Words & Music: Journey of a Song is made possible by the Country Music Association Endowment for Words & Music and is funded in part by American Airlines; Chet Atkins Music Education Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee; CMA; CMA Foundation; Dollar General Literacy Foundation; The Hello in There Foundation; The Memorial Foundation; Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission; Nashville Predators Foundation; National Endowment for the Arts; PNC Grow Up Great; and Tennessee Arts Commission.
Words & Music: Journey of a Song
Watch Episodes
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Episode 4
Episode 2
Episode 5
Words & Music: Journey of a Song is a five-episode series that follows four teenaged students on their journey to write, record, and perform their own original songs. With the help of industry professionals, including singer-songwriter and two-time ACM Award winner Tenille Townes; Grammy-winning songwriter, producer, arranger, and BMI executive Shannon Sanders; singer-songwriter and Monument Records recording artist Caitlyn Smith; songwriter and producer Cameron Bedell; composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Kevin Dailey; and Big Machine Music President Mike Molinar, students’ experiences are front and center as their songs come to life in this free-to-access series.
Watch the series trailer
- Episode 1 (featuring Abby Whitman and Tenille Townes)
- Episode 2 (featuring Jazmine Croom and Shannon Sanders)
- Episode 3 (featuring Max Rees and Caitlyn Smith)
- Episode 4 (featuring Avalon Simpson and Cameron Bedell)
- Episode 5 (performance finale)
Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Your Own Song Lyrics
Additional Video Resources
BandLab Tutorial: Add Music to Your Lyrics
"Do Lyrics Have to Be Poetic?" with Abby Whitman
"How Do I Use Metaphors in My Lyrics?" with Abby Whitman
"What is a Demo?" with Abby Whitman
"What is a Hook?" with Abby Whitman
"What Are the Parts of a Song?" with Abby Whitman
"How Can Co-Writing Help?" with Jazmine Croom
"How Do I Start Writing a Song?" with Jazmine Croom
"What is Songwriting Tune-Up?" with Jazmine Croom
"How Do I Find Inspiring Song Topics?" with Max Rees
"What if My Songs Aren't Good?" with Max Rees
"What Should I Look for in a Co-Writer?" with Max Rees
"Why Write Songs?" with Max Rees
"Which Comes First: Lyrics or Music?"
"How Do I Brainstorm More Ideas for My Song?" with Avalon Simpson
"What Is Free Writing?" with Avalon Simpson
"How Do I Overcome Feeling Nervous to Perform My Song?" with Avalon Simpson
"What Do I Do When I Get a Good Idea for a Song?" with Avalon Simpson
"Advice for Songwriters" with Caitlyn Smith
"Advice for Songwriters" with Cameron Bedell
"Advice for Songwriters" with Mike Molinar
"Advice for Songwriters" with Shannon Sanders
"Advice for Songwriters" with Tenille Townes
Words & Music is Funded in Part by
