|
For more information
call: (816) 941-9435
Thanks to:
Foo's Fabulous Frozen Custard
3832 W. 95th St.
Leawood, KS 66206
(at Mission Rd north of McDonald's)
|
The
Home of Great Songs
www.SongwritersCircle.org
Song Challenges
To
encourage members to write at least one song a month, we publish
a list of challenges. Challenges can be a theme, topic, song style
or method which encourages our members to try something new. The
3rd Friday of every month is then New Song Night, where challenge
songs and any other song written that month are performed in the
first set. We are now videotaping the new songs and posting them
on Songpull.com. Members are encouraged to perform the new songs,
no matter how rough the song or performance may be in order to get
early feedback and support.
Download the PDF of the 2010 Song Challenges.
2010
Song Challenges |
January Song Challenge -Leaving
Bring a new song about the parting of ways. It could be sad, wistful, hopeful or funny. |
February Song Challenge - Chorus
Bring a new song that starts with the chorus. |
March Song Challenge - Major/Minor
Bring a new song that has the verse in a major key and the refrain in a minor key, or vice-versa. |
April Song Challenge - Tax Time
Bring a new song about money. It could be funny, use money makes the world go round, or use money talks. |
May Song Challenge - Gimme a Fiver
Bring a new song that either:
is in 5/4 or 5/8 time or,
uses a pentatonic scale or,
begins each line with a vowel or,
has five stanzas with five lines each or,
is about a fist fight. |
June Song Challenge - Jingle
Bring a new song that is a phone answering jingle for yourself, or for a product you use. |
July Song Challenge - Tardy
Bring a new song about being late. |
August Song Challenge - The Villain
Bring a new song about a villain, either fictional or true to life. |
September Song Challenge - The Phone Call
Bring a new song that is one side of a phone conversation, but the audience can fill in the other side. |
October Song Challenge - Where I Live
Bring a new song that is about the place you live. It could be what you like or donÕt like about it. |
November Song Challenge - Way Out West
Bring a new song that has a Western theme. |
December Song Challenge - Questions
Bring a new song that asks interesting questions. |
2009
Song Challenges |
January
Song Challenge - A Fresh Start
Bring a new song that is about starting all over. |
February
Song Challenge - My FunnyValentine
Bring a new love song to celebrate St. Valentine’s Day. |
March
Song Challenge - Erin go Braugh!
Bring a new song that is inspired by something Celtic in honor
of St. Patrick’s Day. |
April
Song Challenge - April Fool
Bring a new song that is funny. |
May
Song Challenge - Car Talk
Bring a new song that is either about a car, or uses a car as
a metaphor. |
June
Song Challenge - Odd Meter
Bring a new song that is in a meter you don’t usually
write in. |
July
Song Challenge - America
Bring a new song that tells how you feel about America. |
August
Song Challenge - Summertime
Bring a new song that is about summer, or that
uses summer imagery or as a metaphor. |
September
Song Challenge - GlobalMarket
Bring a new song that is about the Global Economy,
the Global Village, or the Global Blog. |
October
Song Challenge - When Fall ComesTo the Prairie
Bring a new song that is about autumn, or that uses
autumnal imagery. |
November
Song Challenge - Sing Along
Bring a new song that has a sing along chorus. |
December
Song Challenge - Winter
Bring a new song that is about winter or that uses
winter as an image. |
| Download
the 2009 Song Challenges in PDF. |
| |
January
Song Challenge - Travel
Bring a new song that is about leaving, coming home, vacations
or life on the road.
|
February
Song Challenge - Valentunes
Bring a new song that tells about a current, past or
fictional love affair. |
March
Song Challenge - News
Bring a new song that is inspired by a news article. |
April
Song Challenge - Work Song
Bring a new song that is based on employment or what people
do for a living. |
| May
Song Challenge - Parenthood
Bring a new song that tells about the trials, tribulations
and/or joys of being a parent. |
June
Song Challenge - History
Bring a new song that deals with a historical event. |
July
Song Challenge - Clap, stomp, howl, sing
Bring a new song that uses audience participation as an element
of the song. |
August
Song Challenge - Friends
Bring a new song that deals with friends and friendships, old
or new. |
September
Song Challenge - That Way Madness Lies...
