tomelliott
From unknown
Hey all,
I am a youth worker and am working alongside a young person who could be an awesome worship leader.
Am currently encouraging him to write his own songs. I haven't much experience in writing lyrics?
Any tips I could pass on?
Many thanks
Tom
Cheers Gav,
Will do - His dad is a vicar and so I'm sure he will keep up the theological side!
I will pass that info on to him and encourage him to sign up to the forum.
He's seen the website I think.
Once he's written a song - i'll encourage him to post.
Cheers for helpful advice
Tom
thanks gav for the advice and cheers tom for telling me about this stuff
no probs tom and sam,
happy to help.
looking forward to hearing the songs!
God bless,
gav.
To add to what Gav said, I'd start a small notebook for song ideas. Its nice to have a central place to keep your rough thoughts together. Sometimes I just write down a phrase, sometimes a whole song... but over time it becomes quite helpful. For example, sometimes when re-writing, I find a bridge from a old song I wrote 3 years ago and am able to put it into a chorus from 5 years ago.... etc. It becomes a nice resource for yourself.
I'd echo Gav's thoughts on being yourself too. Not every song must fit a particular style and method for "congregational worship" to be meaningful. Don't loose yourself because you want to write songs. It is hard to balance having your own voice, but still writing in a way that works for congregational worship. I don't have it down by any means, its a ongoing process. But I'd say your songs will be more powerful if they can be unique to who you are, and where you are. So, morale of my rant is, don't feel you've written a bad song if you hear its "not suited for congregational worship", thats ok; maybe it needs work, maybe its just a good song for you. You can always just write another!
Also, welcome to the forum! Look forward to seeing more from you! :)
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hey tom,
good post!
i would encourage him to be a voice not an echo. ie dont say whats been said already, say something new.
theres so many songs out there with cliches in them and overused phrases that have lost their power over time
originality is rare.
i would also encourage him to go to songwriting seminars and buy books like 'God songs' by Paul Baloche as they
are superb resources for songwriting.
i would also encourage him to not force it. too many songs arent finished or half done because people were impatient and wanted to get them out there (me included). songwriting is a craft and takes serious effort esp the lyrical side.
i would also encourage him to share his songs with people with theological knowledge like pastors church leaders etc,
and try and get him to post songs on this site for feedback aswell.
God bless,
gav.