Songwriting Tips 11 Examples From 7 Hit Songs

Songwriting Tips 11 Examples From 7 Hit Songs Suzy S. Writing a catchy song that delivers a strong message can be quite difficult. Here, voice  teacher  Emmanuel N.  shares the songwriting tips you can glean from several famous singers   When it comes to lyric-writing and songwriting, nobody can really teach you how to do it â€" it’s better to show by example. Whether you’re simply writing  lyrics to a song you will one day sing (or someone else will sing for you) or you’re songwriting to a musical piece you found or created, you will have your own unique style. Songwriting and lyric-writing are some of the few artistic skills that are difficult to truly teach. There are some songwriting tips and suggestions that can be very beneficial, but there is no real “by the book” way of writing  lyrics for  a song. So, the next best thing is offering examples of great songs  by some very talented artists  and  songwriters. Although the artists listed below may not be the top singer-songwriters of all time, they represent a range of genres, including RB (my specialty). Listen to the lyrics in the tunes below, then check out my notes on what you can learn from each about writing songs: Looking At Her â€" Paul McCartney [written by Paul McCartney] Matching the melody of the vocals with the melody of the song is not a bad thing. Don’t be afraid to do what Paul did at [1:40] in the bridge where his vocals match the main melody of the music (“Doesn’t she know…”). Nobody Ever Told You â€" Carrie Underwood [written by Carrie, Lindsey, and Laird] When writing a song with a positive message, making it personal gives the song a stronger meaning. Carrie does this in the first verse as she talks about  how beautiful she is despite what society says. At [0:21], for example, she says “…Don’t be shy, don’t be scared…” when pertaining to showing your real self. Using similes in a song makes the lyrics more beautiful and poetic. Carrie does this at [0:51] and [2:20] with her chorus and bridge to give the listener a more vivid picture of just how beautiful they are (“You shine like a diamond, glitter like gold… you’re free as a bird… just like a flower growing wild.”) Looking In â€" Mariah Carey [written by Mariah Carey  Afanasieff] Similar to Carrie Underwoods song, youll notice that getting personal in a song makes it that much more emotional and powerful. At [1:23] Mariah continues her second verse describing some girl by using “she,” yet not telling us who it is. She ends the verse by revealing this “she” was Mariah herself all along (“…and hides herself inside of me”), making it very personal. Dont be afraid to  be passionate, emotional, and show your frustration. The bridge at [1:51] is short but straight to the point; Mariah exclaims her frustration on the lack of people understanding her pain and where she is coming from (“Don’t say she takes it all for granted… Please understand”). You Said â€" Keri Hilson [written by Keri Hilson] Having each line in a chorus start off the same is a good way to grab  someone’s attention â€" and it makes the song catchy. Keri’s chorus at [0:48] starts off each line with “Thought you said…” to capture that feeling of annoyance we get when we’ve been lied to repeatedly. The bridge of a song is the perfect place to get real and just say it like it is â€" and if you’re going to repeat it, add some harmonies like she did. At [2:11] Keri gets to the point and tells her boyfriend he lost her trust (“…now I can’t believe a word that comes from you”). Cry â€" Mariah Carey [written by Mariah Carey  James Wright] When the music gets stronger and more powerful, let loose and let those emotions out. During the bridge, as the piano chords get stronger, Mariah gets dynamic  as she lets those emotions out at [3:06]. “…So naked…” is extended vocally to let the emotions sink in, in between emotional lyrics. Born This Way â€" Lady Gaga [written by Gaga and Laursen] Adding a message in the intro of a song has a good chance of  capturing the listener’s attention. Lady Gaga does this in the beginning of her song with, “It doesn’t matter if you love him or capital H-I-M…” to provide a sort of prologue to the song. Don’t be afraid to use the title of your song throughout the entire song itself. Lady Gaga mentions “born this way” in the intro, first verse, chorus, bridge, and outro several times to truly stress that we really are born this way (regarding what makes us different, so that we learn to love ourselves and each other). My Everything â€" Ariana Grande [written by Ariana et al.] Use a specific theme to give your message more dimension. At [1:10] Ariana uses the theme of distance and time to show the strain that distance has on her  relationship. With “I know you’re not far… can’t handle all the distance… you’re traveling with my heart… temporary feeling,” you can see the theme play out nicely and poetically. So there you have it, some examples that showcase how creative you can get when writing songs. I have written more than  100 songs and I learned by listening to songs that inspire me or make me feel something. Hopefully these songs help you in your endeavor of creating masterpieces and will lead you down the path to becoming a successful singer-songwriter! Editors Note: Want even more examples of great songwriting? We love this resource  by  Robin Frederick, detailing  the strategies behind several hit songs, including the lyrics, structure, and melody of each. Post Author:  Emmanuel N. Emmanuel N. teaches online Spanish and singing lessons. He earned his B.A. in psychology from California State University, Fullerton and has been teaching lessons since January 2015.  Learn more about Emmanuel here! Photo by Roger Blackwell Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

