Master’s degree in Songwriting
Hi all, SWF 2009 - Final Performance Night! We’re very excited to announce that the University’s Master’s degree in Songwriting has a new home, in the form of a purpose-built songwriters’ studio at our Corsham Court campus. The next enrolment is for September 2010 and we’re taking applications (subject to interview and songwriting portfolio) from now. To find out more about the course visit http://www.MASongwriting.com. You... [Read More...]
Final performance
Final Performance night - all the songs were written during SWF week. On the last day of the the 2009 Festival, we all got together in the café to play back the last of the week’s songs. Many people had delayed their live performance until this final session, due either to completing a particular song toward the end of the week, or the time taken in developing chord sheets for the house band. So the band had to learn around 20 songs in a 3-hour... [Read More...]
Demo panel
Day 4 – and the first demo panel. The demo panel 2009 - Boo Hewerdine, Andy West, Iain Archer, Chris Difford, Joe Bennett Our songwriters were invited to submit songs for group discussion for public critique (and many thanks to those who were brave enough to do this!). A recording of each song was played, with lyrics projected in the University Theatre. Our panel this year is Boo Hewerdine, Joe Bennett, Iain Archer, Andy West and Chris Difford. The... [Read More...]
House band sessions
The first house band song, performed on the Tuesday in the café. We’re two gigs in to the week now, and the house band members (Chris, Josh and me) are deep in rehearsal. The band system works like this; a songwriter completes their song (usually the same day), writes a chord sheet (or gets one of the tutors to write it), then brings this notation to our estimable ‘chord tsars’ Jo and Barry for checking. When the chart is complete,... [Read More...]
Lyric displays
I got the music in me! I’m getting lots of queries from current SWF songwriters who want to know how we project the lyrics for cover versions in our lectures. For those who missed it, here’s the link to the original blog entry where we discussed this in all its full technical detail. Teaching songwriting with a Mac Read More →
On the first day…
Richard works al fresco with one of our songwriters. We started today with my own introductory lecture and some discussion of songs. Many common songwriters’ issues and challenges came up, including chord loops, melodic structure, form and the concept of Big Idea, or core meaning. For many writers, this is the most difficult part of the process – nailing the single, simple idea at the heart of the song. And whenever it’s discussed,... [Read More...]
Songwriting in the dock: Satriani vs. Coldplay case
I’m sure lots of our community will remember the recent Satriani/Coldplay case [Read More...] Read More →
Will Hodgkinson article
Some lovely quotes here. The only assertion I’d disagree with is ’songwriting can’t be taught’, of course http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/jan/28/music-perfect-pop-song-pulp “A pop song does, however, follow certain rules. It is generally around three to four minutes, has a verse and a chorus, and uses a bed of chords to support a melody, with words that convey some sort of sentiment that an audience can relate... [Read More...]
New site – what do you think?
Dear songwriters, Welcome to our new virtual home. We’d appreciate it if you’d let us know your thoughts on this site, particularly things like… Previous SWF-ers – does the site sum up the experience fairly/accurately? Songwriters who’ve never been to SWF – does the site answer all the questions you have as a potential visitor? Songwriters worldwide – if you’re not planning to visit the Festival, but... [Read More...]
UK Songwriting Festival Student comments
Chloe describes how the Festival has altered her perspective on songwriting. Read More →