CHRISTIAN SONGS FOR A SECULAR WORLD:

A CREATIVE PROJECT

by

Justin S. Cofield

A SENIOR THESIS

m

GENERAL STUDIES

Submitted to the General Studies Council in the College of Arts and Sciences

at Texas Tech University in Partial fulfillment of the Requirements for

the Degree of

BACHELOR OF GENERAL STUDIES

Approved

DR. ORLAN THOMAS School of Music

Chair of Thesis Committee

DR. BRIAN MCGEE Department of Communication Studies

Accepted

DR. DALE DAVIS Director of General Studies

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to thank my thesis committee members: Dr. Orlan Thomas from the

School of Music and Dr. Brian McGee from the Department of Communication Studies.

This project would not have been complete without your effort and advisement. The

composing of this material under your direction has been both a privalege and and an

honor. I appreciate your patience and flexibility throughout the process. Your leadershiI

has been an inspiration, and I heartily thank you.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 11

CHAPTER

I. INTRODUCTION

Purpose Composing Recording Marketing

Procedure Chapter two Chapter three Chapter four

II. THE SONGS

Song One: "Trust" Music and Lyrics Commentary

Song Two: "Sounds of You" Music and Lyrics Commentary

Song Three: "Living Water" 1 Music and Lyrics 1 Commentary

Song Four: "Glory in Your Eyes" 1 Music and Lyrics 1 Commentary 1

Song Five: "The Jesus In Me" l' Music and Lyrics },

Commentary 21

111

Song Six: "Whole Heart" 2: Music and Lyrics 2: Commentary 2,

III. RECORDING 2~

Technical Aspects 2~

Artistic Aspects 2'

Financial Aspects 24

IV. CONCLUSION 3~

Marketing 3l

Learning 3

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY 3:

IV

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Purpose

Music has played an enormous part in the history of the world and has influenced

many people over the course of time. Music has facinated people throughout the ages and

has challenged them to master it, to experiment with it, and to create new and different

forms of music. While many times music is taken for granted, it is also thought to be a

human form of expression or even an outlet for a misunderstood musician. Music also

has some very persuasive and unifying qualities.

The song is one way in which music may be used persuasively. Songs are an

important kind of music and may be used in different forms to express different feelings

and ideas. Stewart, Smith, and Denton write, "Songs are created and designed for

repetition, and they are often sung (perhaps with the addition of timely lyrics) throughout

the life cycles of social movements" (1994, p.204). Songs have powerful nonverbal

(voice and instruments) as well as verbal components (lyrics). Music may take many

shapes and forms, as it continues to evolve everyday. "The basic aim of song is not mere

formal beauty, but rather characteristic beauty. Song is a dual art and at its best there is a

fusion of text and tone." (Hall, 1953, p.3)

My interest in songs and songwriting began in 1995 when I started learning how

to play the guitar. I wrote my first song that summer. and I feel as if I have come a long

way since then. I never had an interest in music before I came to Texas Tech University

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in the fall of 1994. When I consider how far I have come since then without any formal

training, I can only say that it is a gift from God. One goal I wish to accomplish through

this creative project is to further my knowledge of music and hopefully to spur an

increased interest in music amongst my readers. I hope to continue writing songs that

may have an effect on how people live their lives.

With my interest in songs, I proposed a creative project for my required thesis in

the General Studies degree program: to compose the music and lyrics for a half dozen

songs for the guitar with Christian meanings; to record them; and to undertake to market

them.

Composing

I began writing more frequently about two years ago. Most of my songs since

that time have had a Christian message with the intent of drawing people closer to Christ.

Much of the guitar music composed in this creative project came from improvisation. I

have found that the best way to find new chord progressions on the guitar is just to sit

down and play. I feel that the majority of the lyrics to these songs are inspired by God. I

am pleased at how the guitar chords and the lyrics all seemed to fit together so well.

Recording

The thought of recording these songs scared me because I did not know what to

expect. I soon discovered that recording is not as easy as it may seem. There are many

factors to consider when recording, such as technical. artistic, and financial. However. I

learned a lot from this recording experience. I feel that next time I try recording, the

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process will not be so overwhelming.