What Types Of Drums Are There

What Types Of Drums Are There Find The Best Kits To Learn Drums ChaptersAll That You Need To Know About Jazz Drumming!What Is A Fusion Drum Kit?Learn To Play Rock Style DrumsHow To Play The Drums Without A Drum KitIf you’ve decided to take the plunge and learn how to drum, then congratulations! You’re in good company, as many people across the U.K. practice playing a musical instrument.Once you’ve decided to learn a new instrument, such as the drums, it can feel a bit disorientating when getting started on your musical journey. For instance, do you know what kind of kit you’d like to buy, what style of music you’d like to play, or what the basics of learning to drum are?Thankfully, the more time you spend practising drumming and learning about the instrument, the easier it becomes to answer all these questions.When it comes to deciding on a musical style to play, some people start out with a clear idea of the kind of music they like and would like to drum to, whether that’s rock n roll, blues, jazz, or another style entirely.Equally, some people have little idea, and are happy to play a selection of styles â€" there is no right answer when it comes to deciding what type of music you’d like to play.This article aims to shed some light on the different types of drum kits that you may encounter depending on the style of music that you’d like to play.There are lots of different types of drums, including rock n roll drum kits. (Image Source: CC0 1.0, Silentpilot, Pixabay)A hi-hat, ride and crash cymbal.Additionally, you may want to put some thought into the kind of drumsticks that you’d like to buy when using a jazz drum kit. If possible, try and aim for drumsticks that are light and thin. Often, you might see a 7A recommended for this particular type of kit.As with buying any type of drum kit, the main thing is to make sure that all the elements that you’re buying will suit the purpose that you want and complement your own aspirations, needs, and playstyle.So, if you’re set on playing jazz music or somethi ng like Bossa Nova, then you’ll probably want to avoid looking at things such as electronic drums, which are more suited to different types of music.Of course, there are no rules, especially when it comes to music and jazz! As long as you’re comfortable with the equipment and the tools that you have and you’re happy playing jazz with the kit that you have, then don’t feel pressured into changing kit for something that’s considered more suitable for a jazz playstyle.Choosing which types of drums you'd like to play can be a difficult decision. (Image Source: CC0 1.0, congerdesign, Pixabay)What Is A Fusion Drum Kit?Jazz drum kits aren’t the only type of drum kits available on the market. In fact, there are plenty of different types of kit out there, which cater to different ability levels, musical styles, and budgets.One type of drum set that beginners, or even younger children, tend to do well with is a fusion drum kit. It’s also worth noting that this type of kit is als o perfectly suitable for more experienced drummers as well, so it’s a very versatile kit that you can get a lot of value from.However, a fusion drum kit does have its own particular speciality, and that is in its design to help drummers play styles such as:Jazz or rock fusion; andFunk.Of course, it’s still worth noting that you are free to play other styles of music on a fusion drum kit!In terms of its size, a fusion drum kit sits in the middle between the larger rock n roll drum kit and the smaller jazz drum kit. This can be a great bonus for anyone who values some extra space when buying a drum kit or wants a kit that is a little bit more portable than standard-sized sets.Although everyone is free to customise their drum kit as they would like, as a rule of thumb a typical fusion drum kit is likely to contain the following elements:A 20-inch bass drum;Three tom-toms (10, 12, and 14 inches);A 14-inch snare drum; andA hi-hat and ride cymbal (although a splash and crash cymbal ma y also feature).If you do have your heart set on a fusion drum kit, try to find a way to test out the various elements in the kit before you buy them. This is because the best way to find out if a set or its composite elements are for you is to try them out in person and see whether they would suit your budget and playstyle.Equally, if you get stuck when it comes to deciding which elements or brands to buy, don’t hesitate to speak to a sales assistant at a music shop, who should be able to give you a hand, or at least point you in the right direction of someone who can.Drum lessons can help improve your skills on particular elements of a drum set, such as the cymbals. (Image Source: CC0 1.0, Foto-Rabe, Pixabay)Learn To Play Rock Style DrumsDrums are a crucial part of any band or group. One of the most popular styles of music that drummers like to learn is rock n roll, which is understandable, given how many famous drummers have played this style