General Music Chat

If I were to hold a workshop on song-writing:

- How long should it be...
- What content should I focus on
- What should I avoid


Discuss?

Thanks

fisherman bob's ABC's of songwriting:

Get your ass to work and start writing some songs

I went to a songwriting workshop last year, wish there was another one nearby.
First 1/2 - 1 hour (depending on instructor), general intro and theory of writing.
Next, a group exercise, try to get everyone involved (usually lyrics, 1 line per person type of thing). 1/2 hour
Then split up into pairs/groups and co-write a song - use a theme, or books to pull lyrics or ideas from. 20-40 minutes, depending on the level of skill of the attendees.
Performance of the songs written, the amount of time depends on the number of people there.
Critique or re-write time - this can be group done, or again split up, and if the attendees are at a low skill/early learning level, skip the critique part.
Total - 4-5 hours.
On the other hand, if its a 'pro level' workshop, it can be 1 or 2 full days.

I firmly believe that before attempting to write a proper song, one should be properly dressed:

More than three jacket buttons is never appropriate for anything.

On a three-button coat, buttoning the top button is optional, and some lapels are rolled so as to make the top button ornamental. In other words: if buttoning the top button seems wrong, it is.

Brown shoes, brown belt. Black shoes, black belt.

Belt or suspenders. Never belt and suspenders.

Your jacket sleeve should be short enough to show some shirt cuff - about half an inch.

Your pants should end at your shoes without puddling. A slight or half break means that there is one modest inflection point in the front crease. If your pants break both front and back or if they break on the sides, they’re too long.

Your coat should follow and flatter the lines of your upper body, not pool around them. You should be able to slip a hand in to get to your inside breast pocket, but if the jacket’s closed and you can pound your heart with your fist, it’s too big.

Your tie should reach your belt line - it shouldn’t end above your belt or below it.

Your tie knot should have a dimple.

The only men who should wear black suits during the day are priests, undertakers, secret agents, funerals attendees and Goths.

Never wear visible socks with shorts.

Or any socks with sandals.

If your shirt is tucked in, you should be wearing a belt (or suspenders, if you’re wearing a jacket as well, or your trousers should have side adjusters and no belt loops).

Flip flops are great for the pool and the beach and not great for anything else. (Some say this is a matter of taste. We agree. If you have any taste, you will only wear flip-flops at the beach or pool.)

Long ties are not appropriate with a tuxedo.

If I were to hold a workshop on song-writing:

- How long should it be...
- What content should I focus on
- What should I avoid


Discuss?

Thanks

As long as a Eagles double album

The Eagles

Anything that is not done by the Eagles.

Wow! Dog, you are probably the most prolific songwriter here and you are asking us how???

Vinnie... so you are third generation East Coast garment industry?? Out here sometimes it's tough to get people to wear garments at all:
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2 ... lawmakers/


I stink at solo songwriting but I have participated in the process with some limited success. To teach it I would develop an outline that breaks the process down into parts that people can understand:

Question. Why write a song at all?? Discussion

1 The process of taking life inspiration to lyrics (examples)
2. Song forms. typical VVCVCBCC (examples), atypical (examples)
3. What chords work well together harmonically and why.
4. Harmony, keys and mood. (examples)
5. Hooks, themes and melody and why we need them. (examples)
6. What is a bridge and when do we need it. (examples)
7. Keep it simple stupid. Simple songs that people identify with will have the greatest reach and stand the test of time. (examples)
8. Write a song together incorporating these elements.
9. Perform song together, Drink beer.... Done!

My2c

I start with the chords, and fill in melodies and harmonies and bass after.
Lyrics come last.
But if the song seems catchy as it is, I may leave it as an instrumental.

Wow! Dog, you are probably the most prolific songwriter here and you are asking us how???

