A New Year's Resolution List: Ten Goals for Songwriters

Written by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website. _______________ New Years is a good time to set goals for yourself. As a songwriter, you really need to establish objectives if you want to improve and become the writer you’ve always wanted to be. But what kind of goals work for composers? “I […]

Note to Gymnastics Canada: Songwriting is a PROFESSION

Written by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website. _____________ The Chronicle-Herald, the daily newspaper from Halifax, Nova Scotia, ran a story Saturday, November 28, describing a situation where Canada’s national composers’ society (SOCAN) is wanting to be paid for the music used by local gymnastics groups. (See story here.) Gymnastics Canada has […]

Talent vs Knowledge: Which is More Valuable?

by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website. FOLLOW Gary on Twitter, for songwriting tips and news. ___________ Talent – the word refers to a natural ability; to describe someone as talented is to say that they have an innate understanding of the intricacies of their field, and can produce something impressive, even if they lack […]

Stimulating Your Other Senses to Help Cure Writer's Block

by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website; __________ Every songwriter goes through a rough patch, when writing the next tune seems all but impossible. Despite our best efforts, it happens. And even though you may do the things most people – including me – will offer as solutions (setting a regular time […]

The Role of Inspiration in Songwriting

by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website. When I pick up a pencil and try to draw a face, it looks grotesque. I get the perspective wrong, the shading looks haphazard, and the dimensions are simply off! Because I am untrained, I can’t really finish any drawing I start. As I progress […]

Expand Your Songwriting Technique by Expanding Your Musical Mind

by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website. If you’re looking for a fresh new perspective on songwriting – something to get your songs working again, Gary Ewer’s songwriting e-books will clear your mind and get you writing successful songs. They explain why good songs work, and how to get bad songs working! You can […]