How to Write a Song: Tips for Writing Lyrics to Music | Songwriting | Tips & Techniques
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Published 2015-09-10
Earn Your Songwriting Degree Online with Berklee: berkonl.in/2w6KwPi
In this free tutorial, Berklee Online instructor Andrea Stolpe shares how to write a song using tips and techniques that will help you to write lyrics to music and convey your message to your listeners.
Placing that perfect lyrical idea into a melody without it sounding unnatural is a common obstacle to many songwriters. An unfortunate setting of a word or phrase can sink the emotion of the song, calling your listener's attention away from WHAT you are saying to HOW you are saying it. Writing Lyrics to Music analyzes a variety of song forms to instruct you on key lyrical and melodic components: stressed and unstressed beats, rhyme positions, melodic sections, and tone. You'll work through different musical feels and time signatures, and discover how the natural shapes of the words follow the shape of the melody, ultimately creating a much more expressive composition. This is a "can't miss" course - it's bound to take your writing to the next level. It will also make you a more valuable co-writer.
Enroll in Writing Lyrics to Music now: bit.ly/1JVEq6n
For more songwriting tips and techniques watch these free tutorials:
How to Write A Song: Sensory Writing Tricks
bit.ly/1JDBT0s
How to Write A Song: Use Critique to Improve Your Songs
bit.ly/1KtuXGN
Want more? Learn songwriting online with Berklee:
Learn techniques for writing original songs in a variety of musical styles—techniques that have propelled Berklee alumni to write number one songs and win Grammy Awards. In this program, you will develop skills to create song structures, harmonies, melodies, and lyrics that support and enhance the ideas that you want to express. Through listening and analysis, you will be able to recognize and discuss quality elements in musical and lyrical structures. You will learn arranging techniques that support the style and structure of a song with appropriate instrumentation. You will develop your own voice as a songwriter and learn to write more effectively and efficiently, whether by yourself or in collaboration with other songwriters.
Andrea Stolpe is a multi-platinum recorded songwriter, performing artist, and educator. She has worked as a staff writer for EMI, Almo-Irving, and Universal Music Publishing, with songs recorded by such artists as Faith Hill, Daniel Lee Martin, Julianne Hough, and others. Andrea is the author and instructor of the course Commercial Songwriting Techniques, part of Berklee Online's online songwriting program. Recently released in fall of 2007, her book Popular Lyric Writing: 10 Steps to Effective Storytelling describes how to apply a unique process for uniting our artistic voice with the commercial market.
Andrea graduated with a degree in songwriting from Berklee College of Music. She continues to tour and promote her solo release, "Breaking Even," and serve as a guest clinician nationally and abroad. Andrea lives in Los Angeles with her husband, recording engineer Jan Teddy.
Enroll in Commercial Songwriting Techniques now: bit.ly/1ixjQQH
How to Write A Song | Songwriting | Tips & Techniques | Free Tutorial
All Comments (21)
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She seems like such a nice person
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Reminders: 1)Steam of consciousness writing--write, write, write 2)Stress patterns 3)Don't spend 4 hrs on first two lines
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I made peace with myself, my family, and everyone I've hurt just listening to first few minutes of this video. Thank you.
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This woman is a genius!! This was the most helpful video on songwriting I've ever seen!!
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omg this helped me so much. I overthink everything especially when I write I just want it to be so perfect. But I have so much random stuff floating in my head and I gotta just get it out first and go back to it.
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We must protect this woman at all costs, what a gem
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why is this so soothing? lol
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I almost started crying. And I don't even know why...
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Strangely this was exactly how I used to write lyrics to my music. Record it, listen to it for 2 days on repeat while humming melodies, then write lyrics and trust my first instincts
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she's such a fantastic music teacher, and I've worked with many of them.
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The way she explains it explains everything I want to explain when I explain in songwriting! Did I explain myself ok
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Thank you Andrea Stolpe, this helped me enormously. This method spoke to me, really loved when you said what does this song sound like to you, now trust that first impression, that image you get and go off on a stream of consciousness as if in conversation with someone over a topic that matters to you. The John Meyer example was the cherry on top; so true.
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I love to hear you talk
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Struck a major chord with me.
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I agree. This one and the sensory writing video are very helpful. Big thanks!
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I really needed that advice. Very helpful. Thank you!
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I can't even begin to tell you how helpful this and the Sensory writing video are. Thank you EVER so much.
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I needed to watch this. You are really good at breaking this process down into bite sized pieces.
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I've been spending weeks on lyrics , writing a whole paragraph , and then scrapping it . This really helped me free up my mind .
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Fantastic suggestions! I really enjoy your input. Very intuitive and organic as opposed to structured and formulated. Thank you Andrea Stolpe!
