Here's a guide to how to give helpful feedback on the Songwriters Clinic. We've been amazed at the hundreds of songs uploaded and thousands of postings and comments, and in response we've asked our friend Chris Sayburn to draw together some helpful advice on how to give constructive feedback on the new songs posted to the Songwriting Clinic. - SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CRITIQUING A SONG It’s been really exciting to the see the song-writing clinic develop. Here are a few simple pointers to help us a community develop in the art of critiquing other people’s songs. Let’s continue to encourage, inspire, challenge and invest in each other as we aim to write songs that will encourage, inspire and challenge the church in its pursuit of worship. Content “When the mood leads to a suspension of critical faculties helped by an exciting or seductive tune, it is sadly easy to get people to sing nonsense.” - Christopher Idle: - Accurate - Are the lyrics theologically sound? - Accessible - Do you understand the lyrics? are they too wordy / romantic / full of jargon? - Inspiring - How do the lyrics inspire you to worship God? How do they stand without the music? - Original - Are the lyrics fresh or are they just repeating what’s been said before? Musicality “A song for a congregation is a unique type. I always try to keep it simple with a very singable melody. Don’t leave them frustrated because they couldn’t catch the song.” - Chris Tomlin - Accessible - Is the melody easy to pick up? Is the key too high, too low? - Consistent - Is the melody consistent or does it chop and change too much? - Memorable - Is the song memorable? are there any good hooks? - Complement - Do the lyrics / chords / melody / style all complement each other? Structure “The most enduring songs are virtually without exception the simple ones.”- Brian. Doerkson - Simplicity - Is the song as a whole unnecessarily complex? Would a band of average musicians be able to replicate it? - Theme - Does the song have a strong theme and does it stick to it? - Arrangement - Do the different sections fit together? - Suitable - Is the song suitable for a congregation or would it be better as a ministry / performance song? - Thank you to Chris Sayburn and friends - WC Editor