You Can Write Song Lyrics (You Can Write It) Review

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You Can Write Song Lyrics (You Can Write It) ReviewYou Can Write Song Lyrics is a good book for those looking to learn about songwriting. This book uses well know songs as examples which makes it easier to understand the lesson being taught. The author (Terri Cox) also gives very challenging exercises so you can use the skills you are learning.
You Can Write Song Lyrics covers rhyming schemes, and includes exercises how to rhyme past that basic one syllable connection. Although you may 'think' that rhyming is easy...wait until you try these exercises! They are tough and quite fun!
This book also talks about how to understand music jargon, how to work with others on songwriting, and how tempo affects your song.
I was disappointed to see that, You Can Write Song Lyrics offers very little information about how to market your song, once it has been written. Other than that one small dislike, this book was really good.You Can Write Song Lyrics (You Can Write It) OverviewAnyone who's dreamed of writing that hit song - the one that gets played time and time again on the radio - but doesn't know how to start, will welcome the inspiration and practical instruction offered in this new book Terry Cox, an experienced and successful lyric writer, guides readers step-by-step through the process of lyric writing. Readers will learn about basic song components, collaborative songwriting and creative ways to come up with song ideas. Cox also takes the reader through the stages of writing lyrics for a song, from choosing a title to the chorus, versus and bridge. Readers will even find sections on getting the song performed, recorded and getting people in the music business interested. Cox's enthusiastic you-can-do-it approach to the craft of lyric writing is sure to inform, inspire and motivate want-to-be-songwriters. It is the one resource that can make their lyric writing dreams come true.

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The Everything Songwriting Book: All You Need to Create and Market Hit Songs (Everything (Music)) Review

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The Everything Songwriting Book: All You Need to Create and Market Hit Songs (Everything (Music)) ReviewThe book covers all aspects of songwriting with easy reading and pretty good humor. Although aimed at the novice, there is plenty of good advice for those who think they know it all, but fail to follow the basics. I've bought several for friends, and they all gave it a solid thumbs up.The Everything Songwriting Book: All You Need to Create and Market Hit Songs (Everything (Music)) OverviewEver heard a song on the radio and thought you could write a better one? Now's your chance! The Everything Songwriting Book provides you with all the tools you need to create, perform and sell hit songs. In easy-to-follow language, pro songwriter and consultant C.J. Watson gives you tried and tested instruction on choosing a song style, getting your story across, and finding the right music to match the words. From developing an idea and creating a hook to recording your songs and getting heard, here's all you need to bring your talent to the next level!

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Build a Better Photograph: A Disciplined Approach to Creativity Review

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Build a Better Photograph: A Disciplined Approach to Creativity ReviewMichael Stern probably has a lot to tell us about making photographs, both with a camera and with Photoshop. Unfortunately, he doesn't convey much of this knowledge in this book, and what he does convey is ill organized.
"Build a Better Photograph" is divided into four almost unrelated parts. The first shows how the author constructs environmental portraits by building up layers within Photoshop; the second shows how he created a photographic Christmas card for a client; the third shows how he made images from scanned objects, including dead things; and the final chapter shows how he develops product photography. The common thread throughout seems to be the use of compositing to create images.
Unfortunately, he almost explains how he composites images in Photoshop but never quite gives enough information so that the less-experienced reader can actually apply his techniques. In most cases he provides screen shots of the Photoshop layers panels for his composites but he often doesn't explain in enough detail how to use the tools with which he created the layers. He sometimes promises that he will reveal things, and doesn't. Typically, Stern tells you the lighting effects filter is important, but rather than explain it, he tells you to keep practicing with it until you understand it.
Apparently Stern was trying to use images he had created to show the reader the decision processes he used to achieve the final product, but even when ordered in time sequence, the processes are not explained clearly enough to be of use to most people.
On the too much information side, I didn't find it useful to hear about how he preps himself for problem solving by having a conversation with himself before going to sleep, so that he can set a goal for the problems that he plans to resolve in his dreams; or the fact that an early partner did him dirty; or that a procurement officer gave him a hard time. The space he occupies with these meanderings might better have been used providing more detailed information. I also didn't need the continual reminders that he was a professional, as if there were no poor professionals or excellent hobbyists.
A DVD is included with the book but this isn't very useful either. I really don't need to see how Stern does the dishes in the Christmas card studio or how Santa danced when not posing. Quick time spherical panoramas, mostly of his studio, are included on the DVD but there is no mention of them in the book or explanation of how they were created. The most useful things on the DVDs might be the check lists and written instructions on the use of Photoshop tools, but these are written instructions that don't capitalize on the capabilities of DVDs. In fact if this material had been included in the book itself, it might have been integrated into the presentation in a useful manner.
People interested in doing compositing and familiar with Photoshop's tools may benefit from seeing how one photographer uses those tools. Other readers are not likely to find this book useful.
Build a Better Photograph: A Disciplined Approach to Creativity Overview
While many books address the equipment, techniques, and compositional approaches to image creation, few describe the steps involved in the creation of the picture idea. This book is a passport to the creative process of professional artists. The context is photography but the ideas can be applied across the board. This book emphasizes working out how to achieve the end result before we begin. A key question is what do we haveto get right as weshoot and what can we achieve later in post-processing? The correct answer will drive the quality of our imagery and extend our careers. This book is not a how-to book on making photographs. Rather, this book is about the creative process of conceptualizing ideas and executing those ideas to make a photograph. How do artists conceptualize? Where do they get their ideas? How do they incorporate those ideas into their work? Compositing and storytelling abilities have never been easier and more difficult to achieve. Sound contradictory? It is. Illogical? It is. We willjourney together to solve the many whys and hows so that the technology does not get in the way of image content and story. As it relates to a particular topic in the text, there are discussions about photographic theory, lighting, composition, color and, of course, Photoshop. Included are examples of my work, each with a detailed examination of my creative process for that particular photograph. Again the idea here is to examine creativity in a way that demystifies the process. Artists create. Good artists have a process. Great artists have discipline. This book is about all three.


