I'm sorry, remedial ??? Is this some kind of class?

And no, I've only just joined this forum because the book was published by Taxi.

Be nice Obi Wan Kenobi.

Not all of us are as professional as you are. I've never used a book but since coming to taxi and listening to a lot of guidences from the A&R's here that would be in such a book have got me my first forward and I'm only here 6 months. I'm not bragging there but simply pointing out a fact of life. I dont like having to listen to my one song over and over again in the studio but in the end from reptitively hearing it I often get new ideas for it. Same with ideas that are largely known and found in books. Always nice to hear another area covered again and again to really drive it home. Some books however repitive do have a better way of explaining it than others.

I have not read the book referenced but I'm sure a lot of members here prefer it over others for the simple fact that it contains ideas in it that are put across in a more simple manner they can understand.

Stephen

No man, I just didn't understand the word why he would say that. Remedial doesn't make sense to me.

And yea I get all the rest of what you're saying, but the truth is the recommendations they wrote on the back of the book doesn't match up to the material inside.

I was over this a long time ago, but I do think that since this is a thread about the book people should actually know it doesn't live up to its own hype, or the recommendations Michael etc. gives.

I agree with what you say, it explains what other books/other people have said maybe in a better way, but it is NOT what itself says it is, so if you're thinking that just because Frederick has a lot of experience she knows some extra 'secrets' or 'shortcuts' or has something over say someone who has been writing for a year, you're wrong. She knows nothing more, and if you're at that stage I recommend you just keep writing and producing like you have been doing.

Reading her opinions will even mess up your songwriting head a little if you're an impressionable sort of person (and even if you're not, because that's a lot of pages=more reading time to be influenced by), though whether for good or bad I know not, depends on where your songwriting is at.

I don't think its worth what it/others say its worth, but I do think I got at least $20 worth out of that book.

www.dictionary.com

Criticism is not a good argument for rejecting the book ( at least I think so, because you only express your given opinion ). But not everyone agrees with you. Fine you've expressed your dislike on the book and thats ok. I'm sure that if I was the author I'd be reading your criticism with interest. Not every book is polished to the T. I've been writing since I was 16 ( 26 now ) and I can tell you my first year was met with many chuckles of how bad my music was, but as the years progressed and the more study I did of great songwriters a la John lennon/Paul mc cartney and seeing what chords they used and how they structured their songs I progressed. But then coming to taxi in only 6 months and listening to all the advice from the likes of the books above I've learned that progress is always an ongoing thing in the business and I progressed even more then.

I often look at great songs on the youtube and see 14,000 likes and 528 dislikes. I often wonder where those people come from so I can pay them a visit ( just joking ) lol. But it does prove that not everyone likes the same thing and that's ok.

But according to a lot of members and non members of taxi the book is really helping them out in terms of progressing in their career and I think that would be enough for me to buy the book in itself.

That's cool man, you make great points.

I think we've wasted long enough on this.

I wish you the best of luck with your songwriting !!

I wrote "remedial" because it's not the sort of book you'd use as a reference; the post was meant to be jocular, hence the smiley. (and if it's stuff you've learned already, but maybe forgot, that's remedial) Much of the advice in the book will look familiar to long-time Taxi Forum readers, but the exercises will definitely not. It's meant as a workbook and for inspiration, at which I think it succeeds brilliantly; we've all had a laugh about the title, in another thread, as there's really no such a thing as a shortcut to a career in songwriting. (though learning to critically evaluate your songs, identify their genre and write to spec will save you buckets of time) Robin popped into that thread to mention that the title was chosen mostly for its alliteration and because it 'popped'. Keep it handy, go back to it from time to time and jump around in it; if you get only one or two decent ideas out of it, it's more than worth the cover price and a little trouble.

Thanks this link is a vital tool. Thanks!