Songwriting for Dummies

In an attempt to FINALLY work through the 2nd Edition of the book Songwriting FOR DUMMIES by Jim Peterik (Grammy-winning songwriter), David Austin (Former record label executive and manager) and Cathy Lynn (Screenwriter) with a Foreword by Kara DioGuardi (Hit songwriter & past American Idol judge... BTW a big congratulations goes out to her on her new show "Platinum Hit" airing on Bravo this month) ... I have decided to blog it all here.

Why? Well, why not?? Maybe it will be a big hit like Julie's blog from the movie "Julie & Julia"... which I loved BTW :) Or maybe it will breed inspiration to everyone that reads it, LOL... Hey a girl can dream right? While I'm not sure who is going to read my blog, I hope that this process will help keep me accountable and help me get through the 21 chapters that lay in front of me... which for me, is a lot. I seriously can't remember the last book that I read from beginning to end... hence this project.

Benchmark***
Before I dig in... Let me brief you on my songwriting "career"...

Before this last year, 2010-11, my main concentration was singing… I dabbled in songwriting, but it didn’t move me until recently. I also think that I held myself back because I couldn’t play an instrument. By the way, I now only know how to play some chords on the piano. But over the last year, I have been extremely lucky to take part of a songwriting camp in San Juan Capistrano, Ca. with Thomas Barsoe. Through these camps I have been able to work with some of the biggest names in the songwriting arena. Like Lars Halvor Jensen with DEEKAY Productions… and who works with Randy Jackson and Diane Warren, among others; Oliver McEwan from the Europe X-Factor band; Alex Cantrall (best known for Jojo’s “Get Out”) and Jeffrey Hoeppner both from Radio Nation; and of course a lot of inspiring peers, who just like me, are pursing a piece of the music industry. Do I get nervous writing with people that are so talented? YES! Do I second-guess myself and draw a blank? YES! But so far what I have learned is that in order to grow you have to jump.

I have to say, that I am proud of the work that I have co-written with the other aspiring songwriters… and let me tell you, they are nothing short of amazing! So, in a nutshell, I write what I feel… I listen to the tracks we get, or chords I play and I let the notes dive into me and hope it pulls up some buried treasure. Yeah, it’s raw and unrefined way of writing, but to me, songwriting is my therapy. It’s the diary I’ve been meaning to write. It gives me a chance to explain what I observe or let me step into a character that I’ve always wanted to be...

I’m excited to work through this book and write this blog. Just remember, “All your dreams can come true, if you have the courage to pursue them.” ~Walt Disney

XOXO Joanna Pearl

Season 8 Winner of Idol Search 

www.youtube.com/joannapearl

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