Bring a new song that is about madness, mental illness or insanity. |
October
Song Challenge - Twist of Fate
Bring a new song that uses a surprise ending. |
November
Song Challenge - Title Book
Bring a new song that starts from a great title or choose a
title from our new "Title Book." |
December
Song Challenge - The Shopping Trip from Hell
Bring a new song that tells about a real or imaginary shopping
trip that goes from bad to disastrous. |
| |
| |
2007
Song Challenges |
January
Song Challenge - Eavesdrop
Bring a new song that uses conversation overheard at a cafe,
coffeehouse, party, etc. |
February
Song Challenge - Tall Tale
Bring a new song that tells a tall tale. Make it a whopper,
yet do your best to make it believable. |
March
Song Challenge - Romantic Comedy
Bring a new song that shows us how love makes us act crazy. |
April
Song Challenge - Band Together
Bring a new song that comes from forming a band with other writers/performers
and have the band write the song as a collaboration (with 3
or more people). |
May
Song Challenge - Ghost Story
Bring a new song that tells a ghost story or uses the dead as
a supernatural character or image in the story. |
June
Song Challenge - Miracles & Magic
Bring a new song that deals with everyday miracles or uses magic.
Make us believe your "make believe." |
July
Song Challenge - Zipper Song
Bring a new song that uses a word or line in the song which
is repeated by the audience, as in "She'll be coming 'round
the mountain when she comes. When she comes." This is similar
to a call and response part of a song. |
August
Song Challenge - Teach Your Children Well
Bring a new song that deals with a parent/child relationship
in some way. Either or both sides can have a voice in the song. |
September
Song Challenge - And Another Thing...
Bring a new song that tells someone off who deserves a good
cutting down to size. |
October
Song Challenge - New Sounds
Bring a new song that uses two new chords you have never used
in a song before. (Swap with other Circle members.) |
November
Song Challenge - Downstream
Bring a new song that uses stream of consciousness rather than
plot to advance the song. Just let the song flow downstream
on its own. |
December
Song challenge - Saints & Angels
Bring a new song that tells about someone who has been a saint
or a guardian angel for you in your life, or a song that uses
these images. |
2006 Song Challenges |
January
Song Challenge - Sequel to Puff
Bring a new song that is a sequel to Puff the Magic Dragon.
This can be a humorous song or a children's song. |
February
Song Challenge - Gender Switch
Bring a new song that is written from the point of view of someone
of the opposite gender. |
March
Song Challenge - New Music Style
Bring a new song that is in a specific musical genre or style
that is one you don't usually write for your songs. |
April
Song Challenge - Central Metaphor
Bring a new song that is based on a central metaphor that continues
through the song. |
May
Song Challenge - Dreams
Bring a new song that is inspired by a dream or that uses dream
logic and imagery. |
June
Song Challenge - Ecobilly
Bring a new song that deals with an environmental issue. It
could be serious or humorous. |
July
Song Challenge - Arrangement
Bring a new song that is written and arranged for 2 voices (or
more) and for 2 instruments (or more). |
August
Song Challenge - Aphorism
Bring a new song that creates a new aphorism or maxim such as
"a rolling stone gathers no moss." |
September
Song Challenge - Piano Power
Bring a new song that is composed on a piano (or synth). The
song may or may not be performed on piano. You may want to enlist
the help of a piano-playing member to help you perform it. |
October
Song Challenge - Jekyll and Hyde
Bring 2 versions of the same song. These may be identical lyrics
to different music or two different takes on the same song subject
(i.e. serious and humorous). |
November
Song Challenge - Travelling
Bring a new song that is about travelling. |
December
Song challenge - Parody
Bring a new song that is written as a parody. |
| 2005
Song Challenges |
January
Song Challenge - Portrait
Bring a new song that is a portrait of a HISTORICAL figure.
|
February
Song Challenge - Tight Lyric
Bring a new song where every word counts. No fillers until the
rhyme comes along, no setting the mood and no preaching at the
end of the song. |
March
Song Challenge - KKFI Fundraiser
Bring a new song that is entertaining yet could be played on
any community radio station as a fund raiser. It should give
the listener a good reason to support the station with money.
|
April
Song Challenge - Foreign Setting
Bring a new song that is set in a foreign country. It may or
may not include words in a foreign language. |
May
Song Challenge - Healing Song
Bring a new song that heals the soul. This should deal with
life's dark side that cuts us down to our knees, in a way that
makes us able to get back up and face the sharp edges again.
