Everyone wishes they wrote a great song, but few will work hard enough at it, even over the years to really improve their songs. What is the craft of songwriting? Is it really a craft at all? And yes it is, a fine one at that. A mastertune smith has perfected his craft usually over years to fine tune his style, voice, characteristics to create something they feel is worthy of themselves and of expression. A good song typically isn’t all in one lyric or melody. Its a process, all one that I might add is one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life.
A journey in the process begins:
- The idea or Creative Expression- Is it the melody or the lyric steering you? Go with it, follow the flow of it.
- Development of the story, begin to articulate what you really want to say- who cares if it all doesn’t make sense or the rhyme scheme is wrong. A song is no good if you can’t develop the feeling or story you want to convey from a genuine place.
- Edit through the dross- begin to eliminate those words and feelings that are contrary to the strongest idea or desire. eg. IF your canoer like me traveling down a river, begin to straighten out the bow, avoid the sideways action and begin to tighten it up.
- Test the waters: Play through the melody, does it move you, does the lyric make sense with others that hear it? Is there cohesion between the melody and lyric?
- Ice the cake- the feeling is now there, the melody, and lyric are finished. Does it translate with your audience. AND do they feel inspired and moved when they hear it?
- The Finishing: you did it, the work is done, celebrate it, show it off- it is your baby born from the heavens and wrapped up to show the world. Well Done!
- Now its time to pitch this baby and let the world hear it. 🙂
(C)2019 david harper
Music/from/theCloset 