Songwriting Lesson

Songwriting Lesson – My Nephew Kye

“Through the eyes of a child I saw a beautiful new world” – Anon

Today I want to talk to you about my eight year old nephew and how much I’ve learnt about writing songs from him.

His name is Kye and ever since I can remember he was into music, dance and generally entertaining anyone who cared to pay attention to him

The other day my sister (Kye’s mum) told me about how his teachers at school love the fact that he spends his free time humming or singing to himself or, in front of the other kids.

When I think about it, it doesn’t surprise me at all. Kye is my first nephew and we get along like a house on fire.

(I have two nephews. Cooper is the youngest and he is very, very cute but for other non-music related reasons)

I always made sure that when Kye and I were together I’d get out my acoustic guitar and allow him to bash the old guitar strings while I played chord shapes at the same time. I’d sing songs to him that way.

Because of this, the guitar facinated him and he’d always seek it out everytime he came over.

It was no wonder that when he was old enough to grasp the art of speech he started to tell stories by singing them to anyone that would care to listen (being a cute kid he always had an encouraging and attentive audience).

Now, as an eight year old he’s starting to write stories, poems and (to my amazement) songs.

Kids in general have a great way of just “doing” stuff without being self-conscious about it. It’s a real shame that we, as adults forget how it must’ve felt to grow up in a world in which anything and everything was an amazing discovery.

Linking that to songwriting was an easy task. Kye shows me every day that anyone is a writer, a creator of things just by practising the very art of being and doing.

Of course ‘being’ a creative person and ‘doing’ creative things require the courage to engage in our eternal battle with our inner critic every single day.

My nephew Kye is a great example of this because he has no inner critic to speak of and it’s my hope that he never, ever develops one.

Until next time, happy writing,

Corey Stewart
Singer/Songwriter/Musician

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