Songcraft
The Bridge Changes the Song’s Point of View
Learn how to write a song bridge that shifts melody, harmony, or lyrical perspective, then makes the return to the…
The collection
All pieces
Browse writing on attentive listening, songcraft, instruments, traditions and sound. Each piece starts with a distinct question and leaves room to hear the answer for yourself.
Listening
Headphones or Speakers for a Shared Listen?
Headphones or speakers for a shared listen? Choose the format that fits your room, company, and music, then make space…
Traditions
Before the Playlist, the Mixtape Made a Sequence
A mixtape sequence turns chosen tracks into a message. Learn how order, transitions, and small acts of editing shaped…
Sound
Why More Volume Does Not Always Reveal More Detail
Why more volume does not always reveal more detail: learn to focus on one layer and compare playback levels without…
Listening
A Listening Walk for One Passing Sound
A listening walk for one passing sound turns an ordinary route into close listening, helping you notice how distance…
Our point of view
Attention is part of listening
A song can feel different when we notice its edges: a breath before the chorus, a line passed between instruments, or the room in which it is heard.