Marketing

Marketing is also something that I had never done and did not know how to get

started. The one piece of information that I found to be useful is that if people like a

piece of music and enjoy listening to it, they will buy it. Suprisingly, I have had many

requests for my tape. Marketing is a field that is constantly growing and one can be

involved in it on a very small scale or on an extremely large scale.

Procedure

In the organization of this thesis, I have devoted Chapter II to presenting each

song with its lyrics and chords. Following each song is a commentary. In the

commentaries I try to explain as best I can the reason for the format of the song and the

meaning behind the lyrics. I also describe the circumstances in which each song was

written and how the song came about. In Chapter III I describe my experiences with

recording. I review the technical, artistic, and financial aspects of recording. In each of

these areas I give personal examples from my own experience in recording as well as

some insight from the professional realm of recording. Finally, in Chapter IV, I discuss

marketing and some marketing techniques used by professional musicians. I also try to

give some insight into my personal experience with sharing my music. In this final

chapter I also give a brief overview of what I have learned from this creative project and

how I feel that it will help me throughout life.

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CHAPTER II

THE SONGS

Each of the six songs that I composed for my General Studies creative project was

written with a specific purpose in mind. Each song has its own unique "feel," because the

lyrics came about in very different ways. The songs are presented with lyrics and guitar

chord symbols. By supplying songs texts, I trust that it will enhance the effectiveness of

the songs and provide a deeper meaning for them.

In the commentary accompanying each song I attempt to explain the

circumstances in which each song was written, how the idea for the song came about, and

important features of the music and lyrics for each song. I wish to clarify in this chapter

how a song can be not only a vehicle for entertainment but also an instrument to convey

meaning, expression. and beauty. This is my primary reason for writing a commentary on

the songs.

These songs were arranged in the present order on the accompanying recording

cassette according to the way the song flows and its mood. I wanted the more "upbeat"

songs toward the beginning. I placed the slower songs toward the end in order to move

the listener into a more relaxed mood.

Song One: "Trust"

Music and Lyrics

(Capo on 2nd fret)

A capo is a device used to raise the octave of the guitar when placed between different lines or "frets" on the fingerboard.

F# C#m Ebm C#m B I wonder if I could change the darkness into light. F# C#m Ebm C#m B You cover my eyes and lead me blindly through this life. F# C#m B F# I need Your help to let my own life go. F# C#m B C#m Can I trust in You for something I can't show?

Chorus: F# C#m I will trust in You

B F# B C#m To live my life a guiding light. F# C#m I will trust in You

B F# B C#m To calm my fears and wipe away the tears.

F# I trust in You.

F# C#m Ebm C#m B So unsure of my time yet I can only wait on You. F# C#m Ebm C#m B For a future unknown Father show me what to do. F# C#m B F# I make myself a servant unto You. F# C#m B C#m Father make my heart an image Lord of You.

Chorus: x 2

5

Commentary

The song "Trust," written in October of 1997, was a unique song for me. I wrote

this song primarily in my head with no accompaniment. This was one of the few songs

which came to me very quickly without much trouble. Most of the songs I have written

have taken a considerable amount of time as far as the lyrics are concerned. It is not a

regular occurrence for a song to be written in a such a rapid manner without any type of

accompaniment. I was surprised to find a chord progression so quickly that fit so nicely

with the lyrics I had already written.

This song began to form in my mind in September, 1997, when I began to ask

myself one question: "What does it take for someone to change the world?" This was a

question that began to prod my mind after attending church one day and just talking about

the future with people. Many young aspiring college students dream about being

graduated and using their skills or ideas to make a difference in our world today. As a

result of these aspirations. many conversations that take place among college students are

about the future and what role their lives will play in that very unsure future. With this

gigantic question on my mind, I woke up one night and wrote the first line to this song: "

I wonder if I could change the darkness into light?"

This question plaqued my mind for a long time. I tried and tried to work it into a

song, but nothing seemed to gel. Finally, one day while at work. I sat at my desk and the

words began to form in my head and I started and finished this song in about an hour and

6

would join the song to a chord progression, but the first progression I tried with the lyrics

sounded like I wanted it to sound, so I adopted it.

