Songwriting Lessons

Online Interactive Song Critique Webinars

Limited to (8) attendees.

Thursday, May 19th, 7:00pm – 9:00pm (CDT— Nashville time)

Wednesday, May 25th, 7:00pm - 9:00pm (CDT - Nashville time)

Wednesday, July 13th, 7:00pm – 9:00pm (CDT – Nashvilletime)

Thursday, July 21st, 7:00pm – 9:00pm (CDT – Nashville time)

Thursday, July 28th, 7:00pm – 9:00pm (CDT – Nashville time)

FUTURE DATES POSTED SOON. If you’d like to be notified in advance, please email Neil at jbsongdoc@gmail.com

Each participant will receive an in-depth, detailed critique by Jason Blume -- including melody, lyric, and commercial potential. You can ask questions and make comments about your critique. All attendees will have an opportunity to share comments and suggestions about every song, so you will receive a full critique by Jason, as well as feedback by your peers.

This is not only a song critique; as issues come up, Jason will share lessons, tools, and techniques that will benefit all attendees.

Cost: $75 (per song; one song per person)

Jason will discuss what publishers and recording artists are looking for, and the melodic and lyric qualities that he will be steering you toward. He will also address how to best benefit from a critique—and what not to do.

Each attendee will receive a copy of every song and lyric being critiqued during the session. Why? Because the webinar sound quality is not terrific and this way everyone will be able to hear your song clearly and follow along with the lyric.

FYI, you will be able to re-watch the webinar for one month after the online event.

TO REGISTER:

SEND AN EMAIL TO NEIL AT JBSONGDOC@GMAIL.COM

YOU WILL RECEIVE A PAYPAL INVOICE AND INFORMATION ABOUT SENDING YOUR SONG.

F.A.Q.:

Which song(s) should I play?

Play the song you want help with. There is no benefit in playing a song you have already released, unless you are willing to revise it.

Does it have to be a full demo?

No. Jason urges you to submit rough recordings. Why spend time and money recording something that you might need to change? All he needs to hear is the melody and lyrics. If you don’t have chords, sing it a capella.

What styles of music will you be dealing with?

All types of pop, country, rock, and Americana/singer-songwriter songs. At this time, no rap, jazz, Broadway, or instrumentals.

What if I only have a lyric?

That’s fine. Jason can critique a lyric.

Should I have the song copyrighted first? Can someone steal my song?

Someone can steal your concept and your title anytime you play your song anywhere—or post it online. Titles and concepts are not protected by copyright. However, having a song stolen happens far more rarely than most people think.

The moment your song is in a “fixed” form (i.e., a rough recording) you own the vast majority of rights to the song. Registering your song with the copyright office confers some additional rights, but most professional songwriters and music publishers do NOT copyright their songs until they are being commercially released. You will have nine witnesses and a recording to prove that you played your song during the webinar. In the extremely unlikely event that there is an infringement case you will be well protected. But ultimately, you have to decide whether you are comfortable with others hearing your work before you have registered it with the copyright office.

Can I sign up just to get my own song critiqued? I don’t want to hear other writers’ songs.

Yes, but we do not advise it. This is a learning and networking opportunity and there is much that will be gleaned by hearing what works—and what does not work—in other writers’ songs.

BMI MusicWorld magazine articles by Jason Blume:

“5 Tips for Songwriting Success in the New Year”

http://tinyurl.com/zs626ed

* * *

“Are Your Song Pitches as Perfect as They Should Be”

http://tinyurl.com/gozq9fb

* * *

"Writing and Placing Christmas & Holiday Songs"

http://tinyurl.com/hroukhx

* * *

"How To Get the Demo You Need"

http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/how_to_get_the_demo_you_need1

* * *

“5 Tips for a Happy Marriage of Music and Lyrics”

http://tinyurl.com/juxfkmp

* * *

“The Good, the Bad, and the Hits That Come From Collaboration”

http://tinyurl.com/job8tbt

* * *

“How Much Would You Pay To Advance Your Songwriting Career?”

http://tinyurl.com/guwcune

* * *

“Pitch Perfect: The Do’s and Don’ts of Pitching Songs”

http://tinyurl.com/qhh88a3

* * *

"Writing and Placing Songs Internationally"
http://tinyurl.com/jozp78u

* * *

"The Top 5 Demo Pitfalls -- and Their Remedies"
http://tinyurl.com/zjb88le

* * *

"The Top 5 Melody Pitfalls -- and How to Avoid Them”

http://tinyurl.com/psg82oj

* * *

"The Top 5 Lyric Pitfalls--and How to Avoid Them."

http://tinyurl.com/jt2wy79

* * *

“I Know I have a GREAT song....now what?”

http://tinyurl.com/gkv3h93

* * *

“Placing Music On TV and in Films”

http://tinyurl.com/mvvmuec

* * *

“5 Tips to Turn Good Songs to HIT Songs”

http://tinyurl.com/ot5afw7

* * *

“Finding Great Song Titles and Fresh Angles”

http://tinyurl.com/p6g658c

* * *

“Show – Don’t Tell; 3 Steps to Writing Better Lyrics”

http://tinyurl.com/pn97ymv

* * *

"What Kinds of Songs Work Best for TV and Film Placements – and How Do You Find Them?"

http://tinyurl.com/m2y4lsw

* * *

"The Art of Rewriting"

http://tinyurl.com/o4oau23

* * *
“Current Trends in Country Music: What’s Hot & What’s Not”
http://tinyurl.com/o3h5tha

Online Interactive Song Critique Webinars

Limited to (8) attendees.