of music, from Dave Grohl to John B onham, Travis Barker and beyond.If you’d like to rock out on your drum set, then you might consider buying a rock n roll drum kit. Essentially, this type of drum kit tends to be similar to a standard-size drum kit, although its configuration is slightly different.An example of what you might find in a rock n roll drum kit is:A bass drum (22 inches);Three tom-toms (12, 13 and 16 inches); andA snare drum (14 inches).You may also encounter a hi-hat and ride and crash cymbals in some rock n roll drum kits.One of the most important parts of a rock n roll drum kit is the bass drum, so if you are looking to learn how to play rock music, learning how to master the bass drum should be one of your main goals. Of course, you don’t have to learn how to play on a 26-inch drum like John Bonham was famous for, a more standard-sized drum would also suit!If you feel like you need help with your drumming technique once you have a kit set up, then you may also find it useful to enlist the help of a drum teacher. Online tutoring websites, such as Superprof, offer a selection of drumming tutors that are happy to help all levels of experience, whether you are a beginner drummer or you have intermediate or advanced skills.So if you'd like to learn how to play the drums, for example, to improve your fundamental skill in drumming, or to improve your overall rhythm, then having drum lessons, even online drum lessons, can be very beneficial for some people.How To Play The Drums Without A Drum KitWhile having your own drum kit would be ideal when it comes to learning how to drum, sometimes it’s just not practical to have a standard-sized drum kit in your home.For example, if you:Have a small flat or home;Don’t have enough money for a standard-sized drum kit; orDon’t want to disturb your neighbours with the noise you might make,Then you might not feel able to purchase a drum kit.However, if you are committed to learning how to drum, the key is not to despair, as there are ways y ou can learn to drum without a drum kit, or even if you don’t have access to a typical drum kit or a kit such as those highlighted above.A snare drum is just one of the types of drums you might play with. (Image Source: CC0 1.0, benmclendon, Pixabay)Option 1 â€" Buy A Small Drum KitAlthough a standard-sized drum kit might be out of the question, that’s not to say that you couldn’t learn to drum with a more compact kit.There are lots of advantages to having a small or compact drum kit. For instance, if you plan on regularly playing at gigs, then you might appreciate having a smaller drum kit, as your set up and dismantling times can greatly reduce when compared to setting up a larger drum at a venue.What’s more, if you’re tight on space where you live, a compact drum kit can provide the answer to those issues.The other bonus when it comes to small drum kits is that they are generally cheaper to buy than their standard-sized counterparts, which makes them brilliant for anyon e on a budget.Option 2 â€" Try Virtual DrummingIf you’re looking for a way to practice drumming but don’t have a drum set to hand, then you can also turn to technology for a solution.There is technology out there, such as Freedrum, which can let you play a virtual drum set  without having to actually have a physical kit in front of you. By attaching devices onto a set of drumsticks and linking in with your phone, Freedrum lets you play the drums and listen to how you’re doing.So if you’d like to practice when you’re out and about, on a train, or at home, then you have that freedom!Option 3 â€" Make Your Own DrumMusic is all about self-expression and creativity. So, if you don’t have a drum set to hand, why not make your own?There are plenty of groups and performance artists in the world that have repurposed everyday objects and have turned them into musical instruments, and if you want to practice the art of drumming there’s nothing to stop you using such objects as we ll.At a pinch, you could learn some of the basics of drumming by tapping on a flat surface, or by making use of a few pots and pans â€" let your creativity guide you!The great thing about making your own drum kit is that you could also save some money when it comes to paying for a drum kit. So, if your budget is particularly stretched, making your own drumming or percussion instruments can be a good solution!However, you don't have to make your own instruments purely for monetary reasons - it can also be fun to experiment and try out new materials and objects to see how they would work as drumming instruments.Regardless of which type of drum kit you decide to use, it’s worth remembering that if you do at any point need help with your drumming skills, or want to find time to have further practice, then you could always reach out to a drumming tutor for some structured assistance.Superprof has a number of drumming tutors who would be more than happy to help you improve your level of proficiency.

