)
xxx
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