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How a Songwriting Course Boosted My Confidence in Teaching Songwriting to Students
Wednesday, May 10, 2023 by Gemma Wilkins | Resources
Identifying a gap in knowledge
As a piano teacher and someone who loves singing, I've always found songwriting to be a bit of a mystery. Whilst I have studied both piano and singing, songwriting was taught to me in one off workshops and youtube videos. While I enjoy listening to my favourite songs and analyzing their structures and lyrics, I've never felt confident enough to write my own. And when it came to teaching songwriting to my students, I struggled to explain the process in a way that was easy for them to understand.
That all changed when I came across the Superior Songwriting course. Initially, I was sceptical about whether a course could really help me become better at actually teaching songwriting, but I decided to give it a try, and I'm so glad I did.
To skip the description and jump to the product I am talking about, find it here
The course covers everything from the basics of songwriting to the more advanced techniques used by professional songwriters. It's presented in a step-by-step fashion, which made it easy to follow and apply in my own time.
Below I have compiled the main pros and cons I identified by choosing this type of course over in person or just self-teaching via other online resources. It's important to note that these pros and cons can vary based on the specific course and individual circumstances. It's important to consider your own learning style, goals, and available resources when deciding which approach to take.
| Pros and Cons | Self Guided Course (Superior Songwriting) | In person Course | Self Teaching |
| Pros | |||
| Convenience |
Can be completed at your own pace and on your own schedule.
|
Set schedule with regular class times. | Complete control over the pace of learning. |
| Cost | More affordable than in-person courses. | Often more expensive than self-guided courses. | Free or low-cost. |
| Flexibility | Ability to skip over topics already mastered and focus on areas needing improvement. | Able to ask the instructor questions in real-time and receive immediate feedback. | Total flexibility to study what, where, and when you want. |
| Cons | |||
| Self motivation | May lack motivation without the structure of a traditional classroom. | Attendees are expected to keep pace with the instructor and the class. | Requires a high level of self-discipline and motivation. |
| Feedback | May not receive feedback until the end of the course, if at all. | Receive feedback in real-time, but may not be personalized or comprehensive. | No feedback from an instructor, other than self-assessment. |
| Interaction | Limited interaction with other students or an instructor. | Opportunity for interaction with other students and an instructor, but may not be as convenient as online options. | No interaction with other students or an instructor. |
| Accountability | No one to hold you accountable for completing the course. | Instructor and other students provide accountability. | No one to hold you accountable for completing the course.
|
Business minded approach
What I found most valuable was the section on the business side of songwriting. The course goes into detail about how to market songs and pitch them to industry insiders, which was something I had never really thought about before, and it gave me ideas on how to answer student questions about musician pathways.
As I worked through the course, I began to feel more confident in my own songwriting abilities. I started incorporating songwriting exercises into my lessons with my students, and I was thrilled to see how excited they were about it. It has been amazing to see how quickly they picked up the concepts and started writing their own songs, with enthusiasm.
Now, I feel much more comfortable teaching songwriting to my students. I have a better understanding of the process, and I can explain it in a way that makes sense to them. And I'm even starting to write my own songs with more confidence!
So Overall, if you're someone who's interested in songwriting but feels a bit intimidated by the process, I highly recommend checking out the Superior Songwriting course. It's helped me become a better songwriter and teacher, and I'm sure it can do the same for you.
To see the full details on this songwriting course, click here