Monday, January 9, 7 pm - 9+ pm CST (Nashville time)

Thursday, January 19, 7 pm - 9+ pm CST (Nashville time)

FUTURE DATES POSTED SOON. If you’d like to be notified in advance, please email Neil at jbsongdoc@gmail.com

Each participant will receive an in-depth, detailed critique by Jason Blume -- including melody, lyric, and commercial potential. You can ask questions and make comments about your critique. All attendees will have an opportunity to share comments and suggestions about every song, so you will receive a full critique by Jason, as well as feedback by your peers.

This is not only a song critique; as issues come up, Jason will share lessons, tools, and techniques that will benefit all attendees.

Cost: $75 (per song; one song per person)

Jason will discuss what publishers and recording artists are looking for, and the melodic and lyric qualities that he will be steering you toward. He will also address how to best benefit from a critique—and what not to do.

Each attendee will receive a copy of every song and lyric being critiqued during the session. Why? Because the webinar sound quality is not terrific and this way everyone will be able to hear your song clearly and follow along with the lyric.

FYI, you will be able to re-watch the webinar for one month after the online event.

TO REGISTER:

SEND AN EMAIL TO NEIL AT JBSONGDOC@GMAIL.COM

YOU WILL RECEIVE A PAYPAL INVOICE AND INFORMATION ABOUT SENDING YOUR SONG.

F.A.Q.:

Which song(s) should I play?

Play the song you want help with. There is no benefit in playing a song you have already released, unless you are willing to revise it.

Does it have to be a full demo?

No. Jason urges you to submit rough recordings. Why spend time and money recording something that you might need to change? All he needs to hear is the melody and lyrics. If you don’t have chords, sing it a capella.

What styles of music will you be dealing with?

All types of pop, country, rock, and Americana/singer-songwriter songs. At this time, no rap, jazz, Broadway, or instrumentals.

What if I only have a lyric?

That’s fine. Jason can critique a lyric.

Should I have the song copyrighted first? Can someone steal my song?

Someone can steal your concept and your title anytime you play your song anywhere—or post it online. Titles and concepts are not protected by copyright. However, having a song stolen happens far more rarely than most people think.

The moment your song is in a “fixed” form (i.e., a rough recording) you own the vast majority of rights to the song. Registering your song with the copyright office confers some additional rights, but most professional songwriters and music publishers do NOT copyright their songs until they are being commercially released. You will have nine witnesses and a recording to prove that you played your song during the webinar. In the extremely unlikely event that there is an infringement case you will be well protected. But ultimately, you have to decide whether you are comfortable with others hearing your work before you have registered it with the copyright office.

Can I sign up just to get my ow

AUDIO LESSONS

These recorded lessons are equivalent to taking a Master Class with Jason Blume. They come with creative exercises and/or valuable resources to help you place your music.

WRITING HIT MELODIES (77 MINUTES)

Topics include:

Writing A Capella; Including Fresh Rhythms In Your Vocal Melodies;

Ways To Incorporate Melodic and Rhythmic Repetition

Contrasting Your Sections; Using Unexpected Melodic Intervals;

Appropriate Range; Post Choruses; Non-Lyric Vocal Hooks;

Chords; Rewriting Melodies; Rewriting Demonstration

Hands on Creative Exercises

Writing GREAT Lyrics (68 Minutes)

Topics include:

Effective Titles And Concepts; Great Opening Lines

How to Lead Listeners to Your Title; Creating A Lyric Palette

3 Steps To Evoke Emotion; Using Action; Incorporating Imagery; Adding Details

Including a Time and Place; Writing Effective Lyrics That Don’t Tell Stories

Crfating Lyrics That Lend Themselves To Catchy Melodies

Conversational Versus Poetic Lyrics and Clichés

Be Real—But Serve Your Song

Avoid Preaching—Unless You’re Writing Gospel

Avoid Redundancy; The Lyric Test

Includes handouts and exercises to incorporate these tools into your songs.

Taking Care of Business (74 Minutes)

Topics include:

How to "Sell" and Publish Your Songs

Understanding Single Song Contracts and Staff-Writing Deals

How to Collect Performance and Mechanical Royalties; Licenses

Understanding Holds; Do You Need a Copyright?

How to Pitch Your Songs; Should You Hire a Songplugger?

Introduction to Placing Your Songs in TV & Film

Resources for getting your songs to recording artists,

film/TV music libraries, & music supervisors

Placing Music in TV & Film (72 Minutes)

Includes a downloadable "Work for Hire/

Musicians' & Vocalists' Waiver" Agreement

Topics include:

How to Place Your Songs with Music Production Libraries

Lyrics, Styles, & Tempos That Work Best

Understanding Music Clearance

The Role of Music Supervisors & Music Editors - and How to Get to Them

Placing Songs in Commercials

How Songs Earn Money from TV and Films - and How Much, & More.

$20 FOR EACH LESSON

SAVE $15 -- ORDER THE COMPLETE SET FOR $65

INSTRUCTIONS AND CODES WILL BE SENT WITHIN 24 HOURS.

IF YOU USE AN ADDRESS DIFFERENT FROM

THE ONE ASSOCIATED WITH YOUR PAYPAL ACCOUNT

PLEASE NOTIFY NEIL AT JBSONGDOC@GMAIL.COM