Songwriters reveal so much about themselves, perhaps it’s a blessing that the ones who reveal unpleasant things are usually oblivious to it. The very qualities that help make a great writer—powers of observation, interest in something outside him/herself, ability to...
Did you ever use training wheels when you were learning to ride a bicycle? Or did you ever see anyone else use them? The purpose is to keep the bicycle from tipping over. They allow the rider to stay on long enough to perfect some of the skills of riding a bicycle....
The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. Isn’t that what we learned in school? And it applies to communication, too. Isn’t that what songwriting is? I find that when people communicate in a straight line, it has greater emotional impact on the...
Have you ever seen a sailboat tacking into the wind? No one with any definite destination would ever consider just getting into a sailboat and letting the wind decide. It’s a constant process of correcting and correcting. Eventually the wind takes the boat where the...
Do We Know Where We’re Coming From? I find, in talking to prospective students and other songwriters, there are those who respect roots and those who have no idea of them. Some of them, like my former student and friend, Mark Islam, know more about who wrote what in...
I’ve recently come to the viewpoint that it’s necessary to understand all art in order to understand any art. I’ve noticed that people who have an appreciation for the visual arts, literature, dance, etc. also approach music in a more vulnerable way. And,...
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