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Music Theory for Songwriters
The Most Beautiful Chords in Songwriting
4 August 2021
Hi friends, I’ve recently made a short series of quick videos that cover two of the most beautiful…
Music Theory for Songwriters
Song Starters
Modes Made Easy for Songwriters
7 July 2021
I made a quick video on my YouTube channel about the Mixolydian mode. In less than 10 minutes,…
Uncategorized
writing
Why write it as a song?
28 June 2021
It’s a question I ask of myself all the time. Why write this idea as a song, and…
Language
Metaphor
Psychology
Uncategorized
This is Your Brain on Metaphor
20 June 2021
When I teach lyric writing, the first concept I introduce in any class is the power and impact…
Generating Ideas for Lyrics
Song Starters
Uncategorized
writing
120 Sense Writing Prompts
17 June 2021
If you’re already familiar with Sense Writing (aka Object Writing), feel free to skip ahead to the prompts…
Creative Practice
Psychology of Creativity
Can you learn to be obsessed?
15 June 2021
There is so much advice out there for writers about the importance of habit and ritual in your…
Habits of Success
The Secrets of Successful Collaboration
1 January 2015
Reposting here a short article I wrote for ASCAP a while ago, with some thoughts and musings about…
Uncategorized
30 June 2014
I was recently interviewed for online songwriting publication, “Success for your songs”. You can check out an excerpt…
Songs I Love
Songs I Love: ‘One Way Ticket’ by Busbee
1 April 2012
[bandcamp track=1752466940 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=venti] My friend showed me Busbee’s album last night, and I listened to it…
Uncategorized
Great Question
19 November 2011
Hi Keppie, I have a question. I recently had a singer adapt one of my poems…
Generating Ideas for Lyrics
Habits of Success
Psychology of Creativity
Revising Songs
Song Starters
Wisdom from Songwriters
Eagle Rock Fall Songwriters Retreat
12 August 2011
EAGLE ROCK SONGWRITERS RETREAT – OCTOBER 8 2011 Former Berklee Songwriting faculty Keppie Coutts presents the…
Habits of Success
Psychology of Creativity
The Whole Brain Process
8 August 2011
In 1968, a psychologist called Roger W. Sperry published his groundbreaking study that showed that the two hemispheres…
Uncategorized
Lessons that still ring true
16 June 2011
In 2008, I had the unbelievably good fortune to spend a whole week with John Mayer, talking about…
Revising Songs
Uncategorized
SPECIFICITY #2: Getting Specific About Images
21 May 2011
A while ago I started an article about SPECIFICITY in lyric writing (see post: Specificity #1: Getting Specific…
Generating Ideas for Lyrics
Habits of Success
Revising Songs
Song Starters
Wisdom from Songwriters
Getting Fruitful Feedback – (Eagle Rock Songwriters Retreat this weekend!)
20 May 2011
One the most important things in the journey of a songwriter is being part of a community who…