An amateur songwriter should begin their journey by taking a class or attending a local workshop that will provide useful tips and guidelines on the creative and technical processes of songwriting. These resources might even offer connections within the business that will help your work get heard upon completion. Many local colleges and universities offer music classes in a la carte so that you can brush up on your skills with the help of a trained professional. Musical colleges have intensive songwriting workshops from which the beginner and advanced artist can benefit. Before enrolling in or paying for a class, confirm that the establishment is a legitimate educational institution and not an online scam that claims to transform your skills in a two-hour session.
One of the biggest mistakes that budding songwriters make is promoting a song that is not strong enough to make it in the competitive music industry, according to Tony award-nominated composer and songwriter Danny Arena. If musical instinct tells you that your tune can be stronger, either lyrically or musically, keep working on it until you are sure that it is the best piece of work that you can create. The extra time and effort spent on improving the song will pay off when it is better received by audiences and record label recruits.
Good songwriters are good listeners. They actively listen to music on the three planes as described by American classical composer Aaron Copland. The sensuous plane allows the artist to express their personal taste in musical rhythm, harmony and timbre. The expressive plane is when the message of the music comes through and a successful songwriter should match the music to the lyrical proclamation. The sheerly musical plane addresses the technical components of the piece. Does the meter and tempo match the placement of the words? Is the arrangement of choruses and verses logical or perhaps purposely illogical? Does the piece evoke a sense of musical balance between all of the elements?
Cassette tapes and 8-track players are music industry dinosaurs of the past. Your work will be best promoted by an MP3 file and digital lead music sheets that can be emailed to prospective artists, record labels and publishing companies. There are also online opportunities available to new artists. Websites cdbaby.com and YouTube.com might earn you valuable exposure and may lead to increased professional interest in your work. Fully research all of your options, and make as many networking connections as you can along the way.
Perhaps the best way to test out your creation is by presenting it to a legitimate audience. That is, perform it for someone aside from your mom or other close family members and friends who might be reluctant to give you constructive criticism. If possible, have a professional listen to the song and be open to the advice that is given. Performing the piece at your local coffee-shop or at an open-mic night also will give you objective listener feedback that might be critical to the fine-tuning of the composition.