Resources for Writers
Over the last few years we have been fortunate to glean from highly experienced writers as well as learn from our own experiences. Every time we write a song, we grow and learn a little more!
Recently we have put some of these basic lessons down in writing so that we can share them here with anyone who wants to learn.
In this short video Cath shares a little of our heart behind song writing here at BCV.
Song Concept
Concept is a crucial aspect of song writing. It provides focus, direction, cohesion and clarity. Without it our songs meander through forests of thought and feeling, often getting lost or bogged down along the way. So what makes for a strong song concept?
Song Form
As creatives we can kick against having form or structure imposed on us, protesting that it stifles our creativity, but as the illustration goes a game of football would be chaos without rules and ultimately no fun for anyone.
Crafting Melody
Melody is a language of its own that can captivate us with its beauty, release torrents of emotion we didn’t know were there, settle our agitated spirits, catch us off- guard, and wedge meaning and memories into our hearts like nothing else. A well-crafted melody is powerful and can crown or undermine the song it carries. So how do we write great melodies?
Writing Lyrics
Writing words that are set to music is an art form in and of itself.
So how can we write towards the goal of a clear, streamlined lyric in which every word sings?
Evaluation & Editing
Crafting a great song involves a lot of hard work – there are multiple components that need to be excellent in their own right and to come together with beauty and skill.
The whole process, from initial inspiration all through each cycle of editing, can feel more like a battlefield than a ballet, but an awareness of the elements you’re trying to coax into coherence is a start.
