Learn to Improve Your Songwriting Through Daily Practice
Do you have songs inside you waiting to be created? This guide will show you how to unlock your musical potential by writing every day, just like a professional musician. You’ll learn how to push through tough moments, get valuable feedback, and understand that even ‘bad’ songs can lead to great ones.
Step 1: Embrace the Daily Writing Habit
Start by writing and recording at least one song every single day. This practice is key to improving your skills, even if you face setbacks. It’s about building consistency and getting your ideas out.
In October 2014, singer-songwriter Breland decided to write and record a song daily. For a full year, he created around 365 songs. This dedication helped him grow as an artist.
Step 2: Increase Your Output to Boost Skill
After seeing improvement, challenge yourself to write even more. Doubling your daily output can speed up your progress. This increased effort helps you learn faster.
The year after writing one song a day, Breland committed to writing and recording two songs daily. This meant he was creating over 700 songs in that second year alone. This intense schedule helped him develop much faster.
Step 3: Seek Feedback from Industry Professionals
Once you have a body of work, reach out to people in the music industry. Share your songs and ask for their honest opinions. Feedback is crucial for understanding where you can improve.
Breland began contacting songwriters, producers, managers, and artists. He sent emails, direct messages, and even handwritten letters. This outreach helped him get insights into songwriting and identify his weaknesses.
Tip: Be Persistent with Your Outreach
Don’t be discouraged if you don’t hear back immediately. Keep reaching out through different channels. Persistence can open doors to valuable advice and opportunities.
Step 4: Understand and Manage Writer’s Block
Writer’s block is a common challenge for musicians. Inspiration can come and go unexpectedly, and that’s perfectly normal. Accept that not every moment will be filled with creative energy.
Breland learned that it’s okay to step away from a song if it’s not working. He realized that forcing creativity can be counterproductive. Sometimes, the best approach is to let ideas rest.
Step 5: Serve the Song with Humility
Approach each song with humility, ready to give it what it needs to succeed. This means being open to new ideas, even if they differ from your usual methods.
Instead of relying only on what you think works, be open to trying something new. This approach allows the song to develop naturally. You can’t rush the creative process; it needs its own time to unfold.
Step 6: Gain Perspective by Stepping Back
Sometimes, the best way to improve a song is to take a break from it. This break allows you to return with fresh eyes and ears.
Breland sometimes listens to a song many times. Other times, he won’t listen at all for days or even a week. Working on other music during this time helps him come back to the original song with a new perspective.
Expert Note: Sharing Your Work Helps
Playing your song for other people can also provide valuable insight. Their reactions and suggestions can reveal aspects of the song you might have missed.
Step 7: Accept Different Timelines for Completion
Understand that songs take different amounts of time to finish. Some might be completed in a single day, while others could take months or even years.
There is no single right way to finish a song. It depends on how the inspiration strikes and how the song develops. Both quick and long processes are valid ways to create music.
Step 8: Learn from Every Song, Even the ‘Duds’
Don’t get discouraged by songs that don’t turn out as planned. Even unfinished or unsatisfying songs teach you valuable lessons.
These ‘dud songs’ help shape your future writing. The great songs you eventually create are often possible because of the practice gained from the songs that didn’t quite make it. Every song contributes to your growth as a writer.
Step 9: Keep Going to Reach Your Goals
Continue to work on your music consistently, and you will eventually create the songs you envision. Persistence is the key to achieving your songwriting dreams.
If something isn’t happening as quickly as you’d like, don’t get too down on yourself. Keep writing, keep recording, and keep seeking feedback. Your dedication will lead you to the music you want to make.
Source: Write every day, even if it’s terrible | Think Like A Musician (YouTube)