What to Expect from Exceptional Calculus Tutoring

What to Expect from Exceptional Calculus Tutoring What to Expect from Exceptional Calculus Tutoring Calculus may well be one of the most challenging subjects a high school student will encounter. An extension of Algebra and Geometry, the subject of calculus expands into the complex mathematical concepts of things like parametric equations and applications of derivatives. We know that proficiency in calculus is critically important in a number of college majors and professions, which is why so many high school calculus students seek out calculus tutoring. But what should you expect from calculus tutoring designed to truly deliver improved academic performance? Individual Instruction Calculus tutoring should be anything but a communal endeavor. Your needs are specific to you alone, which means you can expect a calculus tutoring experience to be one-on-one with a highly-qualified tutoring professional. Your tutoring will be tailored to your specific learning style, and will afford you the platform to freely ask questions as they arise. Active Engagement Calculus simply cant be mastered with the passive absorption of knowledge; calculus depends on critical thinking, which is why you should expect your calculus tutoring experience to actively engage you in deep critical thinking that requires an explanation of reasoning. Dialogue can also help foster confidence and increase a students willingness to participate in class, which is also crucial for optimal learning. Manageable Goals Every great calculus tutor helps students set specific, measurable and timely goals. With exceptional calculus tutoring, youll always know where youre going and how youre getting there. A tutors job involves much more than simply securing a good grade at the end of the term, he or she is responsible for helping you master specific skills and concepts within a given time frame, and celebrating when those goals are achieved. Preparation for Upcoming Exams An effective calculus tutoring program should not be a wholly independent from the schedule of your high school calculus class. While the focus of calculus tutoring expands beyond daily management of homework, it should concentrate on upcoming quizzes and exams as needed. Though your tutoring program may primarily devote your efforts to specific calculus skills, when the time comes for an exam on transcendental functions, that should be top priority. Let Huntington Learning Center provide exceptional calculus tutoring for you or your student! Schedule an appointment online, call us as 1-800-CAN-LEARN or visit our subject tutoring page for more specific information about our services.