This song was originally composed in E major but later was revised to F# major,

the higher key brought the song to life and seemed to give it more energy. The tempo and

guitar strumming pattern for this song was patterned after a style used by Shane Barnard,

part of a popular band from College Station. This particular chord progression flows well

and suggests crescendos and decrescendos throughout. The crescendos help to build to

the chorus of the song.

The first verse of this song suggests giving your unknown future to God and

letting him guide you. The second verse speaks to how we do not know what will happen

in the future. All that we can do is try to live currently as servants in the image of Christ.

The chorus reiterates these two verses by suggesting not only that I will trust in God when

I am living in a Christ-like manner but also that I will trust in God when times are tough

and unsure. The point that I wanted to make with this song is that if we focus on Him

and trust in Him for the future, we have nothing to fear. One way in which I tried to

express that focusing on God was important was by writing the song to Him. This helped

reinforce the idea of trusting Him.

This song perhaps is lyrically one of my favorites just because it came together so

well. The original lyrics to this song included a much more intricate chorus, which I

changed to a simpler form, thus giving the song more uniformity. I also made a few

variations in the tempo of the song by speeding it up in certain places. This gives the

song variety and excitement to keep the attention of the listener.

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Overall, I am pleased to present this song. It makes the statement I wanted it to

make both lyrically and musically.

8

Song Two: "Sounds of You"

Music and Lyrics

E F# C#m B When I listen I can hear all the sounds around me. E F# C#m B I hear Angels singing I hear the children cry. E F# C#m B But I don't know just when I'm gonna see You so I E F# C#m B Stop and listen and then I can see Why.

Chorus: EF# A B I listen to sounds of becoming like You. EF# A B I like what I hear. EF# A B I listen to this world coming to an end EF# A B And it fills me full of fear.

E F# C#m B When I listen I can hear You speaking silently to me. E F# C#m B Lay upon my heart my soul my mind and every part of me. E F# C#m B God the maker of all earth and sky and waters of the sea. E F# C#m B Father break me come now Father and break me.

Chorus: E F# A B EF# A B I listen to sounds of becoming like You and I like what I hear. E F# ABE F# A B I listen to this world coming to an end and it fills me full of fear. E F# A B I listen to sounds of becoming like You. E F# A B Father speaking in my ear. E F# A B I listen to oh I listen to You.

9

Commentary

"Sounds of You" was written in September, 1997. It was composed rather rapidly

but not as rapid as the first song. Many times I find myself sitting and playing my guitar

with no particular composition in mind. Playing often helps me to relax. I usually just

begin playing and explore my way through many different chord progressions and chord

changes. Some people might call this spontaneous creativity, but others may call it just

playing around. In my own experience some of the most creative and colorful songs are

originated by just "playing around." It may sound silly, but often times I will just sing

whatever comes to mind while I play. Often this turns out to be nonsense but

occasionally this becomes the spring board for an entire song. That is exactly what

happened with this song.

One thing I have discovered is that if there is something significant going on in

my life that dominates my mind. it almost certainly will show up in a song I will write

using the process described above. Sometimes this produces a workable song that with

some touching up can be "singable". (There are other times that this process produces a

song that will never be finished or a song that just does not work). At the time that this

song came about. I had reached the point in my Christian walk that I was beginning to

learn how to listen to God in different ways. I began to realize that there are many

different ways in which God speaks to us, and I was discovering the joy of listening.

Without realizing it, I incorporated this into my song. While singing whatever words

came into my mind. I began to sing the first few lines of the song. After the first four

lines of the song were down, the rest just fell into place. The feeling can only be

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described by saying that. at one moment you do not have a passion for anything but at the

next moment, there is so much on your mind that you can not get the pen to write fast

enough. The majority of songwriting in this fashion does not come from guessing or

matching words that rhyme. It just explodes. and when you are done, it either works or it

does not. I feel that this song worked out very well.

The music to this song was actually initiated by a friend of mine named Aaron

Mckneely. Aaron and I played music together a lot during the summer of 1997. When he

played this chord progression for me, I really enjoyed it. I began playing this progression

quite a bit to perfect it and add to it. When I finally added a melody of my own, the song

came to life. This piece has a jazz sort of feel to it along with a varied chord sequence,

and quick movement from one chord to the next. With both guitars playing the song

numerous variations evolved. The song's chord progression gives way to so many

substitute chords and rhythms, that improvisation takes place and it becomes very easy

for the two guitars to intermingle with one another.

