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