Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: A MUST-HAVE COMPANION TO THE DAVIS HARD-COVER BOOK !!!Comment: If you only bought Sheila Davis' book on the Craft of Lyric Writing, do yourself a BIG favour and BUY THIS WORKBOOK! The new workbook gives you a chance to go through exercises for all the critical concepts that Davis teaches in her previous hard-cover book. If you are only thinking of buying this workbook, do yourself an even bigger favour and buy the hard-cover book as well. Both books are important to place in your library.Customer Rating: Summary: Thank you, Dr. Sheila!Comment: Ms. Davis's other book, "The Craft of Lyric Writing", was recommended to me. Looking in the library this one was the next book over, (oh, great fortune!) so I took both out. I have just ordered both for purchase because, as a composer of some experience who has now made the leap of trying lyric writing (and anyone that thinks it's easy is kidding himself) I cannot imagine my library without them. Her step-by-step suggestions, professional and well-considered insights, and many examples demonstrating things like writers' consistent viewpoint, simplicity/clarity, etc. (or lack thereof) have already resulted in a successful rewrite of a tune that was driving me bonkers.
Finally, for what it's worth, I'm not only not a 'book person' when learning something, but have no use for 'success formulas' and can smell snake oil a mile away---and this sure aint either.
Thank you, Dr. Sheila. You've made me a better songwriter.
Customer Rating: Summary: Thank you, Dr. Sheila!Comment: Ms. Davis's other book, "The Craft of Lyric Writing", was recommended to me. Looking in the library this one was the next book over, (oh, great fortune!)so I took both out. I have just ordered both for purchase because, as a composer of some experience who has now made the leap of trying lyric writing (and anyone that thinks it's easy is kidding himself) I cannot imagine my library without them. Her step-by-step suggestions, professional and well-considered insights, and many examples demonstrating things like writers' consistent viewpoint, simplicity/clarity, etc. (or lack thereof) have already resulted in a successful rewrite of a tune that was driving me bonkers.
Finally, for what it's worth, I'm not only not a 'book person' when learning something, but can have no use for 'success formulas' and can smell snake oil a mile away---and this sure aint either.
Thank you, Dr. Sheila. You've made me a better songwriter.
Customer Rating: Summary: Less than 100 pages in, and...WOWComment: So far this is a great book. Good for beginners who need to add structure to their writing. A note: this book seems like a good starting point and a good guideline as tohow to start writing. MY ONLY COMPLAINT: The example songs are old and outdated and therefore makes it somewhat hard for the younger reads. That's it. Enjoy.Customer Rating: Summary: Successful Lyric Writing Is a SuccessComment: In this book, Sheila Davis has designed a course of study that beautifully introduces the concepts of songwriting in an understandable and helpful order. Being a teacher, I value any book that offers students a chance to build skills through practical exercises.Davis's exercises allow the student to explore concepts in whatever song style in which they write.
What I like best about this workbook is the section on "The Whole Brain." Once students have mastered the craft of lyric writing, Davis focuses on means of finding inspiration and beginning the writing process.
This book was a tremendous help to me and my fellow students as we began our journey into the world of songwriting. Thank you, Sheila Davis!
