Gloucester High School students learn the importance of a good hookline when writing a hit song.
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Acoustic singer and songwriter, Mike McClellan ran a songwriting session for 11 students on Wednesday June 22 at the high school.
Mike began performing in the late 60’s, released his first album in 1972 and has been on the Australian music scene ever since.
During the hour long session, he talked to the students about finding an inspiration for a song. He told them the story behind his song, Murmur of the Heart and how he started with the title before he wrote the lyrics. Songwriting is like telling a story, he says.
After dissecting song lyrics, Mike went on to stress how important a great melody is to carrying the message.
“There are no good songs with great lyrics and a dud melody,” he says.
He finished the session by playing one of his best known for hits, Song and Danceman released in 1974.
The writing workshop was organised by Gloucester Rotarian, Brian Beesley. The session will assist students to write songs for the Akoostik Festival held in Wingham in October.
