Are you passionate about worship? Do you long to write songs that tough God's heart and bless His people? Based on his years of experience, Matt McChlery explores the elusive art of songwriting within a Christian context in a practical and inspirational way. 'Songcraft' is packed full of tips and techniques for the Christian songwriter. It will put valuable tools into your hands and will ignite and inspire the creativity within you.

Are you passionate about worship? Do you long to write songs that touch God's heart and bless His people? Based on his years of experience, Matt McChlery explores the elusive art of songwriting within a Christian context in a practical and inspirational way. 'Songcraft' is packed full of tips and techniques for the Christian songwriter. It will put valuable tools into your hands and will ignite and inspire the creativity within you.

Are you passionate about worship? Do you long to write songs that touch God's heart and bless His people? Based on his years of experience, Matt McChlery explores the elusive art of song writing in a practical and inspirational way. 'Songcraft' is packed full of tips and techniques for the Christian songwriter. It will put valuable tools into your hands, and will ignite and inspire the creativity within you.

(Reference). Born from eight years of teaching songwriting for the Academy of Gospel Music Arts, Robert Sterling's The Craft of Christian Songwriting deftly tackles the much-overlooked subject of craft in the Christian songwriter's creative process. The book challenges its readers to aspire to the highest level of excellence, providing chapter after chapter of practical insights into the Christian songwriting experience. All the way from "Getting Started" to "Building a Demo," The Craft of Christian Songwriting shows beginning writers how to make their next song their "best song ever," all from the unique perspective of the Christian songwriter. Practical and realistic, The Craft of Christian Songwriting is a smart read for anyone with aspirations of becoming a Christian songwriter. Highlights: * Hundreds of examples from hit songs * Concise and practical instruction on all the essential elements of the songwriting process * Writing exercises to help you improve your craft * Learn the ins and outs of collaboration * Examine 10 full lyric reprints, complete with the author's analysis * Discover how to produce a proper demo recording

Publisher Description

Proven techniques for songwriting success This friendly, hands-on guide tackles the new face of the recording industry, guiding you through the shift from traditional sales to downloads and mobile music, as well as how you can harness social media networks to get your music "out there." You get basic songwriting concepts, insider tips and advice, and inspiration for writing — and selling — meaningful, timeless songs. Songwriting 101 — get a grip on everything you need to know to write a song, from learning to listen to your "inner voice" to creating a "mood" and everything in between Jaunt around the genres — discover the variety of musical genres and find your fit, whether it's rock, pop, R&B, gospel, country, or more Let the lyrics out — master the art of writing lyrics, from finding your own voice to penning the actual words to using hooks, verses, choruses, and bridges Make beautiful music — find your rhythm, make melodies, and use chords to put the finishing touches on your song Work the Web — harness online marketing and social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and others to get your music heard by a whole new audience Open the book and find: What you need to know before you write a single note Tips on finding inspiration Ways to use poetic devices in lyrics Computer and Web-based shortcuts and technologies to streamline songwriting A look at famous songwriting collaborators Writing for stage, screen, and television How to make a demo to get your song heard Advice on how to make money from your music Learn to: Develop your songwriting skills with tips and techniques from the pros Use social networking sites to get your music out to the public Break into the industry with helpful, how-to instructions

An effective new songwriting vocabulary supported by ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC. The Elements Of Song Craft does for songwriters what William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White’s The Elements Of Style did for English language students and writers alike; gives an all-in-one definitive manifesto for contemporary songwriters in every genre to organize, understand, and practice the rules, principles, definitions, forms, and song craft needed to create good songs, songs of undeniable creative power and beauty, songs that last. The Elements of Song Craft beelines directly to the most important aspect of writing good songs—identifying the key emotion living at the heart of the song—then offers a step-by-step process to harnessing that singular emotional power. Additionally, a dozen other strategies, formulas, perspectives, and exercises are offered in the book. The Elements of Song Craft introduces, for the first time to a general songwriting audience, an effective new songwriting vocabulary utilized by songwriters taught in the SONG ARTS ACADEMY method and supported by ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC, the world’s leading Performance Rights Organizations at the heart of the songwriting business, as well as at NYU Steinhardt’s and The New School’s songwriting programs, for over sixteen years. Thousands of song arts participants, including hit songwriters and The Voice and American Idol contestants, have been trained in this method.