It Just Needs a Little Work” by Marc Baskind the Only Time I Ever Heard the Piece
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NO MEETING IN DECEMBER. HOLIDAY PARTY DEC. 8 SVSA MUSIC NEWS NOVEMBER 2018 NOVEMBER FEATURE ARTICLE “ I didn’t say your song sucks ... ... it just needs a little work” by Marc Baskind the only time I ever heard the piece. and Greg Trafidlo Even today I could sing you the We were having lunch at a distinctive melody of the theme. restaurant and, as expected, the That melody did what good music is conversation inevitably turned to supposed to do: be a direct musical MARC BASKIND music and, more specifically, to experience from the heart of the writing better melodies. writer to the heart of the listener. Melody is the part of the music We all can recall our favorite with which both the singer and melodies instantly. But have you ever listener most identify. Formally asked yourself why it’s your favorite? called a ‘motif,’ it is the distinctive And what is the dynamic when you melodic foundation on which a song are flipping through radio stations is built. and a song grabs your attention? Many decades ago, while in On the other hand, have you ever junior college, I (Greg) heard an come out of a concert or a critique orchestral piece by the American session and not been able to recall GREG TRAFIDLO composer Alan Hovhaness. It was See Feature Article, page 2 PAYING YER The next meeting of 7:30 and will last until provide at least 25 DUES the SVSA will be held the last song critique is copies of the lyrics. Pay at a meeting, pay WEDNESDAY NOV 28 finished, or 10:30 p.m., Critiques are limited on our website, or mail in the LL Rice Room at whichever comes first. to members only $35 to: the Jefferson Center Members may submit but non-members SVSA in Roanoke, Virginia. one song for critique (on and guests are P.O. Box 698 Doors will open at cassette, CD, phone, encouraged to sit in on Salem, VA 7 p.m.; the meeting computer, or you can the discussions and 24153 begins promptly at perform it live) and should exercises. The authors of this month’s feature article flank Chicago showman Dave Rudolf at a benefit concert held last night at 3rd Street Coffeehouse in Roanoke VA. From left, Greg Trafidlo, Rudolf, and Marc Baskind. FEATURE ARTICLE Continued from page 1 the melody of even one song? comes in. Writing music with no abilities little by little. The same There are good reasons for that. A knowledge of theory is a little could be said for writing better good strong melody imprints the like writing a novel with no life melodies. song within you. In other words, experience. You use the same Luckily, you don’t need a you know it when you hear it. We tools and techniques, but you get degree in music. You already all should hope our songs have the shallower results. know what it will take to become same effect on our listeners. Music theory can be a better songwriter to get you Nashville Song Plugger of overwhelming if you have never to the next level. It takes a basic the Year Sherrill Blackman did a approached it or if you have shied understanding of all the elements songwriting workshop at Third away from it. Think of it as sort we hear in all the songs we listen Street for SVSA many years of like your relationship to your to daily. These elements have ago. He told us that writers from computer or cell phone. Those been with us all of our lives, from different parts of the country are technologies can do a gazillion the moment we heard our first stronger in either melody or lyrics. things, but one only needs to lullabies. SVSA was indeed stronger in have a grasp of a handful of the New melodies will alter the developing lyrics than in melody technological functions in order to mood by changing the tone of the and music writing. do useful things. From that point you song. It starts by listening to songs That’s where music theory can improve your knowledge and See Feature Article, page 3 2 | SVSA MUSIC NEWS | OCTOBER 2018 FEATURE ARTICLE Continued from page 2 you already know and enjoy but “some” and “where” are an octave and mood of the message. listening to them more critically. (the first note of the scale and the Sweet, angry, pitiful, haunting, Listen with different ears. Think same note and octave higher). mysterious, funny, etc. are all about the relationship of the notes As we compose our melodies, categories in which a song can find in the scales. we should pay attention to how a home. You have to believe that Notes and the space between the notes accentuate key words. there is a “right” melody for each them have a power of their own. For example Here Comes the Bride song you write. Just as voice inflection does in (which can be easily played on the Expanding the melodic range conversation, melody for the bridge or chorus enhances, even can add much more sometimes completely than just changing the changes, the meaning lyrics. Key changes and of your lyrical melody changes keep statement. Think of the song interesting some of the songs to the listener. Try you already know and changing a verse from like. The melody, line major to minor, or length, and emphasis vice-versa. Try going set up the attitude of from the major scale to the song. (I Can’t Get the relative minor. The No) Satisfaction or difference can go from Hotel California make interesting to stark, statements melodically adding tension and as well as lyrically. resolution. The use of Marc suggested this Take a deeper look at what you are just one new chord can phrase as an example already doing. Dig deeper into the add new color to the of the importance of entire song. emphasis: “I didn’t songs you already know and love. All we are say your song sucks.” recommending is to Now repeat six times, each time open 6th and 5th guitar strings (6- take a deeper look at what you over-emphasizing a different word 5-5-5). Notice how, when sung, the are already doing. Dig deeper in the sentence, and watch how most emphasized word becomes into the songs you already know the implied meaning is altered “bride.” Now reverse the strings, and love. For example, take one (“I didn’t say your song sucks” – start the pattern on the 5th and of The Beatles simpler songs someone else might have said it, 6th strings 5-6-6-6). “Bride” is not and try to examine the melodic “I didn’t say your song sucks” – a nearly so emphatic. The first line intervals, the scale they used, basic flat denial, “I didn’t say your song of Somewhere Over The Rainbow chord construction, and chord sucks”– I may have implied it, – “I beautifully emphasizes Some Where progression. didn’t say your song sucks” – I said Over the Rainbow. The cool thing is that you someone else’s song sucks, etc. Think about the melodies of can make your songs “bigger” by You get the idea. your own songs, and ask yourself simply applying some of these Scale intervals give your what can make them stronger. You elements. Becoming more familiar melodies their own special powers. can assemble and re-assemble a with melodic phrasing, new With Happy Birthday you are melody as many ways as you see fit. chords, scales on your existing singing a major second from There are 12 notes to manipulate any songs can make them stronger, the word hapPY BIRTHday. In way you wish. more memorable to the listener, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Melody will set the tone and create better songs overall. 3 | SVSA MUSIC NEWS | OCTOBER 2018 OUT & ABOUT WITHSVSA THE UKUPALOOZA – A Few Hours Of Peace, Love, And Music. A great time was had at the recent WVTF Art Open House. SVSAers Evelyn and Dennis Danner (at right) were part of the festivities. The Ukufest was put together by local public radio personality Luke Church and was recorded in front of a live audience. (Photo by Terry Aldhizer.) SVSAer Mary Gordon Hall was up and out The day before early in the morning ready to go and vote Election Day, on this past cold and rainy November 6. SVSAer Aspen Black’s name was up in lights as she prepared to appear at an International Western Music Association New Mexico Chapter function in Albuquerque NM. 4 | SVSA MUSIC NEWS | OCTOBER 2018 New board members to be chosen at November meeting Franke steps aside, sums up presidency by Mike Franke a song contest. I consider that somewhat of a failure, 2018 will mark my fourth consecutive year as although the idea isn’t completely dead yet. president of the SVSA. It has been a blast. I love being Mostly, I am happy that we grew our membership president. I love introducing myself as a little bit, diversified it a little bit, president. I am immensely proud of deepened our friendships, and that we what we do as a club, and I love the played a role in a whole pile of new people I hang out with. and/or improved songs. That is, after All of that said, I have made it all, what we are all about. clear that 2018 will be my last year I wish the next president all the as president.