Change That Tune – The Art of Re-Arranging Your Songs
A well-written song can lend itself to any number of stylistic reinterpretations, some even besting the original in the process Read more...
The Most Important Trait for Songwriters and Recording Artists - Persistence
During a recent workshop I was asked if I could identify the most important trait or skill for songwriters to possess. Was it an innate talent to craft a fresh, memorable melody? Was it the ability to craft a lyric that touched millions of hearts? Or was it something else? As… Read more...
Percussion Primer – Tips for Adding Hooky Rhythms to Your Music Tracks
Some pointers for making percussion parts more potent Read more...
BMI Bulletin Board: October 2020
International Songwriting Competition The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) has extended the registration deadline to November 4, 2020. Don’t miss the opportunity to have your songs heard by industry execs and celebrity judges like Bebe Rexha, Cam, Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park, Tanya Tucker, and many more. ISC… Read more...
3 More Quick Tips for Your Rough Recordings
A while back, I put together a series of tips for making rough recordings of your songs. Those tips had more to do with the nuts and bolts of rough recordings and how to get the best results. This round of tips has more to do with how you use… Read more...
Using Chords and Modulations as Musical Hooks in Your Songs
The chords we choose to accompany our melodies not only contribute to the flavor of our songs, they can provide some of those magical musical moments that make our songs hooky, exceptional, and unforgettable. To keep our listeners’ attention we need to include hooks, elements that are catchy and memorable, not… Read more...
BMI Supports the Fall 2020 Song Arts Academy Workshop Intensive Starting September 21
BMI is proud to support Song Arts Academy’s fall 2020 workshop intensive starting Monday, September 21. The workshop is a proven and unique learning destination taught by Billy Seidman, author of The Elements of Song Craft, a newly released Amazon bestseller for music composition. Past writers trained in the workshop’s “Advanced… Read more...
How Songwriting Makes You A Better Innovator
After over 30 years of writing songs, I’ve come to the realization that while songwriting, in and of itself, is a wonderful thing, the benefits extend far beyond the boundaries of music. Among the many areas that learning to write songs can develop are a set of seven skills uniquely designed… Read more...
Song Arts Academy’s Billy Seidman on “The Elements of Song Craft”
NYU Steinhardt, New School Songwriting faculty member and Berklee NYC consultant Billy Seidman has been consumed with the craft of writing lasting, impactful songs since he was in his early teens. Swept up and inspired, like countless others, from first hearing The Beatles, Seidman picked up a guitar and immersed himself… Read more...
How to Avoid and Resolve Conflicts Between Songwriting Collaborators
I’ve heard it said that most of us need to kiss a lot of proverbial frogs before finding collaborators with whom we share that elusive, inexplicable chemistry that can result in exceptional songs. I have collaborated with hundreds of writers on three different continents. Most of those writing sessions resulted in… Read more...