USIC IS THE 
EY
"Let your joy be the joy born of My Most Great Name, a Name that bringeth rapture to the heart, and filleth with ectasy the minds of all who have drawn nigh unto God. We, verily, have made music as a ladder for your souls, a means whereby they may be lifted up unto the realms on high; make it not, therefore, as wings to self and passion. Truly, We are loath to see you numbered with the foolish." --Bah�'u'll�h (Kit�b-i-Aqdas K51)
This is an informal challenge that I hope will motivate you to try your hand at songwriting. If you've never wriiten a song before, jump into songwriting by composing your own children's song. If you've written original lyrics and tunes before, try a stretch and pattern after a different type of music than your usual style. And, write to me and let me know what other tips new songwriters should know: [email protected]
Choose a Subject or Theme
Decide what the topic of your song will be. For kids, think about things kids like such as animals, games or funny food. For a more complicated jazz or blues piece think about the night sky or feeling lonely. Try clustering or brainstorming all the words and images that come to mind.
Choose a song that you are very familiar with. First-time songwriters pick an easy kids song like "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" or "I've Been Working on the Railroad." For experienced songwriters, choose a standard tune with predictable rhythmic changes. Now, forget all the words to the song, you are now going to write new ones for the same melody.
Combine the melody of your selected tune with your new theme. For example if I chose "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" and the theme "sunset", perhaps my first line would be, "As the sun sinks down the sky, clouds and birds slip slowly by."
Try to set your new lyrics to a different tune. Or, just sing it for the kids the way you've written it--doesn't matter, just don't try to copyright it. If the melody is difficult for you to write. Show the lyrics to someone who does not know which song you've patterned after and have them construct a melody.
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"For those who deny spiritual influence upon material things we mention this brief example: wonderful sounds and tones, melodies and charming voices, are accidents which affect the air--for sound is the term for vibrations of the air--and by these vibrations the nerves of the tympanum of the ear are affected, and hearing results. Now reflect that the vibration of the air, which is an accident of no importance, attracts and exhilarates the spirit of man and has great effect upon him: it makes him weep or laugh; perhaps it will influence him to such a degree that he will throw himself into danger. Therefore, see the connection which exists between the spirit of man and the atmospheric vibration, so that the movement of the air becomes the cause of transporting him from one state to another, and entirely overpowering him; it will deprive him of patience and tranquillity. Consider how strange this is, for nothing comes forth from the singer which enters into the listener; nevertheless, a great spiritual effect is produced. Therefore, surely so great a connection between beings must have spiritual effect and influence." --Abdu'l-Bah� (Some Answered Questions, Chapter 69/5)
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