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Craft and Business of Songwriting 3rd Edition (Craft & Business of Songwriting) Review

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Craft and Business of Songwriting 3rd Edition (Craft & Business of Songwriting) ReviewAs a teacher of songwriting for over 15 years at Austin Community college,I have found John Braheny's book, "The Craft& Business of Song Writing",to be the best work of it's kind on the market today.
Students of songwriting in or out of school can find in this text invaluable information on every level of song production both subjective and objective. This book is a gem, both beautiful and practical!
Bravo John Braheny!Robert Skiles B.A., M.A.
Prof. of Music
Austin Community College
Austin, Tx.
Craft and Business of Songwriting 3rd Edition (Craft & Business of Songwriting) OverviewCombines inspirational craft tips with practical business lessonsFeatures examples and career advice drawn from successful artists in a variety of genres, from country to hip-hop Perfect for beginners who want an overview of the businessWriting great songs is only half the work of becoming a successful songwriter - you also have to manage your business. Perfect for beginners and working songwriters alike, The Craft & Business of Songwriting features dozens of exercises, examples, and anecdotes from successful songwriters including Vince Gill, Sheryl Crow, and Paul McCartney. With all this and more, readers will find the insider secrets they need to make them more competitive in a crowded marketplace."

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The Art of Writing Music: Softcover Book Review

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The Art of Writing Music: Softcover Book ReviewThis book is an enjoyable read and its chock full of valuable hints and rules that a competent arranger or composer needs to know. Cacavas covers topics that a typical theory text would not venture into.
The author also drops in humorous anecdotes every few pages which, although largely irrelevant to the subject, do give one's mind a break to digest the information just presented. Some less kind readers might call this practice 'name dropping'as the stories invariably involve the author and some famous person.
Finally, Cacavas writes under the clear assumption that the reader has a very solid theoretic knowledge. Without this knowledge, I am sure a reader would get hopelessly confused. The author has pitched the book for the right audience but inexperienced theorists should be aware.
Overall, this is a rare 'textbook' which has me actually wanting more and wanting to learn more. However a potential reader is warned that the anecdotes might get a little annoying (though one can simply ignore them) and those with limited theoretical knowledge should look elsewhere. In the end though, this is money well spent.
The Art of Writing Music: Softcover Book OverviewJohn Cacavas has written an extensive book on the techniques of composing, orchestrating and arranging. Includes chapters on each section of the band and orchestra, voicing techniques as well as special chapters on concert band writing, choral writing, electronic applications and writing for film and television.

