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Each time you Search
the Web using
Don't Google when you can GoodSearch =============
Click here for A Songwriters perspective on American Idol Songwriting Tools and Techniques
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Welcome to one of the top
songwriting resources on the web today! |
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"Songcrafters'
Coloring Book: The Essential Guide to Effective and Successful Songwriting"
NOW AVAILABLE: Order Here -->
View the
Table of Contents Get customized individual coaching and mentoring from one of today's top songwriting and career coaches. |
-- A good book challenges the way you think -- A great book changes the way you think --
|
"One of my
favorite songwriting journalists and scholars is my friend BILL PERE.... "
-- John Braheny, author "The Craft and Business of Songwriting" "Bill Pere embodies the link between music and science" -- The New York Times " I can't tell you how impressed I was with how knowledgeable you are and your way of making the material comprehensible " -- George David Weiss, hit songwriter, and Past President Songwriters Guild of America " It was a pleasure to be in your workshops. Your grasp of the material and your ability to articulate it made it quite enjoyable" -- Ron Sowell, Founder Mountain Stage Radio Show
"That was the most coherent and practical songwriting presentation I've ever heard, bar "I am a published songwriter and member of the NSAI. Most of the songwriting articles that I have found on the internet are elementary. I found yours to be insightful and challenging, and comparable to a graduate course for songwriters. Keep up the great work. " -- J. Dobrowolski, published songwriter and member NSAI "This explanation helped me understand things that my other instructors could not make clear. "-- All-Experts.com clients |
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Songcrafters Coloring Book
began as a collection of published articles by Bill Pere, who was named by
Music Connection Magazine as one of the Top 50 "Innovators,
Iconoclasts, Groundbreakers and Guiding Lights of the Music Industry" in
2009. Bill is a multi-national award- winning songwriter, IMC
Indie Artist of the Year, Official Connecticut State Troubadour, and
President of the Connecticut Songwriters Association. This information on
songwriting techniques and music business insight has been helping aspiring
songwriters for more than three decades. . Some of the original articles are presented
below.
The entire book "Songcrafters'
Coloring Book: The Essential Guide to Effective and Successful Songwriting"
contains all new and expanded material, and a totally new approach to
understanding the process of songwriting that gives you unprecedented
control over your creative output.
(All material is Copyright 1980-2017 Bill Pere. All rights reserved. Contact Bill for permission to reprint. May be used academically with proper attribution. May NOT be re-posted on the web. The information presented here is accessed and used educationally around the world. Please provide proper credit and respect the copyrights. ) This copyrighted
material is for the personal educational use of songwriters, artists and
educators, and may NOT be reproduced, posted on the web, forwarded, or
otherwise disseminated without permission. Academic use is permitted
with proper attribution. The complete "Songcrafters'
Coloring Book", with lots of additional material is available in book form
here. To work with Bill in person, or by mail
or e-mail, Check out the
Connecticut Songwriting Academy Made possible by a grant from the Connecticut Office of the Art |
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These are some of the original articles which
form the basis for several topics discussed in the book.
The book contains much more depth, additional topics, and updated material.
-- A WEEKEND SONGWRITING RETREAT WITH BILL PERE --
JUMP-START YOUR SONGWRITING and FAST-TRACK YOUR CAREER!
|
A weekend songwriting retreat with Bill Pere based on the concepts of Songcrafters' Coloring Book! These techniques have helped get Bill's songs on radio, TV, recorded by others, and on a Grammy Award winning album. ( info here... )
Guaranteed to give you a whole new way to approach
your music, and take it to new heights. Jump-start your songwriting and Fast-track your career! |
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Anatomy of a Song -- It all starts here, with Creation to Realization to Proliferation. This is the road map that ties together all the pieces of songcrafting, and shows their relation to the creative and business sides of the process. (the most up-to-date version can be found in the book) |
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The Concrete Abstract Balancing Act -- The How's and Why's of balancing concrete and abstract lyrics. Add IMPACT to your songs! (expanded information can be found in Chapter 5 of "Songcrafters' Coloring Book" ) |
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Expression vs. Communication -- The most fundamental concept in all of songwriting. Learn why songs succeed or fail in hitting their target. (expanded information can be found in Chapter 9 of "Songcrafters' Coloring Book" ) |
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The Geometry of
Songwriting: Writing in 4 Dimensions
-- Most songs limit themselves to one or two dimensional writing.
