Assessing Songwriting

Looks like I haven't updated this blog for a while — but I've been writing up a storm! Here's a little ditty I've pulled from my Songwriting Process Journal about Assessing Songwriting.

I've been reflecting about the songwriting process in general, and this piece addresses judging my work. It's so hard to have objectivity, but thinking through the criteria is a good reality check.


Songwriting Rubric Criteria

• Recognition/Selection of a Potent Theme—potent, evocative, relevant, essential, important
• Accurate Grasp of Conceptual Material—accurate; constructive/interesting angle
• Coherence of Theme Treatment Reflected in Musical and Lyrical Choices
• Skillful use of Elements of Music
• Skillful use of Elements of Language
• Performance/Realization does justice to the work

Essential Questions:

• Is the song memorable? What makes it memorable? To who?
• What is the main emotion? The main concept? How effective is the song in conveying feeling and idea?
• Is the song well crafted? (Use Song Analysis form to show criteria)
• Do the music and the lyrics support each other? How?
• Does the song have a sense of progression? Does it build? Does it resolve? How does it negotiate balance/unbalance? What is the song’s energy map? What small variable elements keep it fresh?

This is a work in progress here. I'd love to read your comments, additions, etc. What do you think. How do you rate your writing? Do you think this set of criteria is useful? What what would you change or add?