Have the lyrics dried up or does the music just not seem to flow? Do you feel uninspired or is your usual creative process failing you? A songwriter’s workshop can help you get over this bump that all musicians encounter during some point in their career.
1. Your Style
Your individual music style is inherent to the type of songs that you can produce. Many songwriters don’t like to stray from the style that they have become accustomed to creating. However, during a dry spell, it can be very useful to learn new music styles and begin incorporating these into your existing repertoire.
In fact, finding new ways to use rhythm, melodies and harmonies can often improve a song writer’s existing talent and open new avenues for creating music.
2. Exercise Your Creative Muscle
Although workshops geared towards your particular artistic medium can help deal with issues specific to that art form, don’t ignore the basic fundamental of creativity, itself. The Creativity Workshop is an organization that delivers writing workshops which cover all aspects of opening up your creativity as an artist. Sometimes the problem isn’t with songwriting, but is actually a block in the creative process, in general. For some, this might be the best place to start.
2. Workshop Feedback
If you feel your issue is more specific to your artistic medium, rather than overall inspiration as an artist, then it will be a good idea to get feedback from peers or professionals in the music industry, in a workshop that is specific to your craft. In a songwriting workshop, you will be given the opportunity to play your songs and allow others to criticize and praise the music and lyrical composition.
While this will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, you will need to keep an open mind during the process. If you do not handle the criticism in a constructive manner, it could frustrate your writer’s block further.
But it is not just the criticism that will benefit you but your ability to take on new ideas to inspire you to greater heights.
3. Brainstorming
Brainstorming sessions are an essential part of any songwriting workshop. These sessions will allow you to tap into other writer’s ideas and creativity to open your mind to new directions that your music could take. At the same time, you will be able to apply your music composition skills and talents to other’s writing.
Brainstorming often allows songwriters to open their minds to new ideas and ways of creating music. This can be incredibly inspiring and freeing.
4. The Theory
Creating music is really a learned skill, rather than a talent that a person is born with. Therefore, it is helpful for a songwriter complement their unique talent by learning some of the theory behind the music that they create.
A song writer’s workshop can provide you with a better understanding of how to best implement a melody, harmonic progression, tempo and groove. You should also learn different lyrical composition techniques and how to best apply these to your music.
Finding out more about different music genres, musical influences and the history of modern day songwriting will benefit your creative style in the long run.
5. Recording
Every songwriter needs to be able to record their work to submit it to various producers. Knowing the best methods and techniques involved in producing a good demo are essential to success in the music industry.
6. The Business End
If it is not the creative process but rather your ability to profit from your talent that is troubling you, a songwriting workshop can address these issues. You will learn more about the legalities around producing, publishing and your rights. You can benefit from understanding how to treat your talent as a business rather than just focusing on your creative process.
The workshop should also provide new songwriters with some hints and tips on how to break into the music industry and make their name known. Also, you should acquire some marketing skills and strategies to improve your ability to get your work produced and published by major players in the music industry.