But we live in a 4-dimensional world. Bring your songs into Hi-Def
when you tap into the most overlooked of the four dimensions.
(expanded
information can be found in several sections of "Songcrafters' Coloring Book" ) |
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The Five Currencies of the Music Business -- To move forward along your chosen path, you encounter toll booths along the way, but different toll booths require different currency, and if you don't know what these are, your forward progress hits a roadblock. (expanded information can be found in several chapters of "Songcrafters' Coloring Book" ) |
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Focusing a Song -- The key to making your songs hit home with the impact of a laser beam. Learn how to avoid diluting the power of your songs. (expanded information can be found in Chapter 13 of "Songcrafters' Coloring Book" ) |
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Lists and Twists -- Some basic concepts about song structure when using list vs. story lyrics (expanded information can be found in Chapter 9 of "Songcrafters' Coloring Book" ) |
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MBTI and Collaboration
- This article, published in the international Songwriters Market book, has
been considered grounbreaking in its approach to one of the most important
keys to success in the craft and business of music. (expanded information can be found in Chapter 23 of "Songcrafters' Coloring Book" ) |
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MBTI and Critique - This article takes the mystique out of critique. Objective feedback is an absolute necessity if you want to make your songs be the best they can be. Here's how to make it work for you. (expanded information can be found in Chapter 24 of "Songcrafters' Coloring Book" ) |
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The Three Levels of Critique - This article looks at different types of critique and helps you decide what type of input you might find most useful at a given point in the life of each song. (expanded information can be found in Chapter 24 of "Songcrafters' Coloring Book" ) |
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The Four Faders of Success - Knowing how these four simple things are connected, how they are not connected, and how you can control them will open new horizons for your songs. (expanded information can be found in Chapter 4 of "Songcrafters' Coloring Book" ) |
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MBTI and Lyrics -- Do your lyrics project the personality you mean them to have? Will they affect people the way you want them to? Here's how to tell. (expanded information can be found in Chapter 23 of "Songcrafters' Coloring Book" ) |
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MBTI in the Music
Business --
Wouldn't it be great if you knew how collaborators. producers, managers,
lawyers, and artists would prefer to be approached and how they might
prefer to work with people? Here is some insight. (expanded information can be found in Chapter 6 o"Songcrafters' Coloring Book" ) |
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Hit the Bullseye and Avoid the Bull -- Practical techniques for targeting your songs and achieving the specificity you want. (expanded information can be found in Chapter 10 of "Songcrafters' Coloring Book" ) |
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Interpreting Interpretation -- (see also Expression vs. Communication, and The Meaning of Meaning). You often hear songwriters say "I want to leave my songs open to interpretation! " They are usually mis-speaking. Here is what that really means, and how to effectively deal with this complex topic. (expanded information can be found in Chapter 8 of "Songcrafters' Coloring Book" ) |
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The Meaning of Meaning (Part 1)
-- If you want your audience to understand
you and your message, start here. (see also
Expression vs. Communication). (expanded information can be found in Chapter 8 of "Songcrafters' Coloring Book" ) |
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The Meaning of Meaning (Part 2) -- When is ambiguity a good thing and when is it not? Who is in charge of what you mean -- you or your listeners ? (expanded information can be found in Chapter 15 of ""Songcrafters' Coloring Book" ) |
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Strategies for the Digital Age --You can easily put your music on the Internet, but how you you lead people to it ? What new things do you have to consider in a digital world ? Find out here. (expanded information can be found in Chapter 27 of "Songcrafters' Coloring Book" ) |
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Branding Your Songs to Capture Attention -- What simple things can you do to make your song stand out uniquely from the competition? (expanded information can be found in several chapters of "Songcrafters' Coloring Book" ) |
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Metrics and Accents -- One of the most important parts of a well crafted song is having all the word and music accents properly aligned. Here's what to look for. (expanded information can be found in Chapter 18 of the book) |
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Metrics and White Space -- White Space: The Final Frontier. So important but so overlooked is the empty space between words and syllables. Here's the scoop. (expanded information can be found in Chapter 19 of "Songcrafters' Coloring Book" ) |
