Songwriting

» DavidS_9 - Dear Deborah, This article looks like a smokah....I'd better

Dear Deborah,

This article looks like a smokah....I'd better budget some time with it, for sure - when I'm not tying up my poor family's phone line. Thanks!

Yours truly,
David

-- posted by DavidS_9

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» Deborah_Jeter - David, I would have been disappointed if I hadn't heard from you

David, I would have been disappointed if I hadn't heard from you about this article. Good to see your post. Being the songwriter that you are, I would imagine that you could point ME to some URLs that would be even better than the ones I was able to dig up. I hope you enjoy the information that is presented at the sites.

Now, I wonder where Andrew Farnham is? He's another great songwriter that I would like to hear from. He should be around here somewhere. Andrew?

Deborah Jeter
Suite 101 - Music Education

-- posted by Deborah_Jeter

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» CoreyL - Deborah, Thanks for visiting my area here on Suite 101. Being

Deborah,

Thanks for visiting my area here on Suite 101. Being a newbie, it was very nice of you to welcome me aboard. As you said you don't know much about nursing, I don't know too much about music although I played clarinet for about 8 years and was drum major back in high school. But give me a clarinet now and you'll want some earplugs! =)

I'll be sure to check back often and maybe I can relearn from you some of the things I've forgotten...

-- posted by CoreyL

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» Deborah_Jeter - Hi, Corey! Thanks for dropping by. I'll make a deal with ya! I'l

Hi, Corey! Thanks for dropping by. I'll make a deal with ya! I'll do my best to help clean out your cob webs in regard to music for you and you can refresh me on some first aid for my students so I'll know more than how to apply a band-aid. Deal?

Deborah Jeter
Suite 101 - Music Education

-- posted by Deborah_Jeter

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» AndrewF_2 - Dear Deborah, I sure enjoy your articles! Right now I am busy

Dear Deborah,

I sure enjoy your articles! Right now I am busy enough making MIDI files that I won't be able to explore all of the great links you have found. I will later, though, My experience in songwriting, which I expect also is true for David, is that form follows function. Meaning: I largely write for the occasion. For example, I just wrote a song titled "Dr. Responsibility" for my school's behavior incentive program. I'll send it to you.
I tend to write kids songs to sing with my students, I write songs for musicals my 5th graders put on. (when there is a need in the script) and rarely (usually during the summer) I write for myself. When I write for myself I like to explore adult themes that I am not able to during the school year. Imagine that!
Of course, I use MIDI a lot in my songwriting to create accomps., as a sketchpad, and finally to print sheet. But, I still am most creative with a guitar in my hands.
A couple of resources I use: "Essential songwriter's Rhyming Dictionary" from Alfred, and "Beginning Songwriter's Answer Book" by Paul Zollo from Writer's Digest Books.
When I teach my students about Bach's working life (composing while teaching) I feel a slight kinship. I didn't start out to be a songwriter, it just sort of happened. Are there other teachers out there who are regular composers as a part of their jobs? I would like to hear from them.

Thanks for what you do, Deborah!
Sincerely,
Andrew Farnham

-- posted by AndrewF_2

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» Deborah_Jeter - Well, hello there, Andrew! I have done very little composing in

Well, hello there, Andrew! I have done very little composing in my career. In fact, I guess it would be more truthful to say that I have done ZERO. However, I have arranged accompaniments and created my own back up tapes from original songs given to me by friends. I admire and envy those who are able to compose. The few songs that I have composed have been completely for my own enjoyment and only the closest of friends and family members were allowed to hear them.

This is a good opportunity to announce that Andrew has agreed to be a guest/co-editor for this week's article. So be sure and drop by on Friday to see what he has to say about Music Technology in the classroom. I am very pleased that he is willing to contribute on this topic as I am a complete novice!

Thanks for the compliment, Andrew! I enjoy finding resources for music teachers but it's always nice to hear that the resources are appreciated.

Deborah Jeter
Suite 101 - Music Education

-- posted by Deborah_Jeter

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» DavidS_9 - Hey, Andrew, don't forget to mention that great little Mac secre

Hey, Andrew, don't forget to mention that great little Mac secret you turned me onto about the percussion all lurking in the A10 channel. Does that only work in MusicTime? I have a feeling that is not the case. At any rate I'm having a blast with it. I think I'll slide on over and email you two pages of what I've been working on most recently, so you can bear witness as to what kind of havoc the revelation of your information has unleashed. It was originally a Spanish Graduation samba that now. Now that I've got all those little gremlins in the A10 channel to do all the heavy lifting, intead of me with a single guitar, it's turned itself into a Spanish Graduation charanga. So thank you, once again, for imparting this great little secret, and also for Dr. Responibility and Alie, the Elf.

And speaking of finding hidden things, if you want to do a lot of folks a favor, mention the trick with the ƒ folder containing the cache memory, for all the people like me that that want to be able to access and save sound files they're hearing over the internet. It may seem like a fairly obvious thing to you, but I only found out about it a couple of weeks ago. I'll look for you on Friday.

Yours truly,

David Saphra

http://www.concentric.net/~Gamba

-- posted by DavidS_9

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» Deborah_Jeter - Hey! ;-) David, we've got to save some of those goodies till And

Hey! ;-) David, we've got to save some of those goodies till Andrew can write an article for us in the future. I've already written this week's article and it's based along the lines of an interview.

I play the ignorant, beginner and ask VERY basic questions.

Andrew plays the role of Experience Midi Guru and answers them very succinctly. ;-)

This week's article may be a little too beginner level for you, wise and informed one that you are.

I have NO idea what you are talking about. But I'm chompin' at the bits to learn! Hope the article this Friday takes the edge off of those who have felt intimidated by this type of technology. Namely, me! ;-)

Deborah Jeter
Suite 101 - Music Education

-- posted by Deborah_Jeter

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