After decades of choosing, leading and writing worship songs, I was interested to hear Dr. Ron's take on where great worship songs come from. His response was insightful and is a brilliant blueprint for those who desire to write fresh songs of timeless truth for the local church.
If you study church history (and you should), you will notice a repeating spiritual principle: Whenever there’s a move of God, new songs of worship often follow.
When I was learning to teach worship songwriting, I had a great mentor who emphasized teaching steady principles over stylistic patterns noting that styles will come and go, but principles are the enduring truths that apply to all trends.
The penultimate installation in this year-long series . . .
11. Learn the power of slant (imperfect) rhymes Rhythm, rhyme and repetition are the building blocks of good lyrics. Rhythm is how words sound as we sing them and the cadence they rest upon, repetition is the frequency of a lyric and rhyme provides the verbal adhesive that bonds a lyric to a listener. For …
Continue reading 20 Things I’ve Learned From Listening to Great Songs and Songwriters (11-12)
An artist can only create with the tools they’ve been given. Increase your tool box and you will increase your creative canvas.
7. Have a plan to capture inspiration If you are like most people, inspiration is like an unplanned guest showing up at your doorstep. It can happen at the most inopportune times: in the shower, driving, during a prayer meeting. Have a plan on how you can capture your inspiration in the moment. Carry a …
Continue reading 20 Things I’ve Learned From Listening to Great Songs and Songwriters (7-8)
5. Great songs are about ONE thing Without exception, the most enduring songs are those that are centered around ONE theme. The theme is usually universal, meaning it’s something that a wide range of people can relate to or have experienced. When writing, make sure you have a clear idea of what your theme is. …
Continue reading 20 Things I’ve Learned From Listening to Great Songs and Songwriters (5-6)
Nothing will stifle the creative process more than premature analysis and over-thinking. When initially creating by yourself or with others, remove the boundaries, use ‘placement’ lyrics, be unconventional, be willing to pursue any idea.
Prior to a recent songwriters retreat I taught at, I took some time to synthesize every helpful piece of songwriting advice I've heard, read, and believed to be helpful.
Travis Doucette • Worship Blog 