AP Tests European Degrees

AP Tests European Degrees ACT SAT Prep and College Admissions Blog Plenty of students take AP courses as a way to prove to colleges that they are capable of handling exactly the sort of work that universities demand of students. However, while taking the courses themselves is often quite important in admissions decisions at American universities, the scores often matter more for the purpose of getting advanced credit. Therefore, for many students, the difference between a 4 and a 5, depending on the university that he or she ultimately ends up attending, is not that vast. In Europe, things are very different, as subject-specific exams like AP tests often make up the entire rationale for a decision by an admissions committee to accept or refuse an applicant. After all, European universities base their decisions on academics, meaning that factors like sports, extracurricular activities, jobs, or other attributes have little, if any, impact on whether or not a student is accepted. To understand why this is, it is useful to first understand a bit more about how European universities work. Most obviously, European degrees tend to take only three years, as opposed to four (though some Scottish and Irish universities are the exception). Similarly, European universities typically focus their degree studies within one or two fields. In the United States, if someone wants to study economics, she typically takes between a quarter and a third of her courses in economics, another quarter or third in general education requirements, and the rest as electives or towards a minor or second major. In Europe, upwards of 85% of a student’s courses are taken in the major area, with relatively little room for electives, much less another area of study. Because of this, European degrees expect applicants to be passionate about a field of study and to have also already learned the basics. A chemistry lecture in the UK or Germany for chemistry degree students will not waste time going over the basics of the periodic table, as is often the case in the United States; students are already assumed to know the difference between atomic mass and atomic number. That need to demonstrate passion is where the personal statement and letter of recommendation come through; notice that both of those are singular, as European admissions offices rarely require, or even permit, more than one of each. So what does that mean for AP students? First and foremost, if a student is already taking a number of AP classes, she is already on the way to being a competitive candidate for studying overseas. However, taking the class is not enough. Instead, it is important to do well on the tests in question, as those are what ultimately will help universities evaluate whether or not a student is up to the required standard. Just as in the United States, different universities have different AP requirements; Oxford and Cambridge expect their applicants to get fives, while less famous universities are happy to admit students with threes. As a result, students who want to apply to top European universities should be prepared to focus their efforts on tests that they expect to do really well on; for those students who genuinely enjoy their subjects of choice, this could be especially fulfilling. Additionally, the subject of the AP tests matters immensely. Students interested in studying English literature should expect to do well on AP English Literature, AP English Language, and one other related class. Good choices would be an AP History class, an AP foreign language class, or AP Art History. AP Calculus BC would likely be wasted on an English admissions committee. On the other hand, it would be of great interest to someone wanting to study science, engineering, or even economics. In fact, many medicine programs (which is an undergraduate degree in the UK) require AP Chemistry and AP Calculus, leaving the other option open between Physics and Biology. In the end, the effort required to get the appropriate scores to study in Europe can be substantial, but ultimately it is often a smaller headache than balancing many of the other factors that weigh on students applying to American universities. For students who know what they want to study and show considerable passion, it can be a great way to spend high school focused on learning more about what he or she thinks is interesting rather than attempting to meet an admissions committee’s idea of the perfect applicant. About the Author Kevin Newton is the owner of An Education Abroad, a company that helps students who are interested in earning degrees around the world. To learn more, visitwww.aneducationabroad.com.

italki World Cup Language Challenge Week 2 Goal

italki World Cup Language Challenge Week 2 Goal Lindsaydoeslanguages is blogging about her World Cup Language Challenge and were reposting here to share with the entire italki Community. This blog post originally was posted on Lindsaydoeslanguages.com website. Week 2 of the World Cup Language Challenge is almost over! Time flies when you’re having fun, hey? 7 lessons in now and already, I’m feeling much more confident with my spoken Portuguese. I’ve had a great selection of teachers so far. Be sure to check them out if you’re interested in learning Portuguese! Not only am I beginning to identify the differences between Portuguese and Spanish, but I’m also picking up the slight differences between Brazilian and European Portuguese. This week’s video is more football related, mainly because the World Cup actually started yesterday, partly because I want to get my football vocabulary in early before week 6 when I’ll be commentating some football â€" in Portuguese! Eek! I decided that instead of a news story, I would read an extract from the Portuguese Wikipedia entry about the World Cup, sorry, Copa do Mondo. I didn’t even look at it before filming the video, which was a conscious decision to highlight the things I need to work on. One thing I wasn’t not too sure about was numbers â€" especially years! It also made it clear that there’ll be some football lingo such as ‘nil’ that I’ll have to learn. Have a look at the video right here: Do you think there’s an improvement from last week’s video? If you have any Portuguese football vocab you think would be useful, let me know in the comments! italki World Cup Language Challenge Week 2 Goal Lindsaydoeslanguages is blogging about her World Cup Language Challenge and were reposting here to share with the entire italki Community. This blog post originally was posted on Lindsaydoeslanguages.com website. Week 2 of the World Cup Language Challenge is almost over! Time flies when you’re having fun, hey? 7 lessons in now and already, I’m feeling much more confident with my spoken Portuguese. I’ve had a great selection of teachers so far. Be sure to check them out if you’re interested in learning Portuguese! Not only am I beginning to identify the differences between Portuguese and Spanish, but I’m also picking up the slight differences between Brazilian and European Portuguese. This week’s video is more football related, mainly because the World Cup actually started yesterday, partly because I want to get my football vocabulary in early before week 6 when I’ll be commentating some football â€" in Portuguese! Eek! I decided that instead of a news story, I would read an extract from the Portuguese Wikipedia entry about the World Cup, sorry, Copa do Mondo. I didn’t even look at it before filming the video, which was a conscious decision to highlight the things I need to work on. One thing I wasn’t not too sure about was numbers â€" especially years! It also made it clear that there’ll be some football lingo such as ‘nil’ that I’ll have to learn. Have a look at the video right here: Do you think there’s an improvement from last week’s video? If you have any Portuguese football vocab you think would be useful, let me know in the comments!