The lyrics of this song began to flow from the process I described earlier, and I

found that the verses and the chorus became two contrasting elements. The verses in this

song have a very somber feel. The lyrics express the greatness of God's creation and how

he uses his creations to speak to us. The chorus, however, expresses the idea that

listening to God helps us to live like Him and to have concern for people who do not have

a relationship with Him. I feel that even though the verses and the chorus contrast in

certain ways, they also complement each other by letting the audience know that God

speaks in many ways and that we should listen to Him and give Him control of our lives.

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Song Three: "Living Water"

Music and Lyrics

G D C B/C When I need Living Water CDC D Living Water covers me. G D C B/C When I need Living Water CDC G Living Water sets me free.

Chorus: G CDC

My Jesus I love You. G CDC There is none thats above You. G CDC We will sing and praise Your name. G CDC Come now Father and light the flame.

G D C B/C When I need the Holy Spirit

CDC D The Holy Spirit covers me. G D C B/C When I need the Holy Spirit

CDC G The Holy Spirit sets me free ..

Chorus:

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Commentary

"Living Water" was written in March of 1997 after a conversation with a girl in

one of my classes. This young lady, Katy, had an ex-boyfriend who had been trying to

convince her to convert to Mormonism. Katy and I had begun talking and she had many

questions to ask about Christianity, what following Christ involved, and about the many

differences between Mormonism and other denominations. Katy and I began to talk more

and more about a walk with Christ and what it entails. That is when the words "Living

Water" began to run through my mind.

The more I talked to Katy about my Savior and what I did to follow Him, the

more it began to dawn upon me that I am not required to do anything. Christ does not

expect anything from me except my worship of Him; Worship with my music, my

words, my mind, and worship with my life. I could not help Katy understand this until I

understood it myself. As Katy and I were walking after class one day, the music

progression to the song began to run through my mind. I originally played this

progression on piano and after a few times, and decided that, for this song, it would sound

better if played on the guitar.

It was not until later that day that I could go home and, with my guitar, sit down

and write the lyrics to this song. The basic premise in this song speaks to the fact that

Christ gives us His love and that all we have to do is accept it. I later played the song for

Katy. I hope that it helped her to understand some of what it means to be a Christian or a

follower of Christ. My prayer would be that anyone who hears this song or reads the

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lyrics would come to the realization that Christ does not expect anything from us and that

He gives to us without our doing anything to deserve it.

The actual music progression of this song is a very simple one. What I like about

it is that between the two verses and the chorus there is very little change in the chords,

yet the mood is very different. My intent was to achieve a sort of variation between the

verses and the chorus. By keeping a very soft and almost delayed pattern in the verses,

while allowing the chorus to explode. I like the "surprise" sensation that the chorus

gives. The passion and feeling in the chorus is expressed through the chord progression.

I feel that by keeping the same chords of the verse in the chorus but changing the order of

those chords in the chorus, I make the song somewhat tighter and more complete. By

changing chord order. a sense of playfullness within the key makes the song more

satisfying.

This song is what is referred to as a "praise-and-worship" chorus. Many worship

choruses are written to be sung over and over with one or two verses and a short chorus.

Both of the verses in the song were meant to convey the message that Christ offers us His

love unconditionally. Even though we are sinners and do not deserve it, Christ covers us

with His living water and His Holy Spirit. All that we have to do is accept Him. I

wanted the chorus to reflect that acceptance. The chorus both reflects the idea of

acceptance, and that of giving praise to Christ. It literally sings praise to God, while the

verse proclaims His unconditional love. These thoughts emphasize the statement that I

made earlier and wanted to convey to Katy. We do not have to do anything for salvation

but to accept the love that He manifests through His death at Calvalry and gives to us.

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Song Four: "Glory in Your Eyes"

Music and Lyrics

E Eh/A C#m B I don't like to he alone, Father You know where I'm going wrong, alone. E Eh/A C#m B So You take me now and then, You just wrap me up again, and send me home.

Chorus: EB A I want to see the glory in Your eyes. C#m Just shine on me Lord. EB A I need to feel Your presence in my life. B Set me free now.