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Oronyms -- Kiss the sky or Kiss this guy? The stuff he knows blows me away -- or the stuffy nose blows me away? Here's what to watch out for. (expanded information can be found in Chapter 19 of "Songcrafters' Coloring Book" ) |
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Plaster, Mortar and Cement -- Give your songs a solid foundation with concrete references. Here are some tips and examples. (expanded information can be found in Chapter 11 of "Songcrafters' Coloring Book" ) |
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Rhyme Mapping -- How to use rhyme to give your song solid structure and make it come alive with sonic activity. (expanded information and visual song maps can be found in Chapter 22 of "Songcrafters' Coloring Book" ) For visual song map example, see here... |
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Rhythm and the Theory of Relativity -- What is the difference between 3/4 and 6/8 ? What is 'swing'? How does music rhythm affect lyric cadence? Why does any of it matter? Find out here. (expanded information can be found in Chapter 20 of "Songcrafters' Coloring Book" ) |
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The Geometry of Songwriting - The 4 Dimensions of Songs and the Importance of Time -- "Time management" is a phrase you hear used all the time as a core principle for good business practice. It is also a core principle for maximizing the impact of your songs, but with an entirely different meaning. Discover how handling time in a song can make the difference between "okay" and "Great!" (as presented in Bill's workshops and classes, and discussed in the upcoming "Songctrafters' Alphabet Book" |
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Bah! Drumbug! -- Percussion tracks often create difficulty for songwriters producing their own music. Here are some of the things to think about in programming a drum track. (Also see the "Rhythm and the Theory of Relativity") (expanded information can be found in Chapter 20 of "Songcrafters' Coloring Book" ) |
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Semantic Fields -- Funny name, important concept. This is what keeps songs focused and on target instead of becoming diffuse and diluted. In a song about apples, don't mention oranges. In a song about fruit, don't mention celery. Good examples in this article. (expanded information can be found in Chapter 14 of "Songcrafters' Coloring Book" ) |
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Sonic Activity -- Make your songs Radio-Active! Songs come alive and really "stick" when the meaning of a lyric is enhanced by ping-points, created by the five primary tools of sonic activity. Learn here what they are. (expanded information can be found in Chapter 15 of "Songcrafters' Coloring Book" ) |
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Adding Sparkle to Your Song: Why Does He Have to Live in Detroit? -- Taking the concept of Sonic Activity even further -- lots of examples and a Level 3 Analysis of a classic hit song! (expanded information can be found in Section II-B of "Songcrafters' Coloring Book" ) |
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Sale: The Seven C's -- These seven essential elements will help you find a smooth path from creation to realization to proliferation as you draft it, craft it, pitch it, and sell it. (expanded information can be found in the Appendix of "Songcrafters' Coloring Book" ) |
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Writing in the Key of "W" -- Who, What When Where Why and hoW ; Six aspects of a lyric that make the difference between a hit and a miss. (expanded information can be found in Chapter 16 of "Songcrafters' Coloring Book" ) |
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Writing A Bridge -- I'm often asked when a song does or does not need a bridge, and what the best ways are to write one. Writing a bridge should not take a toll. Here are some tips. . (expanded information can be found in "Songcrafters' Coloring Book" ) |
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Little Boxes: The Flow of Information in a Song -- The most effective songs are the ones that are able to keep information flowing steadily and in a way that is easy to follow. Many writers have difficulty writing a second verse that continues what the first verse has started -- they often end up just repeating what was already said. Here are some techniques to help the flow. (expanded information can be found in "Songcrafters' Coloring Book" ) |
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When Did You Know It? -- Communication between people is propelled forward through a flow of information – whether you are telling a story, giving instruction, recounting your trip abroad, describing your aches and pains, or presenting a song, the listener stays engaged only as long as information is flowing in. As soon as this inflow ceases, the listener's attention goes elsewhere. Here are the things you need to know. (expanded information can be found in Chapter 16 of "Songcrafters' Coloring Book" ) |
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Stress and White Space -- More about the importance of the empty space between the words and how they affect the overall impact of your song. (Also see the articles on Metrics) (expanded information can be found in Chapter 19 of "Songcrafters' Coloring Book" ) |
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The Role of Associations in Art, Craft, and Business -- Some organizations emphasize art, some focus on craft, and some on business. What's the difference and which is right for you ? |
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Song Parameters
-- What's a parameter and what does it have to do with songwriting?
