Berklee Online Interview: Pat Pattison Talks Lyric Writing Tools and Strategies

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In this interview, Berklee College of Music Professor and Berklee Online course author, Pat Pattison, discusses particular tools and strategies for better lyric writing
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About Pat Pattison
Pat Pattison is an author, clinician and Berklee Professor of Lyric Writing and Poetry whose students have composed for major artists and written number one songs. At Berklee, he developed the curriculum for the only songwriting major in the country. His books, including Songwriting: Essential Guide to Rhyming and Songwriting: Essential Guide to Lyric Form and Structure, are recognized as definitive in their genre, and have earned many ecstatic reviews. His clinics are attended by songwriters all over the country, and his articles appear regularly in a variety of industry publications.

[@amandareckonwith]

Hello Professor Pattison. I'm currently taking this course at Berklee Online and I love it. It has been my most challenging class so far. Your "Writing Better Lyrics" book has been helping me overcome many obstacles I've encountered in my lyrical pursuits. Each day features something new and I really enjoy the object writing. I just don't want to quit when the timer goes off. The daily section writing is much tougher, but the examples in your book provide a handy map. I regret that you are no longer teaching online at Berklee - I would take every course. (To the haters: Y'all can youtube all night long just like I used to do. It will never be the same as working hours every day to earn a grade on a tough assignment. KZbin is passive learning. The real thing is an every day commitment of time and treasure.)

[@futile-evenings]

I have been watching videos on creative writing but the best ideas above and illustration came from this gentlemen genius in a lyric writing video.

[@momosdead931]

I put him on to try to bore myself to sleep, and then his last 5 words woke me up. Essentially. The ENTIRETY THE VALUE OF THE CLASS fours years running.

[@NextGenAnimation]

This man has mastered talking with his hands

[@musiccreation1198]

I feel so lucky to have taken his classes at Berklee. Love his sense of humor.

[@normancrew2739]

really????

[@jaime667]

nice to find some food for the brain inside the realms of internet, and right when I´m trying to write lyrics after a few years without doing it, and without misleading rage in my scrambled brain. Gracias.

[@boyfromzambia]

very intelligent man, i wish i could take his class

[@heavenkept]

Thanks i Shared this one with alll the musicians on my facebook. . . . it will take a few to get all on my chnl. Thank you again Really Great info/video!

[@RockinguitardudeSG]

You can tell he majored in philosophy with all of his Aristotle quotes.

[@thefoxandkwa]

Thanks Pat.. Wish I'd been able to make it to your workshop.. Have shared to my page.. :o)

[@nickolefrancis8190]

Wow I'm truly inspired and completely follow him. I can't wait to get started! :)

[@mojoefelix]

At 9:28 “Stable, wax on. Unstable, wax off.” Is the word wax? If not, what is that word?

[@sloman4044]

The word is wax but it's a karate kid reference!

[@futile-evenings]

*above* sorry I meant 'advice'

[@karyndee]

I think that you are completely on target, pat.

[@Izaak247]

Jesus he's really intelligent

[@samlee2562]

He's a great teacher but I think the rulebooks are getting picked apart faster than ever these days. The concept of prosody doesn't have to "make sense" at all in a song for the song to be effective. I like it when the lyrics are gibberish or when a harsh topic is being sung about over a positive chord progression. I guess it all depends on the style of music though and more knowledge is always good thing ;o]

[@eggaiug]

Sam Lee I guess it's kinda part of making sense, like you talk about a harsh topic but use positive harmony to show that things can be better, that we want better things, that we expect changes, this sort of things. Sometimes it can be pure irony too, like singing mellow childish meaningless lyrics with some really heavy, unsettling, evil riffs... I don't know Still, the music complements the lyrics in passing emotion and ideas ahead.

[@EilertVataker]

Why is he talking over that rad music?

[@kevinjoseph517]

at 14 minutes...DO YOUR OBJECT WRITING...I dont like that exercise...and I dont like his book I have.

[@christkb1]

jesus christ i said the same thing. lol.

[@normancrew2739]

Warren will be rolling over in his grave. Such tosh.

[@normancrew2739]

OMG, you have know idea what you are charging people money for.

[@estevejame7398]

Pat has written a lot of crap and is proud of it.

[@kevinjoseph517]

like what?