E Eh/A C#m I try and stand for my beliefs, sometimes I just don't know what to do B But leave it all to You. E Eh/A C#m I know You always pull me through. Take me back and show me what to do, B What to do through You.

Chorus: Guitar Solo

E Eb/A C#m B Lord You see me when I'm down, Father lift me off the ground, and change my life. E Eb/A C#m B Even when I tum away I know You will always make my day, You never give up on me.

Chorus:

15

Commentary

"Glory In Your Eyes" was written in May, 1997. This was written in a relatively

short amount of time. The first few lines came almost in an instant, while the rest of the

song came along less directly. This song began as a two-verse song, though shortly

thereafter I added a third verse. The writing of this song was very similar to that of the

song "Trust". yet the one main difference between the two is that in this song the chord

progressions were selected first while the lyrics came second. In "Trust", the lyrics came

first while the chord progressions came second.

This song began at a time in my life when I had begun to experience personal

spiritual growth and when I had just completed an excellent semester at Texas Tech.

Because of some "down times" I had experienced through that school year, I could see

how God renewed my spirit; and that is primarily what this song is about. Many times

people do not realize that when bad things happen. if they will entrust them to God, there

will always be satisfaction. Bad circumstances often make Christians stronger. This song

helped me to express my feelings of unworthiness and my desire just to know God more.

The verses and the chorus contrast somewhat in chord structure and in mood. I wanted

the verses of this song to convey a sense of unworthiness. thanks, and recognition to God

for the trials He has pulled me through, in contrast to the chorus which has a feeling of

openness and praise to God. This could be viewed as a commitment to give everything to

Him instead of trying to deal with things on my own. One problem that I did run into

with this song is that the lyrics in the verse sound best when sung at a moderate tempo

and dynamic level, whereas in the chorus, the chord progressions sound better when

16

displayed in a more aggressive and manner. I constantly fought between performing the

song fast and loud. or playing the song slower and singing it with a more reserved and

steady feel.

The music for this song actually originated as I was trying to learn to play another

song by a popular group. I stumbled upon these chords and really liked their walk-down

feel. I played around with the chord progression for two to four weeks and really enjoyed

molding them into what I wanted. Putting these chords together was definitely the easiest

part of writing the song. It was easy to move on to think about lyrics.

The words to this song display a lot of variety and color. I wrote each verse to

have its own theme. The first verse of the song has the underlying theme of God being a

friend or a father in a time of loneliness. The second verse of this song has the theme of

trusting God for guidance and support. Finally, in the third verse, the song has the theme

of God being a redeemer and healer even when we tum away from Him. There are not

many songs today that involve such an intricat interweaving of themes.

The chorus emphasis of this song is quite different from the verses. First of all;

the chorus is about praising God and committing to Him. This contrasts really well with

the themes in the verses and brings it all together by saying "thank you" for the things

referred to in the verses and committs us to do what He commands. Another difference

between the chorus and the verses is that the verses are sung '"horizontally," while the

chorus is sung "vertically." That is, a horizontal song is one that is sung about God to

other people. Generally, these songs speak of God's love and greatness. while a vertical

song is sung directly to God. This type of song gives direct thanks or praise to God

17

Himself. I like the fact that the chorus and the verses of this song are so different, yet

they balance each other well and help the song to have more meaning.

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Song Five: "The Jesus in Me"

Music and Lyrics

G F# EmiD C BID E/D 0 I'd give my life, just to be with you one moment in time. G F# EmiD C BID E/D 0 Look at my light, can you see the Father shining bright? C BID E/D 0 'Till now my heart has never loved before, C BID E/D D Just when I thought I couldn't love you more.

Chorus: G F# EmiD C BID E/D D

The Jesus in you, met the Jesus in me. G F# EmiD C BID E/D D The Jesus in two, makes the bond of one eternally.

C BID F# Em When I look in your eyes, I realize C D G He made you the one for me.

G F# ErnlD C BID EID o Thinking of you, all I want is for this dream to come true. G F# ErnlD C BID EID 0 Our God is love. I want to love you with the Father above. C BID EID D You took my breath I don't know what to say. C BID EID 0 How do I love you let me count the ways.

Chorus:

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Commentary

"The Jesus In Me" is a unique song in that it took longer to write than any other.

