The Western term for music comes from the Greeks. The ancient Greeks thought that the arts were inspired by a collection of nine gods called the Muses.
This is understandable, because when a songwriter creates a song, it can feel as if it has come from an outside source. However, it has really come from the intuitive part of the songwriter’s brain.
The idea in mythology was that the Muses channeled creative ideas to singers and instrumental performers, and they in turn created their art.
On the other hand, some cultures lack an equivalent word for music. For instance, in some parts of the world the word for singing remains the same as the word for praying.
For most of the world’s history, songs have been about more than just entertainment. It helped pull people together and bind them as a community. It would be hard to imagine a church service, sporting event, or school rally without songs.
Songs have often had important roles in life cycle events: births, deaths, seasonal songs, coming of age, work songs, and holidays.
Composers and songwriters sculpt sound into compositions. In Western culture, we usually view it as entertainment. This mostly likely results from the structure of free market societies, which always looks for ways to monetize products and services.
The Music Archive includes posts on different ways of learning to sing, play instruments, and compose. However, the list below focuses on songwriting posts.
Songwriting Posts on Melody and Harmony Composition:
See the posts below for full descriptions.
– Geoffrey Keith
© 2022 Geoffrey Keith
Would you like to know more about Beethoven’s music but are a busy person? Ludwig van Beethoven is a titanic figure in classical music. Along with Bach and Mozart, Beethoven is one of the composers you’re really going to want to check out. Keep reading to explore Beethoven’s beautiful music in less than four minutes. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Explore Beethoven’s Beautiful Music in Less Than Four Minutes Read More »
Do you want to play guitar? According to “The Talent Code,” an important aspect of learning an instrument is called “ignition.” What’s ignition? It’s a crystalizing experience where a person hears a song or sees someone playing and says, “I want to do that!” There are many great riffs out there, but I have selected seven of the best, most iconic, riffs spanning five decades. I hope one of them inspires you to play guitar. To learn more, keep reading “The 7 Best Iconic Riffs That Make People Want to Play Guitar.” Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
The 7 Best Iconic Riffs That Make People Want to Play Guitar Read More »
“What’s a virtuoso?” It’s a guitarist that’s scary good. I’ve compiled a list of 10 guitarists that are all in the conversation for “the best guitarist in the world.” Keep reading “10 Amazing Elite Virtuoso Guitarists” to see who made the cut.
10 Amazing Elite Virtuoso Guitarists Read More »
Are you confused about what polyphony is? Do you want to know how to write counterpoint? Elegant can mean tasteful, but it can also mean well-designed, which these example pieces are. Counterpoint and polyphony appear in arrangements in many different styles and will enhance your writing skills no matter what type of music you write. Keep reading “What Are Some Elegant Examples of Polyphony” to learn what it is and how it works. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
What Are Some Elegant Examples of Polyphony? Read More »
Would you like to explore Johann Sebastian Bach’s instrumental music but don’t have a lot of time to spend doing it? Bach is one of the most celebrated composers in classical music. He’s best known for writing delightfully complex polyphonic music. Keep reading to explore Bach’s epic orchestral music in less than four minutes. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Explore Bach’s Epic Orchestral Music in Less Than Four Minutes Read More »
“Maybe I’m old, but what is a beat or beats?” The word beat in Hip Hop doesn’t just refer to the rhythm tracks. Keep reading “What Exactly Does Beat Mean in Hip Hop?” to find out what it is and how it works. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
What Exactly Does Beat Mean in Hip Hop? Read More »
Do you wonder what the word bravo means? You can sometimes hear it shouted at classical music concerts. Keep reading “What Does the Exotic Sounding Word Bravo Mean at a Concert?” to learn classical concert etiquette. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
What Does the Exotic Sounding Word Bravo Mean at a Concert? Read More »
Do you want to know more about medieval chant? Gregorian chants are essentially medieval church songs that have a mysterious yet serene quality to them. Also, they played a pivotal role in developing modern musical notation. Keep reading to discover early music via beautiful medieval Gregorian chants. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
Discover Early Music Via Beautiful Medieval Gregorian Chants Read More »
Would you like to peruse Johann Sebastian Bach’s music but are short on time? Along with Mozart and Beethoven, J.S. Bach is one of the three composers that the person on the street will recognize by name. His music is celebrated for its intricate counterpoint and emotional intensity. Keep reading to explore Bach’s hypnotic choral music in less than four minutes. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Explore Bach’s Hypnotic Choral Music in Less Than Four Minutes Read More »
Dear readers, I’m happy to announce the significant milestone of posting my 300th blog article. Keep reading to learn more. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
Milestone: 300 Posts of Thought-Provoking Musical Advice Read More »