Crosswords | Songwriting Exercises 09 – Holistic Songwriting

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhC4NBehzgo

Summary

### Summary
The video discusses the Lyric Stick exercise called Crosswords which helps in developing intriguing lyrics by creating unique lyrical ideas. It emphasizes the importance of a good story while writing lyrics, not necessarily a literal one with characters or dialogues. The exercise involves drawing two cards from the Lyric Deck and finding a scenario where the two words collide to create a theme.

Highlights

• Focus on developing intriguing lyrics with a unique lyrical idea
• Crosswords exercise helps in creating scenarios by colliding two words
• Themes can be metaphors for emotions or situations
• Lyric Deck and Songwriting Decks are available on Kickstarter

Key Takeaways

• Use the Lyric Stick to create unique lyrical ideas
• Find a scene where your chosen words collide
• Identify emotions and situations in the scenario for your story

Madlibbin‘ Melodies | Songwriting Exercises 10 – Holistic Songwriting

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4bkLjydTv0

Summary

### Summary

The Melody Deck’s Mad Lib exercise helps in creating catchy and memorable melodies quickly and reliably, as hooks are crucial and difficult to write. This is achieved by drawing cards from the deck, combining melodies, using beginnings or ends of phrases, and improvising. The Song Line Index is a Kickstarter project aimed at making this tool a reality for musicians.

Highlights

• Mad Lib exercise helps in creating catchy and memorable melodies
• Hooks are crucial and difficult to write
• Combine two melodies from the deck for over 2,800 possible combinations
• Use beginnings or ends of phrases and improvise
• Reusing melody segments makes hooks more memorable
• The Song Line Index is a Kickstarter project for this tool

Key Takeaways

• Mad Lib exercise helps in crafting catchy melodies quickly
• Hooks are essential, and the Melody Deck aids in creating them
• Combining melodies, using beginnings/endings, and improvising makes the process more efficient
• The Song Line Index aims to make this tool available for musicians via Kickstarter

Harmony Writing Prompts | Songwriting Exercises 11 – Holistic Songwriting

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PapPG5E7YhI

Summary

### Summary

The text discusses the Harmony Deck, a tool designed to assist in creating various harmonies for music pieces. It contains 54 different approaches for harmony writing and comes with three difficulty levels. The main goal is not to use the prompts directly, but to make them sound great by focusing on their implementation.

Highlights

• Harmony Deck contains 54 different approaches for harmony writing
• Three difficulty levels: one star (easiest), two stars, and three stars (most challenging)
• Main goal is not to use the prompts directly, but to make them sound great by focusing on their implementation
• Available on Kickstarter as part of the Songline Index project

Key Takeaways

• The Harmony Deck helps in creating a wide variety of harmonies for music pieces
• It is specifically focused on harmony and comes with three difficulty levels
• Including this deck in your daily routine will help develop an integral part of your music-writing process

How Songwriting has changed… | Interview with Songwriter Alexander Freund – Holistic Songwriting

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7TiP2NRyzg

Summary

### Summary

The speaker discusses their creative process, inspiration, and experiences in the music industry. They emphasize the importance of human interaction and openness to new experiences for creating meaningful music. They share a desire to work with certain artists and reflect on the growth they’ve experienced throughout their career. 🎶✨

Highlights

• Emphasis on personal connections and feelings in music creation
• Creative freedom in songwriting
• Change in song structure over time
• Interest in exploring different song structures
• Admiration for certain musicians who have influenced them

Key Takeaways

• Human interaction and openness to new experiences are crucial for creating meaningful music. 🤗
• Discovering new things can be an enriching experience, especially in the realm of music creation. 🚀

Lyric Writing Prompts | Songwriting Exercises 13 – Holistic Songwriting

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrXchegMExY

Summary

### Summary
In the discussion today, we explored Lyric Writing Prompts for the Deckhand, an exercise designed specifically for lyrics with 54 prompts in total. These prompts can be used as writing prompts, technical approaches, or challenges and come in three difficulty levels indicated by stars. The aim is not just to use a new approach but to make it work effectively. For more information on writing prompts, check out videos 5 and 11 in the playlist. The Songwriting Decks are currently available on Kickstarter for a limited time to bring this project to reality.

Highlights

• Lyric Writing Prompts for Deckhand focused on lyrics
• Total of 54 prompts
• Can be used as writing prompts, technical approaches, or challenges
• Three difficulty levels indicated by stars
• Goal: not just using a new approach but making it work effectively
• For more information on writing prompts, check out videos 5 and 11 in the playlist
• Songwriting Decks available on Kickstarter for a limited time

Key Takeaways

• Lyric Writing Prompts for Deckhand provides a variety of challenges
• The prompts come in three difficulty levels to cater to different skill levels
• The goal is not only to use the prompts but also to effectively implement them in writing

The Chord Builder | Songwriting Exercises 14 – Holistic Songwriting

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNNQWboA7TU

Summary

### Summary
The text is about an exercise called Harmony Deck and its Chord Builder, which serves as a tool to create chord progressions instead of just being an exercise.

