JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Songwriter Message Forum Blume article

Dylan said it: don't copy me. He's a specific type of artist. He focuses on his songs, but I remember when he came out...bought his first album. The hoopla was about Bob Dylan. When Dylan himself speaks about art, he doesn't separate if from the artist. He speaks about Rembrandt, speaks about the beat poets by name (Ferlenghetti, Burroughs etc.) So while Bob Dylan admonishes the songwriter to focus on the song, his audience does not.

Dylan has one of the most influential singing voices of the 20th century, the list of famous singers who were influenced by him would include John Lennon, Tom Petty, and John Prine, just to name a very few. So Dylan, though he may think of himself as a songwriter, became famous as a singer of his songs, just as Woody Guthrie did, as John Prine did, as Lennon did, as Petty did, and as nearly all of the serious, artistic writers have ( a few exceptions being Jimmy Webb and, uh, well I'm sure you folks will think of more ).

However, for the writer who composes serious songs, and aspires to be in the league with Dylan and Rembrandt, yet whose voice is not compelling, the avenues become restricted. For the lyricist, even more so. There are a few, like Robert Hunter, who find success (Robert who?).

I've known some fine writers like this who spend a bundle on demos and demo singers, never get any cuts, and don't sing well enough (or are too self conscious about their singing) to even do writers' nights. They are either independently wealthy, very poor and scraping their money together to spend on demos, or write part time. I've told the ones who would hear it, that they should find a vocal collaborator. Try to find a vocalist who fits their style and has a unique sound. Then concentrate on that collaborative "sound" to present to the world.

Then, for the writers who are the new "Tin Pan Alley" breed. Writers who love pop music and want to write hits in today's style, I recommend listening to what Jason Blume has to say. He has a proven track record and is a serious, dedicated educator, witness the first few lines of the article Ande found:

"There's more to teaching songwriting than providing pointers on how to craft the perfect lyric, according to hit songwriter Jason Blume.

It's about constructive honesty, support and hope.


And Blume should know: He has taught free songwriting classes once a month at BMI for the past 10 years. All people have to do to attend is show up the day of class and register."

Free classes, stressing constructive honesty, support and hope. CONSTRUCTIVE honesty (let the focus and agenda of your honest assessments be constructive and positive, not destructive and negative). SUPPORT (consult your team, you DO have a team, don't you?) HOPE (as Robert Heinlien wrote: "Sure the game is rigged, but if you don't play you'll never win." You can spend your time complaining about the game, or spend your time playing it.)

Here's a hint. I'll bet you can find of Mr. Blume's books "6 Steps to Songwriting Success" and "The Business of Songwriting," among his other titles, at the public library.

In my opinion, Jason Blume is a good educational resource for songwriters at every level. I recommend that songwriters read as many books, magazines, and articles about their art and craft as they possibly can. If one finds a book or article that resonates with them, I recommend they seek the author as a teacher. I do not recommend that a songwriter sign up for a course without first reading some of the teachers methods and philosophy, which can be done inexpensively or for free. I do not think it is a good idea to seek only teachers whose own work matches the students own likes and dislikes. The student then receives a narrow education. Rather, they should seek out teachers and mentors whose teaching style resonates with the student, as well as teachers whose own artistic works have been successful. You might find a teacher whose writing you just love, but discover that they can't teach for diddle. If one is blessed to be able to learn independent of an instructor, then their teachers become the artists whom they study. Still, I advise they seek out styles and genres other than those they simply "like." Othewise one gets a narrow education and, consequently, a narrow mind.

Finally, I advise students to be open to, and to seek, many teachers, as Mr. Dylan has.

All the Best,
Mike