Writing A Great Song Writing A Great Song Writing A Great Song

Over the years I've hosted Song Writing Workshops across the United States. In these classes I've talked about my own processes, listened to others describe theirs, and performed some of my own music as examples. As much as I've enjoyed these gatherings, they have been limited in that there is not enough time to go deeply into each writer's questions and needs. It occurred to me recently that being in different geographic locations need not be a problem anymore. Working via the Internet by sending and receiving mp3 files, I can now communicate in some ways more intimately with an individual writer, listening to their songs for a longer time, writing about them and making suggestions and noting progress by email and phone.

I'm now putting together a series of one-on-one workshops that will allow me to focus more specifically on how you write; your lyric writing, the way you form melodies and phrasing, the kinds of chord construction you use to support your song and the arrangement you use to present your song. I will share with you what my process is, but mostly, I seek to help you find your best process for each song.

If you are interested in submitting a song or songs for acceptance in my songwriting workshop series, please email me first - without sending any song files. Write a bit about your music, what you are looking for, where you personally feel you have room for improvement, and what you hope to accomplish in the class. Tell me also what your goal is for your songs. If I feel that I have something to offer you, that you would benefit from my areas of expertise, then I'll ask you to send me some mp3 song files.

I will listen to your songs and choose one to begin with in our class. No one else taking the class will hear your songs without your permission. I'll listen several times, getting a good feel for what you're expressing, how you write. First, I'll respond about what I hear and what I like most about the song. I'll speak honestly with you about any shortcomings I hear. For this process to bring about growth and accomplishment, we need to be able to really speak forthrightly to each other. I want you to become a better writer, a more confident composer of lyrics and melody. And even a better arranger of your own songs.

It is important that I not change your song in any way. That is your job. I will not tell you what chords to play or change your melody or your lyrics. But I will tell you where I think YOU should do that. I may suggest tempo or rhythm changes. Or I may hear something in your song that needs to be elevated, given more prominence. I will help you to be freer with your writing, to censor yourself less. And by doing this, to open up to the possibility of your songs being more than you ever imagined. My mission is to help you to take a fair song and make it good. And if you have a very good song, I will seek to help you make it great. I know how to do this, I've been doing it with my own songs for 30 years, working with them until they get stronger and feel more solid and complete over time. It takes dedication, patience, humbleness, openness. Most of all, it takes a commitment to not call a song "finished" until it becomes undeniably great.

Greatness in a song can mean many things. A great song does not have to be a rock anthem. It does not have to be a commercial hit or extremely catchy on first listen. It may be a small and perfect sounding thing and so undeniable wonderful that you can barely believe it is something that came through you. Many times greatness in a song lies precisely in the sincerity with which it is delivered. There are no rules. We just know that we want to make your songs great, whatever your style or genre.

Our communication will be primarily via email and song files, but we may also talk on the phone every week or two. I want this to be an encouraging and helpful experience for you. My desire is not just to help you make a few songs better, but to help you discover a way that you can continue to grow and improve as a song writer and composer.

I am not looking only for advanced or accomplished writers to work with, I may hear a beginner who has what seems to me to be a spark of some undefinable gift that will catch my ear and cause me to want to work with you. But I will likely not accept every writer who applies. Partly because of time, partly because I must go with my instinct if I'm going to be of value in your advancement as a song writer. I want to work with artists I believe have potential, but also, that I feel I can help.

Since this is an online course, Autumn and Winter Classes may begin on your schedule. Just write me and tell me about your music and your goals. I'll write back and we can explore some ideas about ways to shape the course to your particular desires. Then we'll talk about your sending me some song files to listen to. I'm looking forward to hearing from you.

I wish you inspiration and success in your song writing,
   ~Michael