How to Write a Song Using Imagery: 9 Songwriting Tips from Andrea Stolpe | American Songwriter
294,210
Published 2017-09-21
Earn Your Songwriting Degree Online with Berklee: berkonl.in/3wNQbv0
It’s easy to see the imagery that songwriters use in the lyrics of country music, but in other types of music, it’s a little bit more difficult to pin down. In this free songwriting tutorial, songwriter and Berklee Online course author Andrea Stolpe covers 9 ways to use effective imagery in your song lyrics, no matter what genre of song you’re writing. Working from the age old “show, don’t tell” school of songwriting, and encouraging innovative experiments that range from sensory writing to changing the lyrical perspective of your song, Andrea uncovers a number of effective ways to keep your listeners engaged in your lyrics. She also offers tips on how to get past the hurdle of the second verse, and how to write through a lens.
00:00 How to Create a Stronger Song with Imagery
4:54 Verses Carry the Story / The Chorus Carries the Main Message
8:25 How to Create Imagery for Songs
15:23 Weight and Pace
18:47 How to Use Imagery to Write a Verse
23:55 How to Use Toggling and Imagery
28:08 Writing through a Lens
31:02 Writing the Second Verse
33:35 Polishing Techniques for Lyrics
About Andrea Stolpe:
Andrea Stolpe is a multiplatinum songwriter, performing artist, and educator. Her songs have been recorded by Faith Hill, Julianne Hough, Jimmy Wayne, and more. She has worked as a staff writer for EMI, Almo-Irving, and Universal Music Publishing. Her books, Popular Songwriting: 10 Steps to Effective Storytelling and Beginning Songwriting: Writing Your Own Lyrics, Melodies, and Chords detail a unique process for uniting your artistic voice with the commercial market. Andrea has taught melody, harmony, and lyric writing courses for Berklee Online for more than a decade. She authored the Berklee Online course Commercial Songwriting Techniques, which she teaches. She also teaches Lyric Writing: Writing from the Title, and Lyric Writing: Writing Lyrics to Music for Berklee Online.
About Berklee Online:
Berklee Online is the continuing education division of Berklee College of Music, delivering online access to Berklee's acclaimed curriculum from anywhere in the world, offering online courses, certificate programs, and degree programs. Contact an Academic Advisor today:
1-866-BERKLEE (US)
1-617-747-2146 (international callers)
[email protected]
www.facebook.com/BerkleeOnline
www.twitter.com/BerkleeOnline
www.instagram.com/berkleeonline/
Andrea Stolpe | Songwriting Tips | Free Songwriting Lesson | Online Songwriting Lesson | Songwriting Tutorial | American Songwriter | I Create Music | Berklee | Berklee Online | Berklee College of Music
All Comments (20)
-
Each time I watch this video I feel like I can write a song straight away
-
Unbelievably helpful. Some of this stuff I already knew, some of it is obvious, but it makes a difference to hear these concepts linked together in a coherent framework. A lot of times the challenge isn't in learning new things, it's in accessing and making sense of what you already know.
-
This shit right here is worth paying for.
-
-
Incredible to see that 182 people didn't like this video. I literally watched it FOUR times and took notes. Incredible stuff here! This lady rocks!
-
As I'm relatively new to songwriting I found this absolutely invaluable . Andrea has a great way of explaining these techniques in a way that is simple to understand which is perfect for someone like me
-
I was wandering youtube for inspiration on a song I am writing... ABOUT A TRUCK!!! Holy cow, this lady really IS helpful!
-
Your voice is so relaxing. Thank you for the advice!
-
I was totally blocked until I saw this. Thank you so much :-)
-
GOLD GOLD GOLD!!
-
Watching this made me realized that I had applied just about everything you teach without my knowing that's how I should approach my song writing. Andrea thank you because you put into perspective why I write lyrics the way I do and how much more I can improve. You are an amazing teacher 👏
-
dude, this is gold! she's so smart and really capable to explain shits with a great flow. i love how the video is really well structured. it makes me grasp the idea loud and clear easier. straight to the point so i can really learn. she's a great teacher. thank you for doing this Andrea. gbu. really well done. quality content at it's best.
-
An incredible amount of valuable information. I guess i need to watch that a couple of times. Thank you.
-
The verses are the nails, the chorus is the hammer that drives them.
-
oh my, this is gold. Andrea, thank you so very much! This made my day. I love this video, I am so inspired by your ideas, your way of presenting this is low-key yet super professional, sharing powerful and well-summarized and presented essentials for songwriting. YOU ROCK!
-
Thank you so much Andrea- this was really helpful, especially with 2 verse issues. You are amazing!
-
Her voice is so soothing.
-
The clarity and practical value of your guidance regarding the craft of songwriting are phenomenal. You are truly a godsend to anyone who feels compelled to express themselves through words and music.
-
Pure Gold thank you
