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
Do you need advice on how to get your viola to sound good? Traditional strings (e.g., violin, viola, etc.) have an edge on fretted strings (e.g., guitar, banjo, etc.), because they have flexible pitch and so can get their harmonies gorgeously in tune. However, this is only true if you have solid intonation skills. Click to learn how to play your viola in tune. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
How to Play Your $@*% Viola in Tune Read More »
Do you want to know how to write heavenly worship songs? Do you need help learning how to craft both good lyrics and music? Writing praise and worship songs that have uplifting music and lyrics is both an art and a ministry. Click to learn how to strike that balance. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
How to Write Heavenly Worship Songs Read More »
Do you want to know how to record using a digital audio workstation? When I was a teen, and recording my band, all we had was two mics, two mic stands, and a dinky little four-track tape recorder, which had severely limited audio quality. However, today’s modern DAW software can get you pro quality results without having to buy a whole recording studio. Click to learn how to record using a DAW (digital audio workstation). Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
How to Record Using a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) Read More »
Do you need help learning open A? There’s more than one way to finger the chord. So, we’ll talk about how the context makes a difference and best practices for each fingering. Click to learn how to play a guitar A chord. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Best Practices: How to Play a Guitar A Chord Read More »
Do you need help choosing guitar strings? One of the biggest things that affects your sound is your strings. Therefore, your choice is very important and very personal. Click to learn how to choose the best guitar strings for you. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
How to Choose the Best Guitar Strings for You Read More »
Do you have a hard time getting your trumpet to sound right? Do you need help working on your melodic and harmonic intonation? If your ear isn’t fully trained, trying to get your instrument in tune can be frustratingly hard to pin down. Don’t panic! I’ve got you covered. Click to learn how to play your trumpet in tune. Estimated reading time 5 minutes.
How to Play Your $@#% Trumpet in Tune Read More »
Do you want to sing at weddings? Do you need help developing your repertoire? A wedding is a special time for a couple because it’s the beginning of building a life together. If you do your job right, you help build memories that will last for the rest of their lives. Click to learn the top 5 best songs for professional wedding singers and learn about the resources for learning even more songs. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Top 5 Best Songs for Professional Wedding Singers Read More »
Find out more about Success Music Studio’s “Successful Music Student” blog and what it covers as you read the blog anniversary article. Click to learn how the Successful Music Student blog helps you grow in your music.
Success Music Studio Blog Anniversary Read More »
Do you want to be a disc jockey? Do you need to know how to get a professional sound? The term disc jockey comes from the early days of radio when on air personalities used to play disc-shaped records. However, it’s come to mean a whole lot more. If you want to be a DJ, you’ll need a pro sound, and to get that you’ll need the right gear. Click to learn how to sound like a pro disc jockey. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
How to Sound Like a Pro Disc Jockey (DJ) Read More »
Do you want to know how to write passionate romantic songs? Do you need help learning how to create melodies and lyrics? When you do it right, romantic songs will stir your audience’s emotions, allowing them to experience their feelings more deeply. Click to learn how to craft compelling melodies and vibrant lyrics. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
How to Write Passionate Romantic Songs Read More »