SUMMARY
Today I learned more about how songs are made.
LEADERSHIP ACTIVITY
- Pick one of the following: Leading by being part of a team or Leading by example
- Place your project idea, the description, and the outcome here:bit.ly/2ZxekGt
CLASSROOM (THEORY & ANALYSIS)
Explore Holistic Songwriting’s Artist Series
Explore Genius’ Songs Deconstructed Series
Explore Rick Beato’s What Makes This Song Great Series
How Adele Markets Herself | The Artists Series S1E8
-When you think of her you think of the “old soul underdog”
-She’s almost like a “reborn star of yesteryear”
-She has a sense of and instant classic or an old fashioned power house diva
-She seems like one of the great operatic singers of last decade (which is reenforced by the classic eyeliner and fake lashes and the pinned up hair)
-You can also sense the old fashioned-ness of her album covers which are often black and white
-You can also hear the old soul in the lyrics and instruments too (uses real instruments and recorded live)
-Doesn’t use autotune
-Her music videos use sapiatone and shadows even in daylight
-Has more old fashioned melodies
-The music video for “Rolling in the Deep” shows her as a powerful blues/soul singer with an attitude
-While other people will feature actors in their music videos to portray their struggles she almost always feature herself
-She recorded “Someone Like You” with only her voice and a piano (and backing vocals)
-Someone like you was also recorded in b&w
The Making Of Lil Nas X’s “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)” With Take A Daytrip | Deconstructed
-The house that “Montero” was recorded in was similar to the house in the movie Call Me By Your Name
-“All the melodies and harmonic things that Was was doing with his voice was done on that night”
-They used the same bass as they used in Lil Was X’s song “Panini”
-Over distorted bass in the 2nd verse
-They did the shaker sound with a piece of paper
-They used keys as the hi-hat
What Makes This Song Great?™ Ep.90 Nirvana “Smells Like Teen Spirit”
-The opening guitar is sloppily played but most likely on purpose because it sounds good
-The delay in the drum kick makes it sound powerful
-A signature thing from the band is their sudden dynamic changes
-Kurt Cobain had and incredible sense of melody
PRACTICE ROOM (GUITAR LESSONS)
- Watch Paul Davids: 8 Things I regret not doing when learning guitar(10:00)
- Watch Essential Hand Stretches For Guitarists or Any Instrumentalist
- Continue Justin’s 117 Free Lessons YouTube Playlist
8 Things I regret not doing when learning guitar
-Playing fast isn’t always better
Essential Hand Stretches For Guitarists or Any Instrumentalist
-My hand feels very flexible now so I guess it worked.
OUTSIDE (CREATIVITY & THE BRAIN)
- Watch and Listen to Adriel Wallick’s creative process (even though it’s about game design, it’s still a great process for any creative person)
This video inspired me and I might start using a similar approach with the goals I have.
STUDIO (SONGWRITING)
- Watch Holistic Songwriting: Songwriting Corner
The Songwriting Corner
-use 1-2 chords per bar
-Use syncopation so it doesn’t get boring
-Move stepwise and minimize jumps
-Use your ears (sometimes it doesn’t matter what something is doing harmonically as long as you think it sounds good)
WHAT I LEARNED and PROBLEMS I SOLVED
- Today I learned about how artists market themselves. I also learned more about how great songs are made. I’m not sure I had any problems today so that’s good.
TODAY’s ACTIVITY EVALUATION
Content (The WHAT)
Rating: OK – 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – HIGHLY ENGAGED
Rating: 4
I liked learning more about how to artists I like market themselves or just how they make their music in general.
Process (The HOW)
Rating: OK – 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – HIGHLY ENGAGED
Rating: 3-4
I think the Holistic Songwriting Artist Series engaged me the most because it had lots of things to take notes on.