A career in songwriting is not for the faint of heart or the easily discouraged. In fact, it almost feels like the music business is designed to thin the proverbial herd with its delightful mixture of unpredictability and disappointment. I do believe, however, that it’s up to us as songwriters to… Read more...
One of the most challenging aspects of writing and recording is the ability to remain flexible. In years past, I’d typically consider a song to be set in stone from demo one, and therefore kept basic arrangement, instruments, rhythm and such pretty much intact from start to finish. Not that there’s… Read more...
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...
It’s not always easy to get enthusiastic about a new demo if you always start your rhythm track the same old way. Take percussion for example: sure, it’s easy to lay down a functional backbeat and be done with it, but why not spend a little more time and imagination crafting… Read more...
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...
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...
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 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...
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...
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...
| Jun 30 2015 | BMI Licensing Sales Job Fair: Nashville, TN |
| Sep 12 2010 | West Coast Songwriters Conference: Los Altos, CA |
| Sep 11 2010 | West Coast Songwriters Conference: Los Altos, CA |
