Comments for song written. http://nicholastozier.com/words finish the songs you start Thu, 16 Feb 2012 23:11:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on 6 Ways to Maintain a Steady Stream of New Song Ideas by John Mumm http://nicholastozier.com/words/6-ways-to-maintain-a-steady-stream-of-new-song-ideas/#comment-2861 John Mumm Thu, 16 Feb 2012 23:11:55 +0000 http://nicholastozier.com/words/?p=3947#comment-2861 When you put it that way, it makes it sound like something worth exploring. The one time I did such a thing was when I tried to set a Baudelaire poem to music some years ago. The results were pretty weird, but I liked them. I'll have to give it another try with my own lyrics. When you put it that way, it makes it sound like something worth exploring. The one time I did such a thing was when I tried to set a Baudelaire poem to music some years ago. The results were pretty weird, but I liked them. I’ll have to give it another try with my own lyrics.

]]> Comment on 6 Ways to Maintain a Steady Stream of New Song Ideas by Max http://nicholastozier.com/words/6-ways-to-maintain-a-steady-stream-of-new-song-ideas/#comment-2834 Max Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:53:06 +0000 http://nicholastozier.com/words/?p=3947#comment-2834 One thing that used to hold me back where all the readings I did. I got obsessed, and probably still am with reading and learning anything about songwriting and poetry. By nature, I'm not a very focused, clear, person. I ramble around ideas in conversations to get the land first, then it's easier to see what I really mean without actually saying it. Being that free writing or destination writing is a major source of my brainstorming, you can imagine a few intangibles slip in there. What I learned is that poetry usually has a theme (an subject/idea/concept + opinions, thoughts, and statements). I can swallow this small amount of focus, and the idea of writing a song around a hook. Say you have an initial subject, like I read somewhere (maybe here) the initial subject is like a diving board and your free writing is a pool. It's okay to get somewhere far from the initial launch and actually encouraged. Follow the tangent of your thoughts because having choices = developing style and voice. Another thing that goes in hand with that is to not feel the need to explain everything. The idea of songs isn't to preach morality, its to connect hearts and minds. Creating a world through song or showcasing a thought is enough if done effectively. for example Bob dylan has a song where he mentions lots of social injustices, but the chorus follows the sentiment of "well I don't know" and it works brilliantly. So to all the people who discuss poetry by harshly disassociating poetry with it give them the finger. The initial idea sparks and brainstorming are practically the same. The difference is in the craft, The communicating of the idea. If you think like a poet you think like a songwriter. So, if you take anything from my wordiness, The confusion comes from the fact that the rules are linear, But the creative process, and the way you think is not at all. focus on the journey not the goal, but yes, build around a hook, or subject at the top of the paper and keep senses in mind, through creation of the world by jumping from the diving board into the pool of free writing, or flying the kite that is your free writing , you will find the story. One thing that used to hold me back where all the readings I did. I got obsessed, and probably still am with reading and learning anything about songwriting and poetry. By nature, I’m not a very focused, clear, person. I ramble around ideas in conversations to get the land first, then it’s easier to see what I really mean without actually saying it. Being that free writing or destination writing is a major source of my brainstorming, you can imagine a few intangibles slip in there. What I learned is that poetry usually has a theme (an subject/idea/concept + opinions, thoughts, and statements). I can swallow this small amount of focus, and the idea of writing a song around a hook. Say you have an initial subject, like I read somewhere (maybe here) the initial subject is like a diving board and your free writing is a pool. It’s okay to get somewhere far from the initial launch and actually encouraged. Follow the tangent of your thoughts because having choices = developing style and voice. Another thing that goes in hand with that is to not feel the need to explain everything. The idea of songs isn’t to preach morality, its to connect hearts and minds. Creating a world through song or showcasing a thought is enough if done effectively. for example Bob dylan has a song where he mentions lots of social injustices, but the chorus follows the sentiment of “well I don’t know” and it works brilliantly. So to all the people who discuss poetry by harshly disassociating poetry with it give them the finger. The initial idea sparks and brainstorming are practically the same. The difference is in the craft, The communicating of the idea. If you think like a poet you think like a songwriter. So, if you take anything from my wordiness, The confusion comes from the fact that the rules are linear, But the creative process, and the way you think is not at all. focus on the journey not the goal, but yes, build around a hook, or subject at the top of the paper and keep senses in mind, through creation of the world by jumping from the diving board into the pool of free writing, or flying the kite that is your free writing , you will find the story.

]]> Comment on 6 Ways to Maintain a Steady Stream of New Song Ideas by Nicholas Tozier http://nicholastozier.com/words/6-ways-to-maintain-a-steady-stream-of-new-song-ideas/#comment-2799 Nicholas Tozier Sat, 11 Feb 2012 13:27:03 +0000 http://nicholastozier.com/words/?p=3947#comment-2799 Starting from a lyric is interesting, especially if it's set in stone and you're setting it to music word for word. If the text is strictly structured (syllable counts in all the verses match), that makes it easy to write in the expected way--with a melody common to all the verses. If the syllable counts are irregular, then you get to play with cells, tone rows, variations on a motif, etc. The results might lean more toward art song than popular song... that's exciting territory. Starting from a lyric is interesting, especially if it’s set in stone and you’re setting it to music word for word. If the text is strictly structured (syllable counts in all the verses match), that makes it easy to write in the expected way–with a melody common to all the verses.

