This book teaches an innovative method called Immersion Composition that drives musicians to engage their creativity by writing as much music as possible in a set time period. After learning to apply the method, elusive moments of inspiration can be summoned on command. The book also explains how to form a group of like-minded songwriters (a “lodge”), presents dozens of tips and games for making the most out of an Immersion Composition session, and shows how to turn brainstormed raw materials into polished songs.
The Songwriter's Handbook by Tom T. Hall teaches the secrets of becoming a successful songwriter. "How can I find ideas for songs?" "What are the best ways to deal with a publisher?" "When I sell my song, how will I get paid?" A glossary of definitions and terms and more. Illustrated and indexed.
Give Your Songwriting a Competitive Edge This book takes you on the songwriter's journey from the first inspiration for a song to the collection of worldwide royalties. Experienced songwriters Pat and Pete Luboff point out the stumbling blocks you'll encounter along the way, and how to turn them into stepping stones to songwriting success. In 101 fun and easy-to-read chapters, you'll find tips on: building solid, marketable song structures creating the perfect lyrics accompanied by moving melodies forming productive and profitable collaboration ventures producing effective demos that you can pitch tracking your royalty collection You'll also discover how new technology is changing songwriting and how to use that to your advantage. Plus, you'll get insider tips on traveling to and living in the songwriting centers of the country–Los Angeles, New York City, and Nashville. Everything you need to live and succeed at the songwriter's life can be found in this great resource.
Proven techniques for songwriting success This friendly, hands-on guide tackles the new face of the recording industry, guiding you through the shift from traditional sales to downloads and mobile music, as well as how you can harness social media networks to get your music "out there." You get basic songwriting concepts, insider tips and advice, and inspiration for writing — and selling — meaningful, timeless songs. Songwriting 101 — get a grip on everything you need to know to write a song, from learning to listen to your "inner voice" to creating a "mood" and everything in between Jaunt around the genres — discover the variety of musical genres and find your fit, whether it's rock, pop, R&B, gospel, country, or more Let the lyrics out — master the art of writing lyrics, from finding your own voice to penning the actual words to using hooks, verses, choruses, and bridges Make beautiful music — find your rhythm, make melodies, and use chords to put the finishing touches on your song Work the Web — harness online marketing and social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and others to get your music heard by a whole new audience Open the book and find: What you need to know before you write a single note Tips on finding inspiration Ways to use poetic devices in lyrics Computer and Web-based shortcuts and technologies to streamline songwriting A look at famous songwriting collaborators Writing for stage, screen, and television How to make a demo to get your song heard Advice on how to make money from your music Learn to: Develop your songwriting skills with tips and techniques from the pros Use social networking sites to get your music out to the public Break into the industry with helpful, how-to instructions
Discover songwriting techniques from the hit makers! This comprehensive guide unlocks the secrets of hit songs, examining them, and revealing why they succeed. Learn to write memorable melodies and discover the dynamic relationships between melody, harmony, rhythm, and rhyme. Fine-tune your craft and start writing hits!
It all starts with an idea! From melodies to lyrics, great songs need great ideas to spark the creative energy that will help you write your next big hit. 1000 Songwriting Ideas is a handy book of creative exercises that stop writer's block and turn your imagination into a powerful songwriting machine. The book offers a thousand concepts to ponder as starting points for lyric and melody writing, along with some of the most provocative and inspirational examples you may encounter anywhere. These proven exercises move the lyrical self, stir the melodic soul, and give you the power to be the creative songwriter you've always wanted to be.
The irresistible rhymes you need, in a book that?s fun to read. An entertaining and browsable reference, Nothing Rhymes with Orange is to rhyme what Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge is to mnemonic devices. Revised and updated from the perennial seller Capricorn Rhyming Dictionary, this edition includes an introduction by children?s author Hope Vestergaard, as well as a phonetic spelling guide, a key to rhyming sounds that are spelled differently, fun sidebars, and a list of poetic terms. Now anyone can quickly and easily find rhyming words that end in: -act (abstract, attract, bract, cataract, compact, contract, counteract, detract) -ipsy (gipsy, tipsy) -isp (crisp, lisp, will-o?-the-wisp) and countless others!
"A handbook for compassion... a Must-Read Music Book.” —Rolling Stone Country "Generous and big-hearted, Gauthier has stories to tell and worthwhile advice to share." —Wally Lamb, author of I Know This Much Is True "Gauthier has an uncanny ability to combine songwriting craft with a seeker’s vulnerability and a sage’s wisdom.” —Amy Ray, Indigo Girls From the Grammy nominated folk singer and songwriter, an inspiring exploration of creativity and the redemptive power of song Mary Gauthier was twelve years old when she was given her Aunt Jenny’s old guitar and taught herself to play with a Mel Bay basic guitar workbook. Music offered her a window to a world where others felt the way she did. Songs became lifelines to her, and she longed to write her own, one day. Then, for a decade, while struggling with addiction, Gauthier put her dream away and her call to songwriting faded. It wasn’t until she got sober and went to an open mic with a friend did she realize that she not only still wanted to write songs, she needed to. Today, Gauthier is a decorated musical artist, with numerous awards and recognition for her songwriting, including a Grammy nomination. In Saved by a Song, Mary Gauthier pulls the curtain back on the artistry of songwriting. Part memoir, part philosophy of art, part nuts and bolts of songwriting, her book celebrates the redemptive power of song to inspire and bring seemingly different kinds of people together.
Platinum award-winning singer, songwriter, and lyricist Mark Winkler provides a handbook on writing great lyrics, chock full of songwriting exercises and engaging personal vignettes. This book crosses a variety of genres andteaches the craft of modern commercial songwriting as practiced by the likes of Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, and Bruno Mars. The book includes: Highlights of great songwriters and their songs Exercises that focus on storytelling and rhyming while adding specificity and color Practical tips for writing great lyrics with accompanying templates Annotated examples of songs to illustrate effective exercises Information about people you need on your creative and business team Next steps after you’ve written a great song Tips on being a successful live performer to make songs pop By using great songwriters and their songs as blueprints, Winkler reveals the tricks of the trade and shows how you can improve your songwriting skills.
The singer-songwriter, someone who writes and performs their own music, is an ever-present and increasingly complex figure in popular music worlds. The Singer-Songwriter Handbook provides a useful resource for student songwriters, active musicians, fans and scholars alike. This handbook is divided into four main sections: Songwriting (acoustic and digital), Performance, Music Industry and Case Studies. Section I focuses on the 'how to' elements of popular song composition, embracing a range of perspectives and methods, in addition to chapters on the teaching of songwriting to students. Section II deals with the nature of performance: stagecraft, open mic nights, and a number of case studies that engage with performing in a range of contexts. Section III is devoted to aspects of the music industry and the business of music including sales, contract negotiations, copyright, social media and marketing. Section IV provides specific examples of singer-songwriter personae and global open mic scenes. The Singer-Songwriter Handbook is a much-needed single resource for budding singer-songwriters as well as songwriting pedagogues.
