So, for the past several months I have been studying…a lot. Not only am I a singer/songwriter/actress/dancer, I work with children with special needs. I was studying because there is a law changing November 1st and when this happens, many of my clients will be able to get insurance reimbursement for my services. However, my clients would only be eligible for these benefits, if I had different qualifications. This entailed my getting a masters degree and passing a board exam. After finishing this masters in May and taking and passing the board exam this September, I am now finally free to again wholeheartedly pursue music.
And it feels like I am starting again. I haven’t been able to focus on writing music, or even listen to music, for the past few months. The entire capacity of my iPod was filled with chapters and chapters of textbooks and articles that I painstakingly read into garageband to help me study. Earlier this week, when I found out that I passed the board exam, one of the first things I did (after joyfully screaming, calling people, and going out to celebrate), was reload music onto my iPod. To be able to listen to music for pleasure again, what a dream! For these past few months, I have felt stifled, every creative thought shoved away, scrawled on a notepad and saved for later. And, after all of this suppression, I find that I don’t know exactly where I am with my thoughts. I have been pushing impulses aside so often that it is hard to feel them at all right now. Also, I keep getting sick- three weeks ago I had strep, last week I had a chest cold and was considering if there would be a career for me as a contralto… Then, there’s the kid I work with who tried to rip the fingers off my left hand four weeks ago, making it still painful to shape chords on the guitar. All of these things getting in the way, excuses holding me back from what I want- to play music. I wasn’t imagining these excuses, but why did it seem that everything was getting in the way, rendering it impossible to do the one thing I dreamt of doing every moment that I was stuck studying for months?
Then, the moment comes, when I am again free to voice what I feel, create new music, and play, play, play, and I am silent. Perhaps my body has not yet caught up with my thoughts- I know I am done with the exam, done with the classes, done. But, my body is still frozen by the stress, the impending doom of failing and having to possibly study and re-take that exam again. (Thank goodness I passed.) So, I just sit, empty. And, since I haven’t been listening to how I feel for so long, I don’t even know how to listen. I don’t hear music, I don’t know what to write, I don’t know where to start, I don’t know how to start.
So, I just play. I pick up the guitar and play one of my songs. And, I’m almost in tears. Oh, I missed you! I play another song and another. And, I’m not creating new music, but at least I am re-visiting these friends of the past, the people who have inspired these songs.
And, I feel that I am surrounded by my journey and I know where I am suddenly- in the middle of it, all my music.
I’m in the beginning, in the middle, and in the end of journeys every moment of every day. I find an unfinished song lyric and, from memory, try to figure out the chords to accompany the melody floating through my mind, and slowly new comes from the old. What was unfinished becomes completed with where I am in my journey today.
And I have begun, again.
I’m SO happy you’re done with your studies, and that you are free to start again. Keep playing that guitar, and re-opening the creative flow. Soon you’ll be a lean, mean, writing machine again! xoxo PH
Thanks so much, Phil. I’m SO happy too!! I can’t wait to play you new songs!
Sounds like a wonderful place to be…enjoy your journeys — all of them
Thank for being so supportive of my journey, Shirley. Next up- back to dance classes!
Cuz- i am super excited and very proud of you!!!! I knew you would pass it!!! Create create create
Thanks! I didn’t know I would pass. I was sure that it could have gone either way. I am very grateful that the incessant studying paid off. create create create, I will!
Thats so awesome! Congratulations!!!!!
Thanks, Cristina! Yeah!!!!
OK so it sounds like you like a challenge…….Here ya go….take this and run with it….
Plot Verse 1 –
Description of how things used to be in the relationship
He sings two lines explaining how great things were
She sings two lines from her view point
He sings one line expanding
She s sings one line expanding
They both sing the next two lines in harmony
the second line contains the title of the song
He
He
She
She
He
She
Both
Both – Title
Plot Verse 2 –
Description of how things are now in the relationship
He sings two lines then explaining how great things are now
She sings two lines from her view point
He sings one line expanding
She s sings one line expanding
They both sing the next two lines in harmony
the second line contains the title of the song
H
H
S
S
H
S
Both
Both – Title
Pre-Chorus
This is two musical lines that crescendo into the chorus
the melody rises into the beginning note of the chorus
He can sing the first line and she can sing the second (or both)
Chorus Plot – this explains how things should be in the future
This is sung in harmony
The first note of the chorus is sung for six beats i.e. a whole note
in the first measure tied to a half in the second measure.
First line of the chorus is the title of the song
The last line of the chorus is also the title of the song
the chorus is only four lines
T
X
X
T
Verse 3 – Plot –
Describes how they are putting things back together i.e. apologetic in tone.
Same form as Verse one and two
Bridge – Drastic key change that leads back to the original key with a II,V
How great things can be if they work it out.
Four lines
****** Overall song form can be:
Verse1
Verse2
Pre-chorus
Chorus
Verse3
Bridge
Pre-chorus
Chorus
End
Cheers
Bill
Oh my goodness! That is hilarious and YOU ARE ON!!! When it is done and I perform it somewhere, I will let you know so you can come see if I did your challenge justice! Yeah! Keep the challenges coming!
Does the song “you’re the reason god made oklahoma” fit the pattern?
Hmmm. I think you are right!