10,000 Hours

10,000 hours. That's how long Malcom Gladwell says in his recent book, Outliers: The Story of Success, it takes for someone to master a craft.

The Beatles did it performing live in Germany before they reached world fame. Bill Gates did it in a computer lab while he was in high school. And you can do it too.

Broken down, 10,000 hours is roughly 2,000 co-writes (considering the traditional co-write time of five hours, about 10:30am to 3:30pm). Let's be honest. It takes years to become an expert co-writer. But the cool thing is, a lesser-experienced co-writer can write a better song on any given day than an expert co-writer. Basically, an amateur can hit the bull's eye on a lucky shot, but an expert will have better aim and more control over where their arrow lands. And the more control over where the arrow goes, the more fun the creative process becomes.

Keep writing (and aiming at the bull's eye),

Ben

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Would you or someone you know like to go on a songwriting retreat with industry professionals? Visit SongbirdCamp.com for more details!

Byron Hill - On Mistakes

Byron Hill - On Mistakes from Music Starts Here on Vimeo.

Quote of the Day - Mark Twain

"Don't let schooling interfere with your education."

- Mark Twain

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Would you or someone you know like to go on a songwriting retreat with industry professionals? Visit SongbirdCamp.com for more details!

One Man Band

To be a songwriter is to be an entrepreneur. Each of us is sort of a one man band, playing the part of both the creator and critic. Also, no one (not even a publisher) can make us create art. Nor can any outside force sense when the soul needs rest, or when an idea must come out. No one else can get us past any fear that may be blocking us from creating. When all the parts are working as they should, there's a beautiful outcome: music.

Keep writing,

Ben

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Would you or someone you know like to go on a songwriting retreat with industry professionals? Visit SongbirdCamp.com for more details!

Work For the Job You Want

Though talent can get you through the door of the music business, hard work is what keeps you in the door. Once you have the chance to meet with a publisher, be intentional about how you continue to pursue that relationship. More important than how often you meet is how hard you work in between meetings. Having a song or two that shows tangible growth is key in impressing a publisher. In the same way that you "dress for the job you want," work for the job you want and prove that you deserve a spot on their roster.

Keep writing,

Ben

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Would you or someone you know like to go on a songwriting retreat with industry professionals? Visit SongbirdCamp.com for more details!

Guest Post on MakeItInMusic.com!

Click picture to read post. In the spirit of combining words, what you see in this post is a "clickture."