If the syllable counts are irregular, then you get to play with cells, tone rows, variations on a motif, etc. The results might lean more toward art song than popular song… that’s exciting territory.

]]> Comment on 6 Ways to Maintain a Steady Stream of New Song Ideas by John Mumm http://nicholastozier.com/words/6-ways-to-maintain-a-steady-stream-of-new-song-ideas/#comment-2792 John Mumm Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:31:42 +0000 http://nicholastozier.com/words/?p=3947#comment-2792 Thanks, Nicholas. And as far as my recent approach goes, I've been coming up with chord progressions on the guitar and singing melodies together. I've never really started from written lyrics, though it might be worth trying out. Thanks, Nicholas. And as far as my recent approach goes, I’ve been coming up with chord progressions on the guitar and singing melodies together. I’ve never really started from written lyrics, though it might be worth trying out.

]]> Comment on 6 Ways to Maintain a Steady Stream of New Song Ideas by Nicholas Tozier http://nicholastozier.com/words/6-ways-to-maintain-a-steady-stream-of-new-song-ideas/#comment-2788 Nicholas Tozier Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:10:33 +0000 http://nicholastozier.com/words/?p=3947#comment-2788 I know what you mean, Karen. Fiction is a different experience--much less structured than a lyric. I know what you mean, Karen. Fiction is a different experience–much less structured than a lyric.

]]> Comment on 6 Ways to Maintain a Steady Stream of New Song Ideas by Nicholas Tozier http://nicholastozier.com/words/6-ways-to-maintain-a-steady-stream-of-new-song-ideas/#comment-2787 Nicholas Tozier Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:08:20 +0000 http://nicholastozier.com/words/?p=3947#comment-2787 Hi John. Nice-looking website you've got there. Classy presentation. Do you also free write, or do you do all of your stream-of-consciousness work aloud? Hi John.

Nice-looking website you’ve got there. Classy presentation.

Do you also free write, or do you do all of your stream-of-consciousness work aloud?

]]> Comment on 6 Ways to Maintain a Steady Stream of New Song Ideas by Karen Loveless http://nicholastozier.com/words/6-ways-to-maintain-a-steady-stream-of-new-song-ideas/#comment-2779 Karen Loveless Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:33:21 +0000 http://nicholastozier.com/words/?p=3947#comment-2779 Great guidelines to follow here Nick! Self discipline is something us songwriters reach for or should reach for every day! When I get writers block I write short stories about something in my life that makes or made me happy, and on a few occasions I write something that mades or made me sad. I stay focused on the subject matter, go down a few windy roads and add a sense of humor to boot! When I'm done I feel free, my mind, thoughts, never get jumbled up with rhymes, syllables, melodies...I just write! Now, if I could just do that with songwriting more often...! :) Great guidelines to follow here Nick! Self discipline is something us songwriters reach for or should reach for every day! When I get writers block I write short stories about something in my life that makes or made me happy, and on a few occasions I write something that mades or made me sad. I stay focused on the subject matter, go down a few windy roads and add a sense of humor to boot! When I’m done I feel free, my mind, thoughts, never get jumbled up with rhymes, syllables, melodies…I just write! Now, if I could just do that with songwriting more often…! :)

]]> Comment on 6 Ways to Maintain a Steady Stream of New Song Ideas by John Mumm http://nicholastozier.com/words/6-ways-to-maintain-a-steady-stream-of-new-song-ideas/#comment-2773 John Mumm Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:01:21 +0000 http://nicholastozier.com/words/?p=3947#comment-2773 Hi Nicholas, I recently started reading your blog. You've got some interesting ideas in here. You were the one to tip me off to FAWM, and I'm already five songs in. Great fun. This year I started a new routine of waking up a half hour earlier than normal and just writing songs in a free form kind of way first thing in the morning (dictaphone at my side). I'm finding it's a great way to generate ideas to revisit later. I also took up writing my own blog on songwriting. The focus is on practical exercises, and it basically started as an excuse to get myself trying new methods. I guess you already know how motivating it can be! Hi Nicholas, I recently started reading your blog. You’ve got some interesting ideas in here. You were the one to tip me off to FAWM, and I’m already five songs in. Great fun.

This year I started a new routine of waking up a half hour earlier than normal and just writing songs in a free form kind of way first thing in the morning (dictaphone at my side). I’m finding it’s a great way to generate ideas to revisit later. I also took up writing my own blog on songwriting. The focus is on practical exercises, and it basically started as an excuse to get myself trying new methods. I guess you already know how motivating it can be!

]]> Comment on 33 Ways to Make More Time in Your Life For Music-Making by The Successful Musician | The Successful Musician http://nicholastozier.com/words/33-ways-to-make-more-time-in-your-life-for-music-making/#comment-2768 The Successful Musician | The Successful Musician Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:49:19 +0000 http://nicholastozier.com/words/?p=377#comment-2768 [...] can be hard to find time to practice, which is why this article listed 33 ways to make more time for [...] [...] can be hard to find time to practice, which is why this article listed 33 ways to make more time for [...]

]]> Comment on Motives for Playing Music by Max http://nicholastozier.com/words/motives-for-playing-music/#comment-2708 Max Sat, 04 Feb 2012 06:39:21 +0000 http://nicholastozier.com/words/motives-for-playing-music/#comment-2708 self discovery. you never know what your muse has to say. and feeling inspired is just a good feeling. music gives me that so why wouldn't I want to create it self discovery. you never know what your muse has to say. and feeling inspired is just a good feeling. music gives me that so why wouldn’t I want to create it

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