Mark Sapsford

by Mark
(Preston,Lancashire,UK)

Hi Geoff

Yes I'm alive!

Firstly, I think your article is most important and to anyone reading it hopefully it will stop potential songwriters making a wrong turn.

Creativity should not be confused with technical musical ability. I know many technically gifted players and yet they do not write their own songs.

I am very glad I read your article and although I have written what I would consider good songs I am currently struggling to create new ones.

This may be due to the effects of a recent divorce which seems to have consumed my brain with technicalities.

It is very easy when trying to regain creative writing to look at other peoples chord progressions, lyrics and songs etc. Instead of using your own and as you say in your article look inside yourself.

Your article has helped me to look back at the way I have written songs in the past. Something I want to regain.

Creativity is something which needs to be developed a little like weight training for the creative mind. The types of Socratic techniques you describe should encourage this and I look forward to giving them a try.

Thanks

Mark