This song was written between October, 1996, and March, 1997. The idea for this song

came from a conversation I had with my girlfriend at the time. We began talking about

relationships and how some people get married without really knowing one another. We

also began talking about Christian relationships and how one really knows someone when

one sees Jesus in him or her. By this I mean that when you know someone well enough

to recognize that he or she is acting as Jesus would or speaking like Jesus would, or just

having the same persona as Jesus, then you see the Jesus in someone.

After thinking about this idea for some time, I realized what a concept it was and

how many people do not realize what it really means to see the Jesus in another. In just a

short while I began composing a song about this concept. I started with the chorus of the

song because that was where I came in with the "'Jesus In Me" idea. I wrote the first

couple of lines fairly rapidly and then became stuck. I think my biggest problem was that

I wanted this song to be so perfect that I was afraid of writing anything down. As I began

to toy with the song more and more, I began slowly to find more that I wanted to include

in the chorus and the verses. I knew immediately what chord progression I wanted to use.

It was very simple and yet distinct. I feel that this progression is just right to give the

song the flavor that it needs, but it is not too much so as to make the lyrics seem

unmatched ..

All in all this song took about six months to write. Even when I was finished, I

didn't feel as if it were complete until I changed a few small things. I began playing this

20

song a great deal once it was finished, and the more I played it, the more it grew on me.

In May, 1997, I played this song at a friend's wedding. I had so many compliments on it I

was overwhelmed. This song is my favorite of all that I have written.

The music of this song, as I said before, is quite simple. The chord progression is

comprised of a handful of chords in the key of G. Fingerpicking this song was beneficial

because there are some chords that use the same fingering and add a different base note.

By tingerpicking and using a hammer-on technique for some of the base notes, these

chords become much more evident to the audience. This really helps to lay down a

percussive feel to the song even with the absence of any percussive instruments.

The lyrics used in this song are, I think, the best possible words used for the feel

that I wanted. In each verse there is a description of love and loving that is generalized by

using different phrases in the verses. I wanted the verses to seem unoriginal because the

chorus speaks of such an original type of love. I contrasted the verses with the chorus by

saying "The Jesus in you met the Jesus in me." There is no greater love for someone than

a love for the Jesus or attributes of Jesus in someone. The verses say "I love you for this

or that", while the chorus states" I love the Jesus in you." At the end of the song I

slowed the tempo slightly, and the last line then reiterates the theme for the entire song. I

feel that this song came together extremely well, considering the length of time over

which its composition was stretched. Writing a song over such a length of time was hard

for me. This song, because of the work put into it and the meaning behind it, holds a

special place in my heart. I feel like the message behind this song is from God and is a

very relevant message in dealing with relationships. This song has helped me to grow in

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the Lord and I hope that it will help others as they deal \vith their own relationships and

what God has in store for them.

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Song Six: "Whole Heart"

Music and Lyrics

G c BID D I give my whole heart to YOU. G C BID D I give You everything I do. C BID You are my Savior C BID You are the Lamb of God C BID You are the Prince of Peace C D sus.- F# - G The Great I Am.

Repeat x 2

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Commentary

This song is much like "Living Water" in that it, too, is a praise chorus. I wrote

this song in late November and early December, 1997. Like many of my other songs, this

one came very rapidly. I began thinking about this song at a time when I had been

attending a Bible study and the speaker did a series of sermons on Romans 12. These

verses speak about becoming a living sacrifice, dying to the world and society's agenda,

and giving everything in your life to Christ. I really started to think about what it means

to give every aspect of one's life to God. Many Christians do not think about giving God

the television shows they watch or the way they talk or take care of themselves. The

more I discovered about dying to my own agenda and giving everything to Christ, the

more this song began to form.