|
June
Song Challenge - Collaboration
Bring a new song that is a collaboration with someone. Ideally
the work should be split about 50/50, but it's OK if one person
does the words and one the music. |
July
Song Challenge - 1 Line Refrain
Bring a new song that uses a one-line refrain. The same line
ends each verse and must make sense each time. You may repeat
the line again or have a bridge but no refrain. |
August
Song Challenge - Persona
Bring a new song that uses a different persona. Write from the
viewpoint of a person of the opposite sex, of a much younger
or older person, etc. |
September
Song Challenge - Rhyme Scheme
Bring a new song that uses a formal rhyme scheme that is NEW
for your songs. Try internal rhymes, slant rhymes, relaxed rhymes
or a sestina. |
October
Song Challenge - Work Of Art
Bring a new song that is based on a work of art such as a painting,
play, novel, poem, dance or sculpture. It can be a famous piece
or just something to spark your imagination. |
November
Song Challenge - Round
Bring a new song that can be sung as a round. All three (or
four) elements must be compatible when sung to the same music
at the same time. |
December
Song Challenge - Place
Bring a new song that builds upon a strong connection to a place
or reminisces about a place. |
|
Jump
to 2003
Jump
to 2002
Jump
to 2001
Jump
to 1997-2000
|
|
2004
Song Challenges |
January
Song Challenge - Work Song
Bring a new song that tells about a work issue or is set in
a working situation. |
February
Song Challenge - Collaboration
Bring a new song that is a collaboration with someone. Ideally
the work should be split about 50/50, but it's OK if one person
does the words and one the music. |
March
Song Challenge - Animal Song
Bring a new song that is about an animal or animals in general.
It may also be from the point of view of an animal. It can be
an adult or a children's song. |
April
Song Challenge - Food Song
Bring a new song that is about food. It can be funny or pensive,
high cholesterol or organic, fictional or biographical, we'll
sample them all... |
May
Song Challenge - Story
Bring a new song that tells a story. It should have most of
the basic elements found in a short story, yet stay under seven
minutes.. |
June
Song Challenge - Song In The Hat
Bring a new song that uses a title idea drawn from a hat at
the May Circle Performance night. Everyone will think of a title
and put it in the hat, then we'll all draw one. |
July
Song Challenge - One Word Title
Bring a new song that has a one word title. The title should
be the main anchor for the song. |
August
Song Challenge - Funny Song
Bring a new song that uses humor. It can be a funny story with
a punch line, a funny "what if" situation, a parody
or a combination of each. |
September
Song Challenge - Topical
Bring a new song that uses a topic of a current event as its
main theme. It should be an issue that everyone is aware of,
even if the event may not be well publicized. |
October
Song Challenge - One Verse Song
Bring a new song that uses a simple a,a,a. form as opposed to
a verse, chorus, verse, chorus form. All the lyrics must be
in the first and only verse. There would be no refrain.. |
November
Song Challenge - Conversation
Bring a new song that is sparked by real conversation you have
overheard or a song with dialogue between two people in it. |
December
Song Challenge - On Automatic
Bring a new song that is sparked by automatic writing. Just
write whatever comes into your head for several pages without
any editing. Then use the best images and phrases. |
| |
|
|
January
Song Challenge - Disability Character
Bring a new song that shows a person with a disability in a
positive light. No pity, no cures, just reasonable accommodation.
|
February
Song Challenge - Portrait
Bring a new song that paints a portrait of a fictional individual.
This can be in the first person as a self portrait. |
March
Song Challenge - Parody
Bring a new song that is a parody of a song by a songwriter
you really admire. It must poke fun at the songwriter's style.
This is usually done by exaggeration. |
|
April
Song Challenge - Letter
Bring a new song that is in the form of a letter. It doesn't
need to start with "Dear____". It should be clear
at the beginning that it is a letter. |
May
Song Challenge - Story
Bring a new song that tells a story. It should have most of
the basic elements found in a short story, yet stay under seven
minutes.. |
June
Song Challenge - Collaboration
Bring a new song that is a collaboration with someone. Ideally
the work should be split about 50/50, but it's OK if one person
does the words and one the music. |
July
Song Challenge - Motif
Bring a new song that uses a motif. Each line must begin with
the same word or phrase. |
August
Song Challenge - Persona
Bring a new song that uses a different persona. Write from the
viewpoint of a person of the opposite sex, of a much younger
or older person, etc. |
September
Song Challenge - Children's
Bring a new song that is primarily a children's song. It should
be simple to learn. It should have enough elegance to be of
value to adults as well. |
October
Song Challenge - Newspaper
Bring a new song that is based on a newspaper article. It can
be a real event or one from the likes of the National Enquirer.
