In 2002 and 2003, I participated in the 50 song challenge. There are no prizes or penalities. It is for songwriters to hone their craft and trade ideas. I liken it to a songwriting bootcamp, except there is no drill instructor, you are your own DI. The goal is to write 50 original songs in 90 days, lyrics and melody, July 4th to September 30th.
I can write about my history and my musical development. In 2002, I first heard about the challenge. I was mostly curious to read about what others were working on, but I had to join to do that. Before that time, I had written about a dozen songs in eight years, so the concept seemed absurd to me. The subconscious mind is powerful, so shortly after I joined, songs started coming to me in batches. As many as three in one day, and I was off and running.
I posted 37 songs in 2002, a lot of them of tepid quality, but some good stuff too. In 2003, I posted 25 songs, and could see a great deal of improvement. Since that time, I’ve been writing songs as they come, one or three a month. I find that the craft side is so much stronger now, that I can take inspiration when it comes and get the vitals of a song down quickly. As many writers will attest to, pure inspiration seems rare, writer’s block so much more common. Another thing I have learned is to shelve or discard ideas if they are not panning out quickly and to move on to the next idea.
If you are at all interested in songwriting and want to further develop the craft, try the 50 song challenge. It costs nothing, and all participants have found it to be worthwhile.
Okay, I know that there are only a few songwriters on board, and fewer still that write songs with lyrics, so the 50 song challenge isn’t of high interest here. However, some ideas that I have gleaned from doing the songwriting challenge the past two years can be applied to improving playing the whistle or most any other activity.
Do it every day, even if only for a short time. Whether it be playing music, or writing songs, or some other activity, daily repetition is the best way to get the muscle memory going. I find TV commercials a good time to get a few notes in. Others do it at stop lights while driving. Whistles are small enough that these options are available.
Keep it fun. Sounds counterintuitive to the first one, but if something becomes a chore the brain is going to tune out. Some of the lesson books and tutorials are less than inspiring. Feel free to learn songs that are not “on plan.”
Look for inspiration in small things. More so with songwriting than playing an instrument, but sometimes I’ll hear a melody and be inspired to want to try and repeat it. Or I’ll read about a song posted here and want to look it up. These small inspirations keep it fresh and fun.
Spread your wings. Performing in public, at open mics, at church, for friends is a great way to improve. If you want a forgiving audience one idea is to perform on your birthday and annouce it. Few people are going to razz you on your birthday. I can also suggest sessions, but with the caveat that beginners are best off observing at first rather than going in and wanting to play.
Keep it fresh. If you always play one style of music, explore others. If you always play in one key, perhaps look at others. A change of pace keeps things fresh. You may not become very proficient in something else, but exploring other areas will make your “home turf” more interesting when you come back.
Are you implying we could qualify with a 50 tune challenge?
When put that way, it sounds absolutely crazy to me. I mean, if you’re going to write a tune properly, you have to learn it, same as any other tune. And I definitely would not want to try to learn 50 tunes in 90 days. It would be a complete overload.
No thanks. Think I’ll stick to writing 5-15 tunes a year, as the fancy takes me.
…just signed up, we’ll see if the Moderator will let me be a part of the 50 Song contest. I’ve been playing and writing songs on the guitar for almost ten years now, and I’ve been involved in numerous projects over the past years doing all original music. I usually don’t play/practice the guitar too much over the summertime, I’m too busy doing things outdoors. However, the abundant sunshine and warm weather is very inspiring for me, and I have no problems writing a few tunes over the summer months. The 50 Song challenge will be a good motivational tool for me to pick up the guitar a little more often during the summer. I have no idea what the guidelines are, nor do I know what I’m getting myself into…
Keep it fresh. If you always play one style of music, explore others. If you always play in one key, perhaps look at others. A change of pace keeps things fresh. You may not become very proficient in something else, but exploring other areas will make your “home turf” more interesting when you come back.