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Becoming Ray Bradbury Review

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Becoming Ray Bradbury ReviewThis biography is the first in three volumes. It details Ray Bradbury's early life and who influenced and mentored him, both in the science fiction and fantasy realm as well the literary, philosophical and psychological sources who shaped his thinking and aesthetics. As other reviews noted, Dr. Eller's biography bridges the scholarly insights and detailed information in one of the most readable books available. Where some scholars mire the reader down, this one does not. Dr. Eller understands that his audience is both scholars and fans and is able to address the needs and concerns of both without compromising the integrity of his work. For those interested, especially in the early shaping of Bradbury, Dr. Eller has some previously unpublished photographs of Bradbury in group shots with other early pioneers of the science fiction and fantasy, including one which Robert Heinlein.
For more on this particular work, see this review: [...]
And for more on Dr. Eller, you might want to visit the Center for Ray Bradbury studies' site:
[...]Becoming Ray Bradbury OverviewBecoming Ray Bradbury chronicles the making of an iconic American writer by exploring Ray Bradbury's childhood and early years of his long life in fiction, film, television, radio, and theater. Jonathan R. Eller measures the impact of the authors, artists, illustrators, and filmmakers who stimulated Bradbury's imagination throughout his first three decades. Unprecedented access to Bradbury's personal papers and other private collections provides insight into his emerging talent through his unpublished correspondence, his rare but often insightful notes on writing, and his interactions with those who mentored him during those early years.

Beginning with his childhood in Waukegan, Illinois, and Los Angeles, this biography follows Bradbury's development from avid reader to maturing author, making a living writing for pulp magazines. Eller illuminates the sources of Bradbury's growing interest in the human mind, the human condition, and the ambiguities of life and death--themes that became increasingly apparent in his early fiction. Bradbury's correspondence documents his frustrating encounters with the major trade publishing houses and his earliest unpublished reflections on the nature of authorship. Eller traces the sources of Bradbury's very conscious decisions, following the sudden success of The Martian Chronicles and The Illustrated Man, to voice controversial political statements in his fiction, and he highlights the private motivations behind the burst of creative energy that transformed his novella "The Fireman" into the classic novel Fahrenheit 451.

Becoming Ray Bradbury reveals Bradbury's emotional world as it matured through his explorations of cinema and art, his interactions with agents and editors, his reading discoveries, and the invaluable reading suggestions of older writers. These largely unexplored elements of his life pave the way to a deeper understanding of his more public achievements, providing a biography of the mind, the story of Bradbury's self-education and the emerging sense of authorship at the heart of his boundless creativity.




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On the Track: A Guide to Contemporary Film Scoring Review

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On the Track: A Guide to Contemporary Film Scoring ReviewAn excellent book, and the principal how-to text in the field of film scoring. It's used as the text in university-level film-scoring classes, and it's on the desk of many practicing feature-film composers. Karlin and Wright teach their subject by means of interviews and case studies, and also discuss the terms and technologies that relate to the gear being used today. Content-wise, Karlin and Wright don't hold back, presenting a whopping 886 pages of information. Ron Simpson, Brigham Young University Author of MASTERING THE MUSIC BUSINESSOn the Track: A Guide to Contemporary Film Scoring Overview

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2011 Songwriter's Market Review

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2011 Songwriter's Market ReviewThe title says "2011" but some of the deadlines are listed as 2009. It's like they didn't even try to keep the information up to date. If you just want articles and success stories you might be happy with this book. If you're serious about entering songwriting contests and submitting songs then you might be a bit confused by some of the deadlines. As was I.2011 Songwriter's Market OverviewFor songwriters, individual musical performers, bands, film & television composers, and classically trained composers living in the USA, UK, Australia, and European Union this book is packed with information about the inside workings of the music industry that can spell the difference between success and failure. You will find support and encouragement through a whole world of support organizations, online resources, and songwriting-related books and magazines, as well as articles and interviews with industry insiders. There are numerous listings for music industry companies where you can market your music?Music Publishers, Record Companies, Managers & Booking Agents, Record Producers, etc.?including contact information, the type of music they are looking for, and how much they pay.

