Songwriting Basics By Mike Wilkinson

Songwriting: The Art of a Thousand Words


By Michael Wilkinson


Introduction by Mark Grove


Michael Wilkinson is a piano player who started at a young age and grew up in a music filled family. Michael has evolved both as a writer of music and lyrics. Michael is currently a Berklee student, not just trying to become an accomplished Piano player, but wants to learn all aspects of songwriting, music business and the the technological side of the music biz. Songwriting is the most important part of the whole process for Michael.


Mr.Wilkinson is a native of Calgary, Canada and has the drive and determination to succeed as a musician and song writer. For more info On Michael Wilkinson, go to http://go.berkleemusic.com/music4ever . Mike also has music files of his solo piano work you can listen to.You can email Michael at: mikesmusic@shaw.ca .

Writing music/lyrics or both has many different functions to a person's and ultimately a society's life. Songwriting affects us as a society more than we might think.Think of the last time you heard a song.Where were you? Chances are you were in your car, on a plane, in a restaurant or in a movie.Music is everywhere we go in society today.There is someone who is writing the music that you hear.There is always room for more music to be written.As we grow, we change and our likes and dislikes change.This is evident in the ever-changing popularity of certain types of music.

Songwriting is something that, for many people, comes naturally. It seems to flow from them like wine flows at a dinner party. Don’t be fooled though. Many people take years and years to refine and give voice to their craft. It isn’t very often that people are an over night success. Even when it comes to a proclaimed “over night success”, many times the artists have been working towards that goal for years prior to the success’ arrival.


Songwriting, like anything in life, takes practice and persistence. Writing music and lyrics that people can relate to isn’t as easy as some people may think. There are so many ways a songwriter can say something that a person would never say in the ‘real’ world. Writing songs is a way for the songwriter to express themselves and their emotions to the world, so the world will listen. If a person was to say something about love over and over again, the effects of what they said would eventually wear off and you would get sick of hearing it. However, when you listen to an album of songs, there might be 8 or 10 songs that are “love” songs, but they all seem different and unique in their own way.

It is amazing how music brings people together and allows a person to express how they really feel, but maybe in a more subtle and indirect way. There are so many more ways in a song that a person can say something, than in a normal everyday conversation. In Michael’s next article I will include notings on his style of piano, and the type of piano he plays with.

Michael Wilkinson

Mark Grove --CGP