Re: Have tips for a songwriting course?
Originally Posted by
Charlie Bernstein
1. Yes, songs are words and music.
2. Nuthin'! I've written a few instrumental pieces myself. We do expect, of course, that the songs people bring to the class will be both words and music.
As you imply, it there aren't words it isn't a song, it's a tune (or melody). -- without getting into more abstract forms of music. Songs are often separated into their two components, lyrics (wods) and tunes (melody, music). People going to a songwriting workshop will, or at least should, want to either write words and tunes or new words to go with traditional tunes.
Robert Johnson's mother, describing blues musicians:
"I never did have no trouble with him until he got big enough to be round with bigger boys and off from home. Then he used to follow all these harp blowers, mandoleen (sic) and guitar players."
Lomax, Alan, The Land where The Blues Began, NY: Pantheon, 1993, p.14.
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