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TuneSmith: Inside the Art of Songwriting Review

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TuneSmith: Inside the Art of Songwriting ReviewI'm not a fan of Jimmy Webb and came to know him through Paul Zollo's book Songwriters on Songwriting. As a beginning songwriter (but longtime musician) I found a lot of great things in this book. This means I have no reverence for Jimmy Webb & am reading this as a simple student of songwriting. I'm about halfway through with it right now.
Jimmy Webb's dedication to his craft is obvious, and it comes through the pages. The increadible amounts of work that go into writing a song are tracked momenty by moment in this book. Just about every step to songwriting, all of the options are in these pages. From various "tricks" of chord substitution to which rhyming dictionaries he likes and why - it's all here. His approach to songwriting is that of a master craftsman, and he doesn't hold back in his lessons.
One odd thing. As a musician I was able to follow through as he introduced different elements - inverted chords, 7th chords, etc. The novice, however might have difficulty. He introduces each piece individually, but then makes logical leaps that I still don't quite get. Specific examples escape me, but he'll take great pains to describe something simple and a paragraph later give you an example that incorporates something he hasn't yet introduced to you. He'll go on about how to construct a triad, and then jump PAST 7th chords. I was able to follow it, but I've been playing music for 10 years.
I also disagree (but this is personal preference) with his chord substitution ideas: just find any chord with one note in common. Maybe he brings it all together in a later chapter, but he should let the reader know that he's wandered into the land of Chordal Compositions (compositions with no particular key) and away from the diataonic world that dominates Western music. Then again, maybe I'm just an old stick in the mud who Likes Diatonic composition. :)
These two points aside, this book still rates 5 stars. I've learned SO much from this book that it's earned a permenant spot on my bookshelf. I thank Jimmy Web for giving this gift to the world.
Somewhat more pedestrian, but also reccomended is "Writing Music for Hit Songs." It may pay to go through that book before getting into this book. It may help fill in some of the gaps I mention above. It's a straightforward good book.
Write me at fourstrings@mailandnews.com with comments or questions. I'm ALWAYS interested in talking music with anyone - experts, beginners... anyone.TuneSmith: Inside the Art of Songwriting OverviewWebb brings his insiders knowledge, experience, and star power to the ultimate guide for aspiring songwriters. With a combination of anecdotes, meditation, and advice, he breaks down the creative process from beginning to endfrom coping with writers block, to song construction, chords, and even self-promotion. Webb also gives readers a glimpse into the professional music world.

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Visual Poetry: A Creative Guide for Making Engaging Digital Photographs Review

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Visual Poetry: A Creative Guide for Making Engaging Digital Photographs ReviewVisual Poetry: A Creative Guide for Making Engaging Digital Photographs is a book written by Chris Orwig, an instructor of prestigious photography school. The approach of this book is workshop style, meaning that Chris will give you tips and tricks in the chapter, then followed by assignment and reference.
The interesting part of the book is when Chris relate literature (especially poetry) to photography. He argues that photography could be a great medium to express or convey a message or story.
In addition, this book discussed many kinds of photography from portrait, wedding, sports, and travel. However i feel that the discussion in each chapter is too general.
This book is geared towards someone who is already have pretty strong basic photography knowledge such as exposure, composition, equipments, but need an inspiration and a push in the back to try out new things.
For beginners, you might be disappointed because there is practically no instruction on how to get those kind of photos. There is no technical information (lens used, focal length, aperture/shutter speed) on each photographs in the book as well.Visual Poetry: A Creative Guide for Making Engaging Digital Photographs OverviewA great photograph has the potential to transcend verbal and written language. But how do you create these photographs? It's not the how that's important, but the who and the what. Who you are as a person has a direct impact on what you capture as a photographer.Whether you are an amateur or professional, architect or acupuncturist, physician or photographer, this guide provides inspiration, simple techniques, and assignments to boost your creative process and improve your digital images using natural light without additional gear.Chris Orwig's insights—to reduce and simplify, participate rather than critique, and capture a story—have made him an immensely popular workshop speaker and faculty member at the prestigious Brooks Institute. His engaging stories presented as lessons follow his classroom approach and highlight what students say is his contagious passion for life.In this accessible and beautifully illustrated four-color guide you will:
Discover visual poetry in the creative process
Use less to say more with your subject matter
Learn to see light, color, shape, and expression
Understand what gear is essential
Create compelling portraits
Make lasting memories of your family and kids
Capture the outdoors and adventure
Begin the transition from amateur to professional
Chris also includes exclusive interviews with such photographers as: Steve McCurry, Chris Rainier, John Sexton, Rodney Smith, Joyce Tenneson, John Paul Caponigro, Marc Riboud, and Pete Turner.Share your work with the author and other readers at www.flickr.com/groups/visual-poet and visit the Web site: www.visual-poet.com.

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