Everything ! Here's why.
(expanded
information can be found in Chapter 2 of "Songcrafters' Coloring Book" ) |
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Role Call: You Are Bartholomew Cubbins -- With the ascendance of the Indie Music scene, artists can now be in control of all aspects of their activities, but to do so requires wearing many hats - Here's how to keep track of them. (expanded information can be found in Chapter 3 of "Songcrafters' Coloring Book" ) |
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A Study in Spontaneous Sonic Activity Generation -- Sonic activity, ping-points, and semantic pivots are key elements in creating effective lyrics. With exercise, you can develop your ability to write this way without having to consciously think about it. Here's an example. (expanded information can be found in Chapter 21 of "Songcrafters' Coloring Book" ) |
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Music Theory -- Sail the C-Seven: Chord Naming -- There is often confusion about what chord names mean and how to name a particular chord. Here's how to understand what the names tell you, and how to avoid a common chord-naming mistake. (additional information can be found in Chapter 26 of "Songcrafters' Coloring Book" ) |
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Nothing Fishy About Scales -- What do you really need to know about scales and modes, and why do they matter (or not) ? How can scales help you write more interesting songs? (additional information can be found in Chapter 26 of "Songcrafters' Coloring Book" ) |
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Blurred Lines Copyright Verdict - Not So Blurry -- The7.3 million dollar copyright infringement is simply wrong. The judge and jury got the essentials of copyright law wrong. You need to know this. See why here (additional information can be found in the upcoming "Songcrafters Alphabet Book" |
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Untangling the Maze of Music Conferences -- Is it the right event for you? Will it help you meet your goals? How can you make the most of the time you spend there? Here are some guidelines. . (additional information at Bill's workshop presentations and the upcoming "Songxrafters' Alphabet Book" ) |
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Creation to Congratulation: The Road to a
Grammy --
In February 2012, it was announced that Bill had a song on a Grammy winning
album. How does a song get from an initial idea to being on a
Grammy-winning album? And why did it take seventeen years? (a real life case study of all the principles presented in Songcrafters' Coloring Book and in Bill's workshops). |
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If You Find This
Material Useful,
View the complete
Table of Contents
for "Songcrafters' Coloring Book: The Essential Guide to
Effective and Successful Songwriting" by Bill Pere. The book
greatly expands and updates this material with even more techniques
and tools for helping make the best choices for your goals. A good
book challenges the way you think. A great book changes the way
you think! You can order your copy
here. Interested in a weekend songwriting retreat with Grammy-Winner Bill Pere based on the concepts of Songcrafters' Coloring Book? Slots fill quickly. Click here for more... |
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Looking for Constructive Feedback?
Need a Professional
Level 3 Song Critique with
Marketing Insights
as Well? You don't have to have an
MBA in marketing to think
like one.
What Can Level 3 Critique Do For You?
CLICK HERE
for everything you wanted to know about getting useful
critique for your songs.
Other Relevant Articles:
A Songwriters perspective on American Idol
Why a Song must
Communicate, not just Express (the Kelly Clarkson story)
Looking for a Record
Contract ? Read this Article
How Much Do you Know
About the Music Business ?
Take the
MUSIC BIZ QUIZ.
15 Simple
Questions.
| "Songcrafters' Coloring Book: The
Essential Guide to Effective and Successful Songwriting"
by Bill Pere NOW AVAILABLE: Order Here -->
View the
Table of Contents |
-- Songwriting that Gets Results --
CONTACT
If you would like to make a comment about Bill's articles or book, or join the mailing list for songwriting info, or
Book Songwriting Workshops, Conference Programs, Concerts, School Programs, LUNCH Ensemble Events, or customized programs, contact us at :
CT Songwriting Academy. PO Box 511, Mystic CT 06355 ---------- E-Mail: info @ ctsongwriting . com
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a> of all the principles presented in Songcrafters' Coloring Book and in Bill's workshops).case study</a> of all the principles presented in Songcrafters' Coloring Book and in Bill's workshops).