Andrea Stolpe
Songwriting Instructor and Artist Development Coach
Education
- B.S. Berklee College of Music
Professional Achievements
- Renowned creative consultant whose methodology has been taught worldwide
- Penned songs for such artists as Faith Hill, Julianne Hough, and Jimmy Wayne
- Authored staple texts for songwriting programs at Belmont University in Nashville, Berklee College of Music, and University of Southern California Thornton School of Music
- Has online courses and video series that have garnered Music Educator’s Grammy Nominations, and the prestigious Gold Telly Award for non-broadcast education videos
- Hosts “Writer to Writer”, a retreat exclusive to songwriters looking for a progressive approach to furthering their craft and career interests
Favorite Piece of Advice
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Forum Comments (2)
I think what we’ve come to understand about songwriting is that it's more about structure than it is about what we say many times. We teach in terms of phrasing and the rhythm of the language. So, it is how the language carries with it on a syllable level, a rhythm. And then the lengths of the lines and the lengths of the sections are the other structural elements. Become aware of how structure affects the impact of the words themselves.
It's difficult to understand that concept until you have a sense of what you know. Because what I know makes me unique or different or distinctly able to respond to my own instincts when I write something down. So, to break that down into a tool, that's why we do free writing, journaling, object writing, and sensory writing . And this is something that certainly wasn't born with songwriting. It's fiction writers who really know how to visually write a scene. It's a bit like character development when we write lyrics.
And different song styles value lyrics in different ways. So, for example, if we're simply trying to write something lighthearted that has a groove underneath, think funk, for example, the lyric could be, ‘get up, get up’. And we think that's the best lyric for that moment. So, I think part of writing great lyrics is to understand what great lyrics are in the context of your music. And I think this is where people get stalled; we seem to want to just get to the lyric writing part without knowing where we're going. So, we just know that there is someone who is going to determine whether this is great or not. And often, it really depends on who the personality is musically.
Whenever we write a song lyric, even if we're writing something completely fictional, the words that we choose, the perspective of the character, stem from what we empathize with and what we think is an interesting story, but it's all about the character. And that should be absolutely dripping through the musical setting, as well as the words themselves. Sometimes we think that lyrics are somehow a kind of binary expression, like this word means this. And sometimes that's true, but when there's metaphor and abstraction, it takes on a quality that is layers and layers deep.
So, write what you know, and try to take exactly what you've written in your free writing and transfer that into a song lyric . Because again, we sit and we try to choose what we want to say, and then we somehow feel like we should interpret that and write lyrics that are lyric-y. But when we do that, something gets lost – a lot gets lost.
Co-authored Articles (22)
How to
Write a Song
Anyone can write a song! All you really need is some basic knowledge of a melody instrument like a guitar or a piano, an idea, and the proper methodology. As long as you know how to brainstorm ideas for your song, how to...
How to Write Song Lyrics for Beginners
All the structure, rhymes & writing tips you need to make great lyricsWe all know great lyrics when we hear them, but what exactly makes them so great? How do you write your own song lyrics that convey your message and h...
Coldplay’s “Yellow” Lyrics: Their Meaning & The Inspiration Behind Them
Plus, a full breakdown of the song & what it’s really aboutIf you’re an alt-rock music fan, odds are you’ve jammed out to Coldplay’s mega-hit “Yellow.” It’s one of the band’s earliest songs and remains on...
How to
Write a Love Song
Writing a love song is a great way to show how much another person means to you. When you start working on a love song, think about how the person makes you feel and use those feelings to write your lyrics. After coming ...
320 Funny, Cheesy, & Flirty Music Pick Up Lines
Break the ice and impress your crush with these music-inspired linesIf you want to make beautiful music with your crush, break the ice with a music-inspired pickup line. These lines will show that you have rizz, a sense ...
How to
Make a Good Album
There’s a lot more to making a good album than just writing excellent songs. You must also consider thematic cohesiveness, the actual recording of the songs, and creating cover art that effectively represents what the ...
How to
Write a Rock Song
A good rock song should put your listeners on edge. It should make them want to do something dangerous, fight against the system, and have a good time. If you want to write a rock song that does all that, you’ll need t...
How to
Write a Catchy Song
We are all familiar with those catchy songs that seem to get stuck inside our heads. Scientists call these kinds of songs “earworms” and there are many elements that make them so catchy. Here’s how you can try to...
How to
Become a Song Writer
Becoming a songwriter is a lifelong dream for many. Although anyone can technically write a song, only a small portion of people end up make a living off their passion. Writing good songs is a major part of being a songw...
How to
Write a Song for Your Girlfriend or Boyfriend
How to
Write a Bridge for a Song
A bridge can be a great way to grab the attention of the people listening to your song! Your bridge should add contrast to your song by including musical and lyrical elements that are unique from the rest of your song. T...
How to
Write a Song Parody
Song parodies are great projects to show off your creativity and lyrical skills. Parodies can be humorous, educational or just plain weird: it’s up to you. Select a good song to parody, write new lyrics, record your pa...
How to
Write a Hit Song
Writing a hit song is a labor of love. Many songwriters spend their careers trying to get into the top 10, but that doesn't mean you can't do it. With determination and effort, your song could be the next smash hit. Lay ...
How to
Write a Good Love Song for Your Crush
If you’re crushing on someone, but having trouble talking to them about it, why not sing to them about it instead? You can't go wrong with a custom love song, but how do you get started? Don't worry—we've got you cov...
How to
Write a Good Song
Writing a song is one thing, but writing a good song? Writing a memorable song? Writing a song that people will want to hear? That's the trick, but it'll take some work and some practice. You won't write a hit on your fi...
How to
Name a Song You've Written
You’ve just written an awesome song, and now you’re searching for the perfect title to match it! Some artists get stuck at this point, but naming a song can be fun and easy once you get your creativity flowing. Most ...
How to
Be a Good Songwriter
Have you always wanted to write that one beautiful song that never seems to come to you? Being a good songwriter is all about practice. You need to be humble enough to learn from the greats but confident enough in yourse...
What Does “How to Save a Life” by The Fray Mean? The Lyrics, Explained
Explore each verse, plus the song’s background and path to successAt this point, who hasn’t heard The Fray’s “How to Save a Life”? It’s an emotional song with a great melody—but if you’re still not sure w...
How to
Compose the First Verse of a Song
The first few moments of any song are arguably the most crucial. Since the listener tends to start forming judgments of what they’re hearing right away, it’s necessary to craft an opening that will grab them and keep...
What Does Red Wine Supernova Mean? Chappell Roan's Hit Song Explained
A lyrical analysis of “Red Wine Supernova”“Red Wine Supernova” is one of the many hits off of Chappell Roan’s debut album, ''The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,'' but what exactly does it mean? This popula...
