Jill's pics from IRF

Class Reaction

I figured since I have talked so much about the song I wrote here, I should mention the reaction the class had to it last night. What I was happiest with, they also pointed as being the 'good part', and what I was uncomfortable with, I was given advice about fixing....Usually, what the class likes best is what i am uncomfortable about in a song...don't know what that means...LOL.

My favorite comment was over a part in the song when the narrator is saying how she loves to dance. The woman said that in that part of the song, the sensation of dancing and loving it was in the music and melody as well as the lyrics....made her want to get up and spin! That was a comment that made me feel like I am on the right track, that is what i WANT to do with music, make people FEEL.

I guess now that I have written all this, I should put the song up....LOL. But first, I have to be able sing it...this darn cold has my voice all crackly...

Think I'm finished now....

So, a few days ago, when I first decided to write about writing that song on this blog, I said that if inspiration meant being moved by some big spirit, I didn't believe in it....if I waited for inspiration, I would never write.

I was a little bit wrong and a little bit right on that ('Scattered'....look at the lyrics over there ------> and down). To write a song, I have to be moved enough with an idea to want to spend the time. It has to mean something to me. I have to care enough to have something to say about it.

The end, for now.

Dancing Tonight

I am going to call my new song 'Dancing Tonight'.

I know it is pretty weird trying to describe the process of writing this song, in real time. Especially when how I want to describe this part is-- 'Over the Hump'. The song is there, basically. It made me stop and think and feel after I sang it through complete the first time. I think that is a good sign. We will see.

So, the song is done. It is not in its finished version, but that is just tweaking. It has it's basic outline and most of the details. It is about my grandmother. I can't say that she ever danced, but the only thing I ever remember hearing her say good about my grandfather was about his fiddle playing....and i wondered why she left her family and money to follow him into poverty.... He was a charming man, and I could see him playing to a room of people and keeping them happy and moving. I am told that I heard him play, before his parkinsons disease took it away from him, but I don't remember that. I do remember him being pleased that I showed interest in music....his home was filled with unplayable instruments....

I am glad to have known both my grammer and poppy!!

The Moment

There is the moment of triumph, when you have some words and some chords and some melody and you see how all that you have in front of you is gonna shape up into a song.

Just a few minutes ago it was barren struggle to find an idea, a concept, a story, a line, a word, some melody, the feel, the pulse of the song.

Then, there it is, something with a few words, a couple lines of melody, a feel....

A Song.

i wonder where it will go and how it will grow....