I began experimenting around with a few different chords and found some to my

satisfaction. This song has a feel much like the rest of my songs in that it has a very

percussive flavor. This adds to the song as well as helps keep tempo. There are really no

distinct verses or choruses. This song was meant to be sung directly to God as a

submission or a "giving up of self', The song came very rapidly. It seemed as though I

could not write fast enough. When it was complete there was very little I wanted to

change about it. I really enjoy playing and singing this song because I feel as if it is a

song unlike others written in the past. There is a sort of catchiness about the song that

makes it easy to sing and repeat for that matter. The shortness of this song troubled me at

first, but the more I looked at it, the more I felt comfortable with it. This would have to

be my favorite of the ., praise choruses." The words flow very well, and the harmony is

24

most appropriate. The great preacher and writer A. W. Tozer once said. "God is trying to

call us back to that for which He created us -- to worship Him and to enjoy Him forever

(Tozer. 1973. p.12). I think the best qualities of this song are its honesty about giving all

that one is to God and its simplicity. All I have to do is sing it.

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CHAPTER III

RECORDING

After composing the songs for my creative project, I undertook the process of

recording them. In January, 1998 I recorded all of these songs at First Baptist Church of

Lubbock, Texas. Recording was not what I thought it would be at all; I learned that it is a

complicated process. The three main aspects that you must consider when recording are

the technical, the artistic, and the financial. These three areas play an important part in

the process of recording songs.

Technical Aspects

The technical aspect of recording became an issue for me since I was not sure

about what I was doing and how to do it. There are many different ways to record music,

but it all depends on the sound quality that you want. Because of my limited finances, I

was willing to sacrifice some sound quality just for the sake of being able to record. The

lowest ebb for sound quality is to record directly into an audio tape in a standard cassette

recorder. A better way to record is in a studio with digital audio mixers, computerized

sequencing programs, and many other such resources. I started by placing microphones.

I used two guitars, two vocals, and a percussionist. I placed a microphone on each in

additon to having the guitars microphoned from the inside. This helped me to create a

better mix of sound both outside and inside the guitar.

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Each of these microphones was run into a sound board where all the sounds were

mixed and regulated. From the soundboard the signals were sent through several

processors to produce certain effects on each sound. One effect produced was reverb.

This effect makes the instruments and voices sound as if they are in a big room. From the

processor the signals are sent back to the soundboard to be remixed and then sent to a

DAT (digital audio tape) recording machine. A digital audio tape is somewhat smaller

than a regular cassette tape. The sound quality is much better because the signals are

recorded onto the tape digitally. The digital recording process supersedes the older

analog process because of its improved sound quality.

Unfortunately, only people with DA T machines are able to listen to DAT tapes.

After all of the songs were recorded onto the DAT, they were transferred to a regular

cassette tape so that they may be played in any cassette player. When transferring from a

DATto a cassette tape some of the brilliance and sharpness of the sound is lost and,

therefore, the audio tape does not sound quite as good as the DA T. However, my limited

funds dictated the use of a cassette tape.

The technical aspect of recording involved much more than I thought it would, but

I was glad that it did because it enabled me to learn a great deal more about sound and

recording than I had anticipated.

Artistic Aspects

The artistic aspect of recording is a concern that many people really do not think

about when they go to buy a CD or a cassette tape. There are many artistic decisions

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involved when recording since there are so many things that can be done to improve a

piece from its original form. By this I mean that there are many different electronic

processors and mixers used in recording that can produce a piece of music much more

polished from its original form. The rock critic Simon Frith has argued that tape

recording allows producers and engineers to manipulate performances in the same way

that it allows musicians to manipulate sound (Chanan, 1995). For example, I wrote

earlier about an effects processor that processes reverb. Reverb is but one of hundreds of

thousands of different sounds that an effects processor can produce. With the right kind

of processor and the right kind of sequencing software, a person may take a song that is

weak tonally with a poor overall sound and tum it into a masterpiece, -all this is possible

with the aid of a few small machines. This is the point at which artistic integrity comes

into play. There are many bands or performers today who are legitimately talented and

record only what is written. However, there are others who embellish their songs and

make them sound and feel differently than they would in a live performance. An example

of this would be the Spice Girls. This recent pop group, which had a short career, used a

great deal of embellishment in their music in order to have a quality sounding Compact

Disc. This is a very questionable practice in the recording industry. As you can see, the

artistic aspects of recording are very complex and somewhat unknown to the public. I

feel that in my recording I tried to make these songs sound as close to the original as

possible. I found that there is an extremely fine line between making something sound

better and making something sound different. That line can be easy to cross if recording

is only about making money. There are many things on which to check yourself just to

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make sure you are recording what is actually you. Integrity is something that all

musicians should practice in music and in life.

