Published: May 11, 2009
Music is one of the oldest art forms that have been existent since the pre-colonial times. Instrumental was the type of music initially produced until people realized that lyrics add emotion and set up the mood of the song.
Lyrics or the words that accompany a certain tune vary on themes. A song may become a love story, a nationalistic aspiration, a social issue or a religious praise depending on the style it was written. Now, the skilled art of songwriting does not only serve as a hobby but also considered as a fine line of work if thoroughly mastered.
So for those who plan to build a career in songwriting, take a cue from the expert before grabbing a pen and paper. Trina Belamide, a professional and award-winning songwriter provides some tips.
- Recognize your talent and showcase it. If you have it, put your heart and soul into it—as the classic tip applies to all disciplines.
- Learn the basics of music. Get a good grasp of different melodies, chord progressions, and other music appreciation techniques.
- Understand the difference between lyrics and poetry. Both song lyrics and poems are made up of words and rhymes, but each has its own mode of expression. A song lyric is to be complemented by a tune and sung by a human voice so it has to work well with musical elements, while a poem is to be read from a page of a book and does not need an accompaniment.
- Have a good command of the language. To be a good writer, you must have a sufficient background in language and literature. Express your thoughts in a cohesive but artistic manner, and keep a wide range of words to rhyme and stitch up.
- Strive for excellence. Admit your flaws and accept constructive criticism to be able to grow as an artist.
- Be at the right place at the right time. Sometimes hard work and perseverance are not enough. Trina says, “I’ve met many aspiring songwriters who I believe have worked much harder than I have, but have not been as lucky with breaks”. Go out, meet people and create network.
- Maintain a healthy balance in your business. According to Trina, a lot of artists are afraid to ask for what is due them and to put a price on their craft since it is something they enjoy doing anyway. The consequence is they end up poor or being taken advantage of. On the other hand, there are artists who think their works are priceless and show off a take-it-or-leave-it attitude. They are not willing to share their talent which is very unprofessional. Be something in the middle in order to be successful. “A healthy balance is the key to success in having songwriting as a business.”
Connect with other Filipino songwriters. 
