What Coaching Songwriters Taught Me about Creativity
Writing exceptional songs means expressing feelings through lyrics. It means crafting evocative melodic journeys. It means charting thrilling chord progressions.
Songwriters must become masters of lyrics, melody, and chord progressions.
But becoming a songwriter isn’t JUST about the music. Becoming a songwriter is ALSO about ACCESSING YOUR CREATIVITY.
In my twelve years (and counting!) as a songwriting coach, I’ve helped songwriters around the word develop lyrics, melodies, and chord progressions. Not to mention song forms, rhyme schemes, song premises, and production.
But none of this is available to artists if we don’t first address CREATIVITY.
Why has the artist stopped getting new song ideas?
— We take a break lyrics to address INSPIRATION.
Why is the artist feeling like she has nothing to offer?
— We take a break from melody to address COURAGE.
Why isn’t the artist making time for songwriting?
— We take a break from chord progressions to address DISCIPLINE?
Why is the artist too tired to make progress on her new song?
— We take a break from song form to address REST.
Why is the artist feeling unsupported in her creative choices?
— We take a break from rhyme schemes to address CONNECTION.
I love helping my artists find the one word that brings a chorus lyric into focus. I love helping artists find the one chord that turns a pre-chorus into a bona fide ramp. But truly, I make the MOST difference for an artist when I help them ACCESS CREATIVITY.
So yes, as a songwriter, you should study songwriting.
Go study songwriting!
BUT ALSO! Alongside your songwriting study, study YOURSELF AS A CREATIVE PERSON.
— How can you ignite INSPIRATION so you have enough lyrics to get you through your second verse?
— How can you summon COURAGE so you feel brave enough to open for your favorite artist?
— How can you challenge DISCIPLINE so you’re not only starting new songs, but FINISHING new songs?
— How can you commit to REST so when you get a new song idea at 4pm, you’ll be poised and ready to receive it?
— How can you nurture CONNECTION so you have the mentors, allies, and collaborators you need to record a new EP?
As strange as it feels, set aside the song and TAKE THE TIME to become CREATIVELY SAVVY: aware of your unique creative needs so you can finally give your creativity the resources to thrive.
So you can recognize that singular creative voice that is yours.
You’ll move the needle on your songwriting as never before.
To learn more about your PARTICULAR CREATIVE NEEDS, start with the MUZI CREATIVITY QUIZ. It’s a 30 question quiz that measures how five resources essential to creativity — INSPIRATION, COURAGE, DISCIPLINE, REST, and CONNECTION — operate in you.
Available FOR FREE when you download Muzi in the Apple App Store.