Music Education NZ Aotearoa Conference Songwriting Workshop with: - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Music Education NZ Aotearoa

Conference Songwriting Workshop with: Louis Baker

A little bit about me…

Musical family Everyone plays something (Piano, Guitar, Voice) Earliest musical memories In the lounge with mum and dad, listening to Jimi Hendrix – Electric Ladyland on LP at age 5 in Coromandel St, Newtown. I felt fascinated. Captivated. Also a LOT of: Joni Mitchell, Al Green, Michael Jackson, Jeff Buckley, Chopin, Miles Davis, The Beatles, Cannonball Adderley Wellington College I was obsessed with guitar. Maintained Excellence marks through NCEA Music. Played for 2 hours before school, and then all night when I got home. Listening, learning, transcribing off record, imitating etc What led me to me to singing and songwriting? 1. Brother-in-law committing suicide / first guitar teacher 2. Constant encouragement from whanau Jazz School NZSM I wanted to work on learning the Jazz language, technical proficiency, and make networks and relationships in the Wellington music community Career shift When I met my manager, Cushla Aston. She has taught me about drive, strategy, time management, and the music business. Love of music Because of it’s healing qualities and the way it connects people

MY RESPECT TO YOU

I am a full-time Singer Songwriter & Artist, NOT a secondary school music teacher!! All of YOU are the real heroes and rock stars here so my genuine thanks go

• ut to YOU!!

Exercises and Tools

Why We Write The Four Pillars of Songwriting Analysis of Pop Song Structure/s (Active Listening) Analysis of Lyric: Rhyme Examples Analysis of Melody: Repetition Object Writing (Pat Pattison: Berklee Technique)

Why do we Write Songs?

• To share sentient experience
• To express ourselves
• To convey a message
• Enjoyment
• Communication

NOTE: Art is Subjective – Reflection of Culture & Society (Know the rules before you break them)

• Ex. with students – Write down 5 Reasons WHY we write songs

What Makes a Great Song?

• Relatable
• Conveys a strong message
• Something that draws you in
• It describes the thing you couldn’t

communicate, or understand yourself

• Dynamic
• Memorable
• Involves Repetition and a Good ‘Hook’

Things to Ask Yourself When Songwriting

• What is my intention?
• What is the message of the song?
• What makes me feel alive?
• What makes me feel sad, happy etc

The Four Pillars of Songwriting

Lyrics Melody Structure Chords

The Basics - Helpful Tips

Lyrics - Reading → Writing, Message, The Senses – (Sight Sound Smell Taste Touch), Relevance, Title of Song, Write a list of concepts, Know your destination, ‘Writing Ramble’ ie. Object Writing (Exercise soon) Melody - Listening → Playing, Trust your intuition and let it flow, learn your favourite melodies on your own instrument/s, understanding repetition (Exercise soon), music analysis (Exercise soon) Chords – Transcribe favourite chord progressions, learn your favourite songs and the way they work harmonically, learn songs from other genres to understand the relationship and commonality Structure – Study the greats, understanding basic pop structure, songwriting analysis

Pop Songwriting Structure

Intro Verse 1 Chorus 1 Verse 2 Chorus 2 Bridge / Middle 8 Double Chorus Outro

Song Analysis

Now Listening To: ‘Shape Of You’ – Ed Sheeran Exercise –

‘Song Analysis’ (Active Listening) Estimated Time: 15mins

1. Identify: Structure 2. Identify: Instrumentation, Harmony, Rhythm, Tonality etc

Pop Songwriting Structure

Intro Verse 1 Pre Ch Chorus 1 Verse 2 Pre Ch Chorus 2 Bridge / Middle 8 Double Chorus Outro

Pop Songwriting Structure

Intro Verse 1 Pre Ch Chorus 1 Post Ch Verse 2 Pre Ch Chorus 2 Post Ch Bridge / Middle 8 Double Chorus / Outro

Lyrics: Using Rhyme

Common Rhyme: ‘AAAA’

• eg. Yesterday – (Lennon / McCartney)

A Yesterday A All my troubles seemed so far away A Now it looks as though they’re here to stay A I believe in yesterday

Other Rhyme Examples

AAAB

• eg. Rainbow – Louis Baker (Chorus)

A We’ve come through the darkest shades of blue A To a new and brighter point of view A Who knows where this rainbow will take us to B As long as we’re together

Other Rhyme Examples: AABA, ABCB, ABABB, ABCA

• Ex. With Students: Pick any pop song and analyse this in class,

Taking it in part ie. Verse 1 → Chorus 1 etc

Melody: Using Repetition

AABC

• eg. Easy Love – Lauv (Chorus)

A I could be somewhere, chilling on a beach A I could be with someone, making me happy B But that would be too easy, love C And I don't want no easy love A I could put my phone down, just pick up my keys A (or A1) I could let you go and, we could let it be B But that would be too easy, love C And I don't want no easy love

Object Writing Exercise

Key Points: (Pat Pattison Exercise – Berklee University)

1. 10min: Every morning 2. Why? Easy access to your sense memory 3. See, Hear, Taste, Touch, Smell, Body Response (ie. Breathing, Aches, Pains) Motion (ie. Dizziness, Falling) 4. Starting Word eg. ‘Feather’ (Note: Free association, staying close to your senses ie. It’s only a ‘launching point’) 5. Songwriting is a Practice! The more we exercise this part of

• ur brain, the quicker and stronger our ideas will be.

Object Writing Exercise

Key Points: (Pat Pattison Exercise – Berklee University)

1. Write for 10mins 2. Don’t stop, keep the ball rolling! 3. Go to wherever it takes you! 4. Be Creative - Use writing tools: Personification, Simile, Metaphor etc

Object Writing

‘Launch Word’ =

‘Tree’

Question & Answer

Thank you for having me!!!

You can find me here -

www.louisbaker.co.nz