Posts tagged Songs
Songwriting Habits - The Benefits of Recording

The benefits of recording your work can have a real impact on your overall growth as a performer/songwriter.

Here are some of the advantages:

  1. You face the fear of how ‘good’ you sound and learn to ‘get over yourself’ by re-listening to your song over and over.

2. You begin listening to the sections of the song that need improvement - like phrasing, instrumentation,

technique, etc.

3. It gives you the chance to develop parts of the song that may be too repetitive in an effort to create some

variation.

4. It gives you the opportunity to LEARN, rather than expecting to have the perfect song or performance

straight away.

5. And it gives you the chance to GROW as a performer/songwriter.

Over time, having a series of recordings of your work, will give you the benefit of seeing your own development. This on- going practice of reflection and feedback can build your confidence, which is a great motivator to keep going in your pursuit of a good musical habit.

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Tracey SingletonRecording, Songwriting, Songwriting Habits, Songwriting Ideas, Songs, Performance, Music Education, Music
Songwriting Habit: Using Call and Response

When composing a melody, sometimes using the technique of Call and Response can develop your song, giving it some variety and interest.

Call and response is when you have the call - that is the first melody, usually a soloist. This is then answered by the response - a different melody, responding to the first. The response is sometimes done by another instrument or group of singers.

Here are some examples….

  1. Under Pressure - Queen. The opening bass riff is the call followed by the piano playing two notes which is the response.

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Tracey SingletonCall and Response, Songwriter, Songs, Songwriting, Composition, Music Education, Queen, Gospel Music
Songwriting Habit : Using GarageBand for iPad to get you started.

GarageBand is an excellent tool for helping students develop their songwriting skills. Today I am posting a video on using GarageBand on IPad.

Before we start you need to know some basics of songwriting first. Songs are build from a chord progression. What are chords? They are a series of notes that you play together on guitar or keyboard that provide the accompaniment to your melody. As I have described in a previous post, the chords I, IV & V the most common chords used in a song.

In this example the chords used are based on the scale C major. Thant means Chord I is C, Chord IV is F and Chord V is G. Your aim is arrange these three chords over 8 bars. Each bar has 4 counts.

Watch this short video which explains how to use chords on Garage for iPad....

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Tracey SingletonSongwriting Habits, Songwriting, IPAD, Garage Band, Chords I IV V, Songs, Music Education