The Creative Process #1 – Capturing an idea

A few people have been asking me lately about how you get from an idea for a song to the fully formed, produced, recorded track. So I thought I’d write a few blog posts helping to unlock the very humble creative process that I go through when writing and producing music.

Colin and I have lots of ideas for songs…lots of ideas generally, with a mixture of good, bad and ugly, but before we can filter out and categorise our ideas, we have to capture them. From my experience this is one of the most critical points in the Creative Process, because as soon as you have an idea, there is a fairly short window of time to capture it before it is distorted or lost forever (and that’s never good :))

As a closet geek, I’m always keen to find techy solutions to this problem so if you’re interested I have a few reccomendations to help in this area.

Firstly, Dropbox https://www.dropbox.com/ is a must for anyone who is collaborating whilst writing songs. Share your files easily and with the 2GB free space, there is a fair bit of scope.

Secondly, I use Dropvox http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/dropvox-record-voice-memos/id416288287?mt=8 which is available on itunes for £1.49, this will record straight from your portable apple device (ipod, iphone…) to your dropbox folder, so you can capture and share an idea with ease.

Finally, if you’re stuck in the middle of a field and the wifi/3G signal is pretty dodgy then the Voice Memos app built into the iphone/ipod touch is great, and it even syncs with itunes so you can grab it straight from your music folders. http://www.icreatemagazine.com/tips/iphone-tutorial-use-the-voice-memos-app/

So first step is don’t lose your ideas, when you have it – capture it and share it with a discerning ear.

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Free Christmas Song: For unto us a child is born

For unto us a child is born

To us a Son is given

A holy and an a mighty God

Our counsellor and King

The Lord of Lords, The Prince of peace

The everlasting One

His righteous Kingdom will increase

The battle has been won

 

A humble birth, a perfect life

A sacrificial death

The hope of heaven, no fear of hell

The steadfast Spirit’s breath

A Saviour born in love supreme

To every creed and race

He came His people to redeem

For His glory through His grace

 

O Praise Him, the King of all kings is born

Adore Him, our perfect Redeemer

Exalt Him, the heaven’s proclaim his worth

For Jesus shall reign over all.

 

The Word of God, the Lord of Life

Our God in flesh has come

The King of heaven, humbled himself

Christ Jesus God’s own Son

And now he reigns in heaven above

Enthroned in majesty

Let every voice declare His love

For all eternity

 

©Phil Moore, 2011

 

For unto us a child is born (mp3 download)

For unto us a child is born (LEAD SHEET)

Acoustic Version of God is Able

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In this five-minute video the worship leaders from West Ridge Church perform an unplugged version of “God Is Able,” by Hillsong United.

Keswick 2011

Cornerstone Hymnal Vol.1 EP

Here is a repost from Colin Webster on the blog from Cornerstone Church

Cornerstone Hymnal Volume 1 EP Track listing:

1. We have heard a joyful sound (He saves)
2. Holy Father rich in mercy
3. I will say my God is glorious
4. Be Merciful
5. What a friend we have in Jesus (Oh what a friend)

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 2011 saw the launch of the Cornerstone Hymnal Vol. 1 EP, the first of what we hope to be many recordings. (EP stands for extended play, as it contains more songs than a single but fewer than an album – in case you were wondering). The CD features some songs which Phil Moore and I have co-written and which we already sing here at Cornerstone. This EP emerged from our desire to create a charity album where all the proceeds go directly to the Cornerstone building project.
The album is quite literally a miracle in the making because the drums, bass, piano, electric guitar, acoustic guitar and saxophone were recorded by Tim Taylor during a rehearsal on the 4th June with this year’s Keswick band. The musicians had never even heard all of the songs till that day and what’s more not one of us was expecting to be recording for an album; it was simply a creative practice session. However, once Phil and I heard what Tim had captured we decided that, with a few re-takes of vocals and added guitar licks and sax, we felt we had a very good sounding product in place, which retained that edgy ‘live session’ feel.

As the songs on the album were designed for congregational singing we decided to add in a choir – last minute. This consisted of 30 people from Cornerstone who kindly donated one hour of their time after an evening service. We knew that we needed three songs with the choir and we had to be out of the school building before the caretaker came to lock up at 9 pm. Amazingly we managed to achieve our goal and the last minute ‘rent a congregation’ worked so well that we are keen to use this approach again (but with a bit more notice next time!). A big thanks must go to the Keswick Band, Jason Boyd (Sax) and Daniel Johnson (Electric Guitar) as well as all those who sang.

We hope that folks in Cornerstone will all buy at least one copy of the CD. Perhaps they may also want to buy some for family or friends as birthday or Christmas gifts or simply as an encouragement to someone. It all goes to a good cause and hence we are asking for a donation for the CD. How much will it cost? Well we are working on a suggested donation of £5 (or much…MUCH…MORE, if you’re feeling generous!)

In conjunction with the CD we are offering free access to the manuscript music of some of the songs. These can be downloaded from a new website www.cornerstoneworship.co.uk

We hope that you enjoy this CD and that it brings joy, encouragement, praise and celebration of God’s goodness to your heart.

Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness. Psalm 155:1

Songs of Faith: Sinless Saviour by Aaron Keyes

Sorry for the lack of blogging…life has been incredibly busy. Watch this space for the launch of a new EP. The Cornerstone Hymnal VOl.1, we’re very excited that by God’s grace, and the help of a lot of very talented people we have completed the recording and are in post production.

True Love: Phil Wickham with Matt Chandler and CJ Mahaney

Notably Quotable: Tim Keller on Evangelistic Worship

Worship isn’t just about honoring tradition or keeping up with culture, it’s about attracting nonbelievers through comprehensible worship and leading those people to personal commitment.

Copyright © 2001 by Timothy Keller, © 2009 by Redeemer City to City.

Tech Talk: Early Projection

Notably Quotable: William Temple on Worship

Worship is the submission of all of our nature to God.
It is the quickening of conscience by His holiness,
Nourishment of mind by His truth,
Purifying of imagination by His beauty,
Opening of the heart to His love,
And submission of will to his purpose.
And all this gathered up in adoration is the greatest of human expressions of which we are capable.

William Temple (1881-1944)