Highlights

• The Harmony Deck’s Chord Builder exercise is more of a tool than an exercise
• It helps in creating chord progressions by using two cards drawn side by side
• Based on the mood, appropriate row can be chosen from the first column of the card on the left
• Second card completes the chord progression with either simple or challenging sets of chords
• In case you prefer the deck to pick the chord progression for you, watch video three in the playlist

Key Takeaways

• The Harmony Deck’s Chord Builder is a versatile tool for creating chord progressions
• It allows for creativity and customization based on mood or preference

Agent Fresco Interview | Holistic Songwriting – Holistic Songwriting

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZg3PdIKHlI

Summary

📢 Summary: The artist discusses their experiences with music composition, stating that they have been fortunate to work with great composers throughout their life. They find this both a blessing and a challenge. In particular, the speaker highlights the difficulty of creating music for specific songs where the key changes or there are multiple courses. However, they also appreciate having someone who writes with chords in mind. The speaker mentions that they now work more collaboratively with others on their vocals, which makes the process more enjoyable and less like „putting something and recording“.

🎵 Difficulty and Blessing: Composing music can be challenging due to advanced structures, changing keys, or multiple courses, but it’s also a blessing to have great composers to work with. 🌈 Collaboration: The speaker now enjoys working more collaboratively on their vocals, making the process more fun and fulfilling. 🚀 🌟

How Agent Fresco Wrote Dark Water – Holistic Songwriting

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCPvsZ7XPAY

Summary

### Summary

In this text, Finn Aizen discusses Agnes Obel’s song „Dark Water“ and its simple yet complex structure. The song is built around one central idea that expands throughout, creating an engaging piece of music.

Highlights

• Agnes Obel’s „Dark Water“ is a well-crafted song with a simple structure and underlying pattern
• Finn Aizen suggests using one core idea and expanding it into a full song for captivating results
• The song’s complexity keeps listeners engaged throughout

Key Takeaways

• Music can be enjoyed without formal education
• Piano is simple because it repeats two patterns while the chords change
• Bass slides add interest to a piece, but they can be complex
• Rhythmically interesting sections often have challenging patterns like dotted eighth note with sixteenth note, eighth note rest

Essential Skills in Songwriting | Interview With Christian Neander – Holistic Songwriting

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssygyP7BIY8

Summary

### Summary
As a Christian, songwriter, and producer, the author has worked with various artists and bands, like Selig and the Republic. In their collaboration process, they have conversations to understand what is important in an artist’s life, influences, and thoughts. They often play the electric guitar during these conversations to help people open up. The theme from these conversations is usually captured through music, and it’s essential for artists to be passionate about their work. The author emphasizes the importance of finishing projects and having backup ideas, listening, empathy, understanding others, and dedication in creating music.

Highlights

• Collaborate with artists by discussing their life, influences, and thoughts
• Electric guitar helps people open up during conversations
• Important for artists to be passionate about their work
• Having backup ideas and finishing projects is crucial
• Listening, empathy, understanding others, and dedication are essential in music creation

Key Takeaways

• Music creation involves deep conversations and understanding an artist’s emotions
• The author believes in having a backup plan and finishing projects

A bad piece of advice I hear often | Interview with Songwriter Robin Grubert – Holistic Songwriting

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ADZNByMby4

Summary

### Summary
Robin Grubert shares his experience and advice on songwriting and the music industry. He emphasizes the importance of routine, creativity, and not being too modest. Robin believes that good music will find its way and advises newcomers to not underestimate the power of perseverance.

Highlights

• Importance of routine in his creative process.
• Good music will eventually be heard.
• New musicians often have exaggerated expectations for online success.
• Conversations with artists help determine their goals and topics for songs.
• Chart positions vary depending on the artist.
• Robin sees himself as a „talented agent“ to help artists achieve their goals.
• Don’t be too modest or censor yourself before sharing your work.

Key Takeaways

• 🎶 The importance of having the right people around you in your professional environment.
• ⏰ Trust and support are crucial in a studio setting.
• 🚀 Develop your instincts for recognizing who is good for you and helps you grow as an artist.
• 🗝 Successful musicians still need to collaborate with the right people.
• 🌟 Over time, one’s style evolves, but it may not necessarily be in terms of a specific genre, but rather in mood or themes.
• 🏃‍♂️ Keep an eye on the legal side, ensuring everyone involved knows their rights are protected.