How To Score A Song Effectively

– written by W.N. Vincent.

Are you thinking of how to score a song effectively? Choir rehearsal is around the corner, Yeah?

Well, you’re in the right place.

To score a song simply means to know how a song was written (lyrics, songwriting), structured (musical sectioning), and sang/recorded (vocal and musical harmonization/arrangement).

This means you know the lyrics of the song, you know the melody (and harmonies) of the song, you know the arrangement of the different sections by heart, you know and understand the rhythm of the song, you understand the dynamics employed in the song, (modulations, swap, crescendo, etc.).

Spoiler Alert!

Simply listening to the song and learning the lyrics does not necessarily mean you have scored the song. Although it’s part of the process, scoring a song requires more attention and concentration than just listening.

If someone says, “I have scored the song”, they invariably mean, “I can sing/play it like the original” – permit me to put it like this, I own the song.

I dare say that anyone who knows ONLY one vocal part of a song has not scored the song, – at least not completely.

Scoring a song requires that, as a vocalist, you score both your vocal part and understand how it complements other vocal parts, and you should also have some knowledge of the instrumentation; at least the major parts like the intro, interlude, etc.

Of course, if we expect instrumentalists to always ‘play it as the original’, it is only fair that the vocalists do the same! Yeah?

Different strokes work for different people, but some steps are fundamental.

1. Have the Song on Your Phone, Early

Funny, right? Like, should this even be a step?

Well, some people just never get the song they want to score, on time. They only get the song a day to choir rehearsal. That’s not the attitude of a responsible Chorister.

You will not score a song well if you follow a fire brigade approach.

“You can’t score a song you don’t have.”

If you’re wondering how to score a song effectively, this is the best place to start. Get the song early!

2. Listen Passively

Have you ever heard a song and you screamed, ‘I know it!” But when you were asked to sing it, you realised that you didn’t really know it? It means you have been listening passively.

What is Passive listening all about?

Passive listening involves playing a song without listening actively or attentively. Simple!

Passive listening takes place as you play a song while you are cooking, driving, going to work, shaving, etc. You play the song like every other person – a non-singer.

What’s the relevance of this? 

There are songs you ‘learn’ without any active effort(s).

Picture this;

There’s a tune they always play on the radio or at your workplace. After two (2) weeks you find yourself singing along or humming the tune. That is the effect of Passive listening!

You didn’t need to have the song on your phone. As far as it was within your hearing range, you unconsciously caught some part of the song.

What happens here is, your mind retains just the major parts of the song like the tune of the chorus, etc.

All this happens unconsciously.

Painfully, many choristers stop here when scoring a song. They only play the song while cooking, or on their way to work, then they appear in rehearsals unprepared.

Wrong! This isn’t how to score a song effectively. It’s only the second step. There’s more work to be done.

3. Write Out the Lyrics

This cannot be overemphasized.

This stage should only be skipped during spontaneous singing.

You can hardly sing a new song if you don’t have the lyrics.

Here are some things you need to look out for when writing out the lyrics of a song you want to score.

For Soloist: (this is what works for me)

– Write out the lyrics of the song.

– Take note of what the soloist sang and the dynamics applied that made the song beautiful (where some vocal dynamics/techniques were applied).

• Also, look out for ways the soloist complemented the choir/backup vocalists, and how he/she carried the song in general.

For Choir/Back-up Vocalist:

– Write out the lyrics of the song.

– Listen for words or phrases that carry certain vocal dynamics like sustain, crescendo, a breathy feel, etc.

Take note of words and phrases having more than one solfa note, and note them with a sign showing the movement.

For example, if Lord is sung with 3 notes, d,r,m, it may be helpful to write Lo-o–ord, rather than writing just Lord (for beginners),

This will give you a mental picture of the movement whenever you look at the lyrics.

Please, don’t just copy song lyrics from the internet!

Why? One major reason is you may find the reign of the Lord on the internet, but if you listen to the song well you’ll find out that the correct lyrics (based on context and meaning) is the rain of the Lord.

You’ll need to avoid such errors.

Another reason is, writing out the song yourself will help you get the arrangement of the song because you write as you listen. Most songs online are arranged as verse, chorus, bridge, chorus. But if you write the lyrics yourself you will know the proper and complete arrangement of the song.

4. Active Listening

At this stage things get more intense, so do not do this when cooking or driving.

When you want to do this, give it your undivided attention.

Here, listen carefully to the song as you compare it with what you wrote in your score sheet or songbook. You will notice the signs or marks you placed on words and phrases, and they will guide you as you sing along, step by step, observing all the dynamics employed.

5. Practice!

This is a time to do it on your own.

Note:

Practice should be done on your own or with vocalists or musicians who are to sing or play the same song.

I believe that choir/band rehearsal is for the coming together of the different sections in the choir, to perfect their different parts or roles as a unit, or in harmony.

Since we have got that out of the way, CHOIR REHEARSAL IS NOT ‘PERSONAL PRACTICE’ TIME.

You will agree with me that going for rehearsal to learn the song from scratch is both time-wasting and energy-consuming. You will never get anything done with this habit. It’s unprofessional.

Learn to practice your bit at home so that you can be more prepared in rehearsal.

6. Watch Live Performances

This last step can be skipped. But the plus side of watching live performances is that it prepares your mind for a better stage performance.

You get to see how the song was performed and you learn one or two things that you can apply to your performance.

It’s important to note also that, beyond these steps, you must find what works for you and do it when you’re trying to score a song effectively.

If you engage these steps when you want to score a song, it will experience a huge transformation in your musical growth.

Was this helpful? I’d love to hear from you,

You may also like to find out the Benefits of Scoring a Song.

Best Regards.