I couldn’t agree with you more. Variety is the spice of life. I love music and I love all sorts of styles and genres (except for MTV/mainstream crap). I’ve got many influences when it comes to the guitar and I always try to create music that is original and innovative. I don’t want to copy a style that I’ve heard a million times before. What really impresses me with anyone’s playing/songwriting, is if they’re doing a particular style of music, but adding a completly new, fresh, sound to that style. For instance, if you’re a folk singer and you’re writing songs that are just imitating Joan Baez, I’m not gonna give two hoots. If I wanna hear Joan Baez, I’ll just go and listen to her CD’s! However, if you’re a folk singer and you’re trying to do something different with what you percieve folk music to be, that’s a bit more impressive. Anybody can copy a style of music, but not everyone can create their own style within the context of a larger whole…at least that’s how I see it.
It sounded crazy to me too. Again, I wrote 12 songs over eight years before doing the challenge. The challenge is about honing the craft side of what many consider an art. Immersion can be a powerful technique, whether learning a foreign language, an instrument or a craft. There is no right or wrong here.
Some can learn a tune well enough to perform in public in an hour. Others may want a week or a month to do so. Some can write a decent song in a hour, and many top hits were outlined in that time frame. Others may take days, weeks, months, years to peck out one song. I was in the latter camp as far as songwriting, and now I am in the former. I can say that where I am now is a more fulfilling, more creative space than the one I used to occupy, and I credit a great deal of that to my participation in the 50 song challenge. Again, there is no right or wrong.
As for the challenge itself, there are no prizes, no penalties. The group is informal and small, and the guidelines rather loose. Everyone that has participated in the challenge has found it to be a positive experience. For those that choose not to, that certainly is a valid choice. Whatever your choice, enjoy.
…alright, I’m in. It’s time to roll up my sleeves, pick up the guitar, a pen and paper and get to it!!
One question for you, Bill. From what I’ve seen so far, many people have lyrics…how can you tell if they’ve actually written a song with music?? Is there a way to post your music files??
It is all honor system. Many folks do not the time or equipment to make and upload a recording. Some upload to Soundclick, or Nowhereradio, but in most cases only the cream of the crop. I have never completed 50 songs, and don’t sing very well, so if I can record and upload my best five (my opinion), I will be happy. I look forward to seeing and/or hearing some of your songs. I’ve got two in the hopper that I plan to post lyrics for on the challenge newsgroup later today.
…well, sounds easy enough…the fact that I don’t have to upload a bunch of audio files, that is. I’ll keep my eyes peeled for your stuff, Bill. My Yahoo! ID is starbarlow24. I’ll be posting soon…
With the ID, starbarlow24, I imagine that you are an astronomer as well as a whistle player, guitar player and songwriter. I gave your song a once over at the challenge newsgroup. I did not know it was you when I did so. Interesting themes and images. Keep them coming and as always, enjoy.
I recently performed, “When the Trees Fall Down,” the first song that I wrote for this year’s challenge. I recorded the instrumental performance. I selected my Elfsong C, sassy brass. I bobbled a couple of times, but still got a nice hand. “When the Trees…” remains one of the strongest melodies that have come to me this challenge. As of this writing, I am at 39 songs and counting with my sights on 50 before October 1st. The curious can have a listen at:
I have been editing both lyrics and melody quite a bit so the following lyrics will not be an exact match for the tune you hear on Soundclick, but it does give the listener a good sense of the song.
When the Trees Fall Down
[chorus]
When the trees fall down, without a trace, without an audible sound,
When the tears roll down, upon your face, without an audible sound,
When lightning strikes, never think twice, thunder comes with the hail
When heart break comes, always believe, that love will always prevail…
[v1]
So break my heart with a thunder clap, blister, burn and travail.
And I will learn, I will know, that love will always prevail.
[repeat chorus]
[v2]
As lightning brings fire, a storm brings a drenching gale
As heart break makes liars, tears and a forlorn tale.
[repeat chorus]
[v3]
When fire brings ash, there are new pine cones on the trail.
Though heart break strikes, know that love always prevails.