Financial Aspects

The third aspect of recording which I wish to discuss is the financial aspect. The

finances of an artist playa big part in the recording process. As I said earlier, the amount

of money you want to spend depends on the kind of equipment you will be using and,

therefore. on the sound quality available. In many professional cases, the recording fee is

taken care of by record companies or labels. In my case. I had very limited funds, and I

chose a cheaper route. Another major decision in recording is whether to make a CD or a

cassette tape. To record onto a master tape is one thing, but to make copies of it and

package it to be sold is quite another costly endeavor. I feel that if I could have spent a

little more money and recorded in a studio, my recording quality would have been much

better. The sound would have been much better, but the big thing is that there would not

have been any flaws because of the editing equipment used in studios. Big money pays

for a polished product. That is not to say that musicians without money are not musicians

or that they do not write songs that are just as good.

Recording can be a lengthy, costly, and a frustrating learning process. The truth

is that the best way to preserve music and let others hear it is to record it. These are two

of the priceless benefits of recording. I am glad that I recorded the way that I did. I had a

wonderful time doing it, and I learned much about the technical, artistic, and financial

aspects involved in the recording process.

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CHAPTER IV

CONCLUSION

Marketing

There is a gigantic market today for musicians of all kinds, and marketing music

is a multi-million dollar business. As with recording, finances playa big part in the

marketing of music too. Although there are million-dollar advertising campaigns and so

many other ways to sell, I believe there is one important point that is often overlooked. I

believe that if people get a taste of something that they like, they will try to get more and

tell others about it. What I have begun to do is give copies of my tape to whoever is

interested. I have been pleasantly surprised at the response I have gotten. I have been

asked for so many copies that I cannot keep up with them all.

I know that this may seem like a money-losing endeavor, but I beg to differ. I

have already been asked to play several different performances, and I feel that this word­

of- mouth will lead to others. At the right time I can begin to sell my tapes at the

performances instead of giving them away. I feel that with the limited funds at my

disposal, this is really the best plan. The greatest advertisement I have is word- of- mouth

testimonials of the people who listen to my music. I think that this can be a very effective

tool for getting out my name, and better yet, copies of my tape. The object for me is not

about making money but about letting as many people as possible hear my songs. I feel

that music is very important in my life, and if I can share it with others, that makes me

happy. Whether or not people like the songs is not the most important point. I would

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only hope that people would receive something from the message of the songs that might

help them in their own life.

Learning

I feel that this creative project was very helpful to me by not only teaching me

more about music, recording and writing, but also by letting me discover some things

about myself and about who I am as an individual. I am most pleased with how the tape

turned out. It really came together much easier than I ever thought it would, and I was

pleased with the quality of the sound despite the somewhat makeshift method.

This project has also taught me how to work with others and coordinate schedules.

It took a lot of coordinating to get everyone together to practice and to record the tape. I

feel that will help me later on when I serve as a leader or administrator. I also feel that

going through the recording process helped me to become a more flexible and patient

person. There were many frustrations involved. Learning to deal with different

problems and not "lose my cool" became very important.

The one thing that I learned that stands out the most is that whatever you

ultimately do in life you should do something which you enjoy and for which you have a

pasSIOn. I believe that there are many people in the world today who have lost their

passion. Where does that leave one? Working at ajob without passion or being in a

marriage without passion is just existing. Without passion, it is not worth it. I really feel

like part of the passion in my life is for music. By doing this project. I have realized that it

is not important how many compact discs I may sell one day; it is not important whether I

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play in front of three people or 33,000 people; and it is not important that I make millions

of dollars and live in a fancy home. The important thing to me is that I do what llove and

continue to have a passion for it. In conclusion, I can only say that music is wonderful,

and using music to glorify God is a divine privilege. I am forever thankful.

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SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Chanan, M. (1995). Repeated takes: A short history of recording and its effect on music. New York: Verso Publishing.

HalL J .H. (1953). The art song. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press.

Stewart, C.J., Smith, C.A., and Denton, R. E., Jr. (1994). Persuasion and social movements, 3rd ed. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press, Inc.

Tozer, A.W. (1973). Whatever happened to worship? Camp Hill, Penn: Christian Publications.

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