Vinnie... so you are third generation East Coast garment industry?? Out here sometimes it's tough to get people to wear garments at all:
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2 ... lawmakers/


I stink at solo songwriting but I have participated in the process with some limited success. To teach it I would develop an outline that breaks the process down into parts that people can understand:

Question. Why write a song at all?? Discussion

1 The process of taking life inspiration to lyrics (examples)
2. Song forms. typical VVCVCBCC (examples), atypical (examples)
3. What chords work well together harmonically and why.
4. Harmony, keys and mood. (examples)
5. Hooks, themes and melody and why we need them. (examples)
6. What is a bridge and when do we need it. (examples)
7. Keep it simple stupid. Simple songs that people identify with will have the greatest reach and stand the test of time. (examples)
8. Write a song together incorporating these elements.
9. Perform song together, Drink beer.... Done!

My2c

I happen to like atypical songs where there is NO identifiable bridge, verse, chorus, or anything.
But, that's just me.

Ruins (Yoshida Tatsuya / Sasaki Hisashi) - pallaschtom ~ snare ~ ghallalvish perrdoh

http://youtu.be/cykdVBbhvEA

Wow! Dog, you are probably the most prolific songwriter here and you are asking us how???

LOL! I cant even tell you how I write my own songs...That is, I dont know why I break or bridge when i do, other than it just seemed like the right thing at that time... I'm just wondering how I am gonna explain it... I have no Idea!

Page Break

If I were to hold a workshop on song-writing:
- How long should it be...
- What content should I focus on
- What should I avoid
Discuss?
Thanks

As long as a Eagles double album
The Eagles
Anything that is not done by the Eagles.

Good advice... !

I firmly believe that before attempting to write a proper song, one should be properly dressed:

More than three jacket buttons is never appropriate for anything.

On a three-button coat, buttoning the top button is optional, and some lapels are rolled so as to make the top button ornamental. In other words: if buttoning the top button seems wrong, it is.

Brown shoes, brown belt. Black shoes, black belt.

Belt or suspenders. Never belt and suspenders.

Your jacket sleeve should be short enough to show some shirt cuff - about half an inch.

Your pants should end at your shoes without puddling. A slight or half break means that there is one modest inflection point in the front crease. If your pants break both front and back or if they break on the sides, they’re too long.

Your coat should follow and flatter the lines of your upper body, not pool around them. You should be able to slip a hand in to get to your inside breast pocket, but if the jacket’s closed and you can pound your heart with your fist, it’s too big.

Your tie should reach your belt line - it shouldn’t end above your belt or below it.

Your tie knot should have a dimple.

The only men who should wear black suits during the day are priests, undertakers, secret agents, funerals attendees and Goths.

Never wear visible socks with shorts.

Or any socks with sandals.

If your shirt is tucked in, you should be wearing a belt (or suspenders, if you’re wearing a jacket as well, or your trousers should have side adjusters and no belt loops).

Flip flops are great for the pool and the beach and not great for anything else. (Some say this is a matter of taste. We agree. If you have any taste, you will only wear flip-flops at the beach or pool.)

Long ties are not appropriate with a tuxedo.

Ha ha Vinny, that's actually very funny and true! I once wrote/composed a small tune in my underwear... Didn't get far with it, but as soon as I put on a ski cap, its like the world of music opened up to me... I think you got it right! I will definitely mention this to my potential students

fisherman bob's ABC's of songwriting:

Get your ass to work and start writing some songs

If I though I could get away with it, I'd charge them enough to pay for plane fare... and fly you in to teach my class ...

I went to a songwriting workshop last year, wish there was another one nearby.
First 1/2 - 1 hour (depending on instructor), general intro and theory of writing.
Next, a group exercise, try to get everyone involved (usually lyrics, 1 line per person type of thing). 1/2 hour
Then split up into pairs/groups and co-write a song - use a theme, or books to pull lyrics or ideas from. 20-40 minutes, depending on the level of skill of the attendees.
Performance of the songs written, the amount of time depends on the number of people there.
Critique or re-write time - this can be group done, or again split up, and if the attendees are at a low skill/early learning level, skip the critique part.
Total - 4-5 hours.
On the other hand, if its a 'pro level' workshop, it can be 1 or 2 full days.

These are good ideas. Good way to structure the class. I just dont have any clue about theory of song-writing (I kind of make up my own theory)