This video is an introduction to writing song ideas and what we'll cover in this section.

We'll dive into where ideas come from and the importance of listening.

This lesson touches on writing great ideas by developing inspired titles, writing honestly and incorporating hope.

This lesson discusses the importance of keeping an idea book and to look at the process of idea mining.

We'll discuss how writing what you know is imperative to authenticity as a songwriter.

As a songwriter, our job is to help artists execute their vision for the song. As performing artists, our job is to know what it is we would and wouldn't say in a song.

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This video discusses the exercises for ideas outlined in the PDF attached.

We’ll discuss the definition of themes, identifying themes and examples of a few themes in songs so that you can identify them and write from them when necessary.

This video discusses an exercise for developing themes to practice writing on demand.

An introduction to song structure— the key parts of a song, their importance and some key definitions of beats and bars to help in the following sections.

This video will discuss in depth each part of a song and it’s function in popular music.

This video is a continuation of the different parts of a song and their functions.

Now that we know the various parts of a song, we’ll go over the most common song structures used in popular music.

We’ll take a look at Irving Berlin’s song checklist. We’ll discuss the points he felt was essential for commercial songwriting, it’s current relevancy and how to incorporate it into our own writing.

Exercises for song structure supported with the attached PDF.

An introduction to basic songwriter chord progressions and a brief explanation of the Nashville number system.

A lesson in the most popular songwriting chord progressions and examples of each.

A lesson of some of the other most used “magic’ chords in songwriting.

Exercises for incorporating hit chord progressions. PDF attached.

An introduction to the crafting tools of well crafted lyric writing and the importance and function of lyrics in a song.

Using one idea and emotion in your song to focus the lyric.

We’ll discuss how to outline your song as a crafting tool, how it can give you a clear direction for the lyric and get you on the same page as your collaborators.

We’ll discuss the advantages to making sure your song is organized into symmetrical sections.

This video touches on the importance of being efficient with your words and stripping out fillers.

This lesson talks about the invaluable crafting tool of killer first lines, some examples and drawing your attention to crafting great first lines.

This lesson discusses imagery, emotion and story as three crucial elements of great lyric writing and how to draw from your experiences to develop great images and emotions.

A continuation on imagery, emotion and story. This video focuses on the element of how a story carries your lyric along.

This lesson dives into the different ways and opportunities you have to support your lyrical hook and elevate your song by making your lyric payoff in all the right places.

We’ll talk about how to write your second verse in a way that takes your lyric to a deeper, more focused place.

This video discusses using consistent emotion and tone in your songs, and using the appropriate points of view in lyric writing.

This lesson touches on different ways to use rhymes through interesting rhymes, inner rhymes and sprinkling in some alliteration (not a rhyme, but felt important in this section with rhymes).

A continuation of rhymes discussion perfect vs. slant rhymes, and some popular rhyming websites songwriters use to help with creative rhyming.

An overview of common rhyme schemes used in popular songwriting.

A recap of what we’ve discussed for lyric writing and some of my personal tips.

This lesson goes into the important craft of re-writing and editing in the lyric writing process.

Some of my favorite book resources for songwriting. Two other great reads not mentioned are: “Steal Like An Artist” by Austin Kleon and “Writing Better Lyrics” by Pat Pattison.

Exercises for practicing the crafting tools we’ve discussed in this section. Supporting PDF attached.

An introduction to the melody section.

Getting started with creating a melody.

We’ll discuss the I,portended of using melody to communicate the emotion of your song.

A brief overview of us using symmetrical melody lines and sections.

Classic melody patterns and examples of how classic songs use motion and intervals to provide familiarity.

How melodic repetition helps make a memorable melody.

How to maximize range in your songs and use it to your advantage according to your objective.

How to lift your melody so your song feels like it soars.

The importance and advantage to using signature licks in your songs.

Using unexpected, stylistic, unique melodies and chords to enhance your melodies.

Using occasional, effective and well placed modulations to create magic moments.

All the different creative tools to build tension and then release to build a gripping melody.

This video will discuss the different ways tempo are used and a brief touch on how time signatures play into your songwriting.

Melody re-writing and editing tips.

In this video, we’ll look at after your song is completed, when to do a rough recording called a work tape, when to do a demonstration of the song and when to copyright.

In this video, we’ll discuss the exercises to help you practice the crafting tools we discussed in the melody section that go along with the attached PDF’s.

This video goes over an exercise for the attached PDF that helps you dissect hit songs and get you critically thinking about all of the sections in this course cohesively. This exercise should help you assimilate all the things you’ve learned so far, and start looking at commercial songs objectively to help you develop and elevate your songwriting.

An introduction to the business of music and what we’ll cover in this section.

A brief look at when collaboration is advantageous.

My tips for creative collaborations.

A brief look at breaking into the music industry as a songwriter.

These are some amazing insider resources for aspiring songwriters who want to bridge the gap of meeting business people and other aspiring songwriters in the music community. There are also some great businesses to follow on social media and some great songwriter podcasts to listen to.

My story of becoming a songwriter and the advice I received along the way that helped shape my career.

A practical look at what daily collaborating looks like along with some stories behind the songs to show a practical application of songwriting and the path a song takes from inception to being commercially released.

A very basic look at what you might expect from a first publishing deal. I am not a lawyer, no two deals are the same, songwriter contracts and expectations are changing all the time along with the business of songwriting—so this video just touches on some of the basic points you might encounter in a first deal in Nashville to illustrate what publishing looks like from a 30,000 foot view. Pop songwriting deals can be very different and this video does not reflect those deals.

An introduction to the different revenue streams songwriters encounter.

A look at mechanical royalties and digital download mechanical royalties.

This video explains often times songwriter’s biggest revenue stream—performance royalties.

This video discusses the world of sync licenses.

Creating works for hire and discussing their advantages and disadvantages.

This video illustrates a mind mapping exercise for the attached PDF. This exercise incorporates all the sections we’ve discussed in this course and lays out how to set some practical goals. This video and exercise illustrates how to creatively expand and how to set practical business goals to work toward— all put together in a way easy to tackle on a daily and monthly basis.

A heartfelt thank you for your commitment to this course and for trusting and allowing me to be a part of your creative growth. Congratulations on completing this course! I am here for you on your creative journey and check email daily. Remember that you are a uniquely amazing creative being!