If writing about music is like dancing about architecture, you'd do best to hone your chops and avoid clich�s (like the one that begins this sentence) by learning from the prime movers. How to Write About Music offers a selection of the best writers on what is perhaps our most universally beloved art form. Selections from the critically-acclaimed 33 1/3 series appear alongside new interviews and insights from authors like Lester Bangs, Chuck Klosterman, Owen Pallet, Ann Powers and Alex Ross. How to Write About Music includes primary sources of inspiration from a variety of go-to genres such as the album review, the personal essay, the blog post and the interview along with tips, writing prompts and advice from the writers themselves. Music critics of the past and the present offer inspiration through their work on artists like Black Sabbath, Daft Punk, J Dilla, Joy Division, Kanye West, Neutral Milk Hotel, Radiohead, Pussy Riot and countless others. How to Write About Music is an invaluable text for all those who have ever dreamed of getting their music writing published and a pleasure for everyone who loves to read about music.

Table of contents: Preface 1. Music Terminology 2. Narrative Text 3. Citations 4. Musical Examples 5. Tables and Illustrations 6. The Printed Program 7. Electronics 8. Best Practices for Student Writers Appendix: Problem Words and Sample Style Sheet Bibliography.

Suitable for exam boards: Edexcel, AQA, OCR, WJEC The Writing about Music Workbook will develop students' skills in writing about music for AS, A2 and undergraduate level. Exercises appear at every stage to challenge and provide examination practice for students. These range from naming musical features and spotting grammatical errors to devising essay plans and analysing sample answers. Beginning with fundamental writing requirements, this workbook moves the student on to describing the features of a musical work, as well as how to make comparisons and contrasts between specified pieces. There is advice on how to approach research, what to retain and reject, and how to structure an essay. Detailed, analytical and dissertation-style essays are addressed, as well as writing programme notes. The Writing About Music Workbook promotes the development of skills which will be of use in many areas of academic life: collecting information, selecting relevant material, presenting arguments for and against particular propositions, and expressing ideas effectively and correctly in English. "Wightman has achieved just the right tone, with very clear explanations... I would feel confident giving it to pupils to read in their own time, as it’s very easy for them to work from it, making it a useful resource to reinforce the comments I write on their essays... I think it's probably one of the most genuinely useful books of its type." - Russell Millard, Head of Academic Music, Charterhouse

Looks at each of the National Standards for Music Education and breaks them down into concepts that are teachable in any music classroom.

There are few creative acts more mysterious and magical than writing a song. But what if the goal wasn't so mysterious and was actually achievable for anyone who wants to experience more magic and creativity in their life? That's something that anyone will be inspired to do after reading Jeff Tweedy's How to Write One Song. Why one song? Because the difference between one song and many songs isn't a cute semantic trick—it's an important distinction that can simplify a notoriously confusing art form. The idea of becoming a capital-S songwriter can seem daunting, but approached as a focused, self-contained event, the mystery and fear subsides, and songwriting becomes an exciting pursuit. And then there is the energizing, nourishing creativity that can open up. How to Write One Song brings readers into the intimate process of writing one song—lyrics, music, and putting it all together—and accesses the deep sense of wonder that remains at the heart of this curious, yet incredibly fulfilling, artistic act. But it’s equally about the importance of making creativity part of your life every day, and of experiencing the hope, inspiration, and joy available to anyone who’s willing to get started.