1. SONGWRITING For fun or for profit

2. WRITING A SELLABLE SONG 1. Structure: Know the formula before before you break it 3:00 to 4:00 minutes 25 seconds to chorus; 20sec. Chorus better to go too short than too long

3. Basic structure A verse B chorus A verse B chorus C bridge A? verse B chorus

4. MELODY Repeat with variations No large spaces between parts Most in 4/4 time (octave plus 3) Know your genre Melody comes back to home Chorus and verse different melodically Often moves up scale/drops in last verse (creates tension)

5. Melody is more important than words Keep rhythms simple Is the chorus memorable? Do you have a great hook? Exercise: pick a beat from a favourite song  Pick a chord progression  Then add words and melody

6. LYRICS Be conversational Hook is crucial (often title) Avoid too many words Repeat Use short syllable words/not too artsy Symmetry is not necessary in words—line length with vary depending on how words stretch across rhythms

7. Avoid heavy-handed rhymes for most genres Use consonance, assonance, internal rhyme The heat is sweet/you help me breathe You sell your love but leave me some I’d rather leave while I’m in love I still believe in the meaning of the word

8. PREPARING A SELLABLE SONG Make it good before you spend money If a word or a note bugs you now, it will bug someone else too Make a demo--$100-1000 four songs max Get local musicians or pay Get evaluations on line: musemuse, songu Go to writing workshops, writing groups Join ASCAP or SOCAN (for royalties/courses)

9. SELLING A SELLABLE SONG Get local talent to play your songs Use online matching services: Taxi.com Songbridge.com Chase down publishers, producers, A & R people at labels Hire pluggers Have an electronic presence  Electronic press kit as well as print press kit  MySpace, YouTube, Blog

10. And Persevere!!!!!