StudyLab School in Moscow

StudyLab School in Moscow StudyLab School in Moscow AboutStudyLab School StudyLab School is a private educational institution, which focuses on preparing Russian-speaking students to enter the world top universities and elite boarding schools in the UK and USA. StudyLab School team employs more than 35professional teachers from the UK, USA, Canada, who teach a wide range of subjects: from Drama, Science and International Relations to TOEFL, SAT and IELTS exams. StudyLab School focuses on exam preparation, tutoring, school prep and university prep courses. StudyLab School is a part of StudyLab, a leading study abroad agency in Russia, which opened its doors in 2006. StudyLab has the following departments: - Secondary Education - Higher Education - Summer Holidays - Language courses - British School StudyLab - StudyLab School Why teachers choose StudyLab? · A variety of educational projects and courses available · A School with a strong academic environment · Ambitious and motivated students · Great team of teachers with diversified talents · Academic and administrative support 24/7 · Annual contracts on successful completion of probation period · Full visa support · Competitive pay View our Brochure

Irvine AP Tutor Tips 4 Ways to Prep for AP Exams - TutorNerds

Irvine AP Tutor Tips 4 Ways to Prep for AP Exams - TutorNerds Tips form an Irvine AP Test Prep Tutor: 4 Ways to Prep for AP Exams Spring testing season is just around the corner, and advanced placement students are, hopefully, getting ready for these important exams. AP courses can count towards credit in college and help students gain admission to top universities. There’s no time to waste so students should take advantage of tips and tricks that will help them succeed by earning a score of 3 or better. Whether a student is in a writing-intensive course or one that requires advanced calculations, there are some tried-and-true ways that any AP student can prep for an exam its never too early to book your Irvine AP test prep tutor. 1. Start early Its essential for AP students to start their study sessions early on. Its tempting to leave this task until the last minute, but students who do so wont have the opportunity to enhance their skills before the big day. AP students should talk with their tutor or classroom teacher about what prep materials would best fit their particular needs and which concepts they should be focusing on. The more time a student has to study, the more opportunity they have to increase their abilities and take mental breaks throughout their sessions. 2. Focus study sessions to meet your individual needs Every student is different and will need help with different aspects of their AP courses. In general, students are encouraged to sign up for a course within a field of study that they are interested in or have a talent in. However, sometimes students are limited to courses that their school offers in a particular year. Students are encouraged to look at their strengths and weaknesses or enlist the help of a professional who can create a study plan that will help them succeed. How much a student studies and what they study will also be dependent on the score theyre hoping to earn. Different colleges and universities will have varying standards and students are encouraged to look up this information in advance. Join TutorNerds for our Group AP Exam Prep Classes in Irvine 3. Writing samples Students who are in writing-intensive courses are encouraged to do a few practice essays or free response questions as part of their study plan. Students can start by responding to a sample question and take as long as they need. Its important not to have too much pressure in the beginning but, by the time students take the real test they should be confident they can complete their essay within the amount of time allotted. The more students practice, the more likely they are to be able to respond to a question quickly and efficiently without having to make too many grammar or spelling corrections. 4. Get test prep materials There are tons of test prep materials available to todays AP student. Many of these supplemental materials can help students focus in on their strengths and weaknesses and figure out what it is they need to improve. Students will also have access to full-length sample tests and can practice timing themselves, so they know how long it takes them to complete a particular type of question. They can go over these results and develop a study plan that will best meet their individual needs. Call us today to book your private Irvine AP tutor! All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.