To Teach or Not To Teach

Fire down the ring light. It’s my last week of teaching my college Pop Songwriting Workshop. I’m feeling a little weepy but I know I’m making the right decision.

They say if you can’t do, teach. F*ck that. If you have an expertise pay it forward. Teaching has given me an opportunity to give back to young students-of-song at the beginning of their wide-eyed journey. It’s given me a new sense of greater value. It’s been self confirming: I know what I’m doing. (I’ve always had the same advice for the service industry. Everyone should spend 2 years waiting tables. See how it feels on the other side. You’ll never be the same again when you’re sitting at the table.)

Art is subjective. I’ve told my kids that everything I offer is my opinion. But I’ve earned it. Another instructor might tell them something different. They need to consider that too. Collect it all. And then write what you love. Write what moves YOU. If it doesn’t move you it’s not gonna move anyone else.

The energy and talent of every new semester has been different from the previous one. I’ve had to give careful consideration to what my students collectively need the most help with. I can’t just follow the previous semesters’ plans. I listen to songs over and over before I dive in with feedback. Is there something I missed? Did I love it on third listen when I dismissed it on first? They deserve that. But that takes TIME!

I’ve enjoyed watching students’ faces when I’m critiquing their songs. They are sponges. Impressionable. Vulnerable. Cocky! They might not understand my critique in the moment. Maybe they will tomorow. Or next week. Maybe never! All I can hope for is that I was a part of their journey of becoming the songwriter they want to be.

I receive an email or two after every semester from students who tell me it was their favorite class. (That’s why I’m weepy now.) This has always made me look forward to another semester. It’s been an illuminating 4 years.

But I want to return to writing more songs of my own. Songwriting is like cardio is for the physical body. We release endorphins when we’re in the process of creating. It puts us in a trance. Makes us so damn high. (see video below)

Yet I do love talking about why a song works. The psychology of structure. Does the body of a song support its thesis? (Thank you, Stephen Bray for that guideline). Was it a universal emotion with a unique point of view? Did it change my way of seeing life or love in some small way? This is my favorite conversation. How to keep it going?

Maybe I’ll put together a private class for midlevel writers (no total beginners or established professionals) who want to conceive potentially commercial songs that have bones — well thought out, ‘rememborable’ 3-minute worlds. It would split the difference — give me some time back but allow me to continue the dialog.

Hmmm. Mulling. No syllabus or grades. An 8-week song-share. A deep-dive into what works or why it doesn’t. That’s manageable. I’m getting excited. Who’s in?

Watch this space.

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Thank you @LindyRobbins for sharing this with me ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

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