|
November
Song Challenge - Death
Bring a new song that tells about someone's death. The person
can be real or imaginary. |
December
Song Challenge - Emulation
Bring a new song that emulates a famous songwriter's style:
Dylanesque, Simonesque, Tayloresque, etc. as long as they are
well known and your song is clearly in their style. |
| |
|
|
January
Song Challenge - Narrow Escape
Bring a new song about a narrow escape. It can be realistic
or a tall tale.
|
February
Song Challenge - Laundry
Bring a new song that uses laundry or washing clothes in it.
|
March
Song Challenge - Restaurant
Bring a new song about a restaurant or one that takes place
in a restaurant. |
April
Song Challenge - The Seasons
Bring a new song that uses all four seasons in it. |
May
Song Challenge - Regretting What I Said
Bring a new song that includes wanting to take back something
you said. |
June
Song Challenge - Dorothy Met Eve
Bring a new song that has two well known characters (from different
stories) meet.. |
July
Song Challenge - Patriotic Song
Bring a new song about your love for your country. |
August
Song Challenge - Secrets
Bring a new song about something kept secret. |
September
Song Challenge - Crimes
Bring a new song about a crime, real or fictional, from anyone's
point of view. |
October
Song Challenge - Modulate
Bring a new song that modulates to a new key, but uses the musical
change to accent a change in the story or between sections of
the lyrics.. |
November
Song Challenge - Heroes
Bring a new song about one of your heroes, or has a character
being heroic. |
December
Song Challenge - The Circle
Bring a new song about the Songwriters Circle. |
| |
|
|
| 2005
Song Challenges |
January
Song Challenge - Portrait
Bring a new song that is a portrait of a HISTORICAL figure.
|
February
Song Challenge - Tight Lyric
Bring a new song where every word counts. No fillers until the
rhyme comes along, no setting the mood and no preaching at the
end of the song. |
March
Song Challenge - KKFI Fundraiser
Bring a new song that is entertaining yet could be played on
any community radio station as a fund raiser. It should give
the listener a good reason to support the station with money.
|
April
Song Challenge - Foreign Setting
Bring a new song that is set in a foreign country. It may or
may not include words in a foreign language. |
May
Song Challenge - Healing Song
Bring a new song that heals the soul. This should deal with
life's dark side that cuts us down to our knees, in a way that
makes us able to get back up and face the sharp edges again.
|
June
Song Challenge - Collaboration
Bring a new song that is a collaboration with someone. Ideally
the work should be split about 50/50, but it's OK if one person
does the words and one the music. |
July
Song Challenge - 1 Line Refrain
Bring a new song that uses a one-line refrain. The same line
ends each verse and must make sense each time. You may repeat
the line again or have a bridge but no refrain. |
August
Song Challenge - Persona
Bring a new song that uses a different persona. Write from the
viewpoint of a person of the opposite sex, of a much younger
or older person, etc. |
September
Song Challenge - Rhyme Scheme
Bring a new song that uses a formal rhyme scheme that is NEW
for your songs. Try internal rhymes, slant rhymes, relaxed rhymes
or a sestina. |
October
Song Challenge - Work Of Art
Bring a new song that is based on a work of art such as a painting,
play, novel, poem, dance or sculpture. It can be a famous piece
or just something to spark your imagination. |
November
Song Challenge - Round
Bring a new song that can be sung as a round. All three (or
four) elements must be compatible when sung to the same music
at the same time. |
December
Song Challenge - Place
Bring a new song that builds upon a strong connection to a place
or reminisces about a place. |
|
Jump
to 2003
Jump
to 2002
Jump
to 2001
Jump
to 1996-2000
|
|
2004
Song Challenges |
January
Song Challenge - Work Song
Bring a new song that tells about a work issue or is set in
a working situation. |
February
Song Challenge - Collaboration
Bring a new song that is a collaboration with someone. Ideally
the work should be split about 50/50, but it's OK if one person
does the words and one the music. |
March
Song Challenge - Animal Song
Bring a new song that is about an animal or animals in general.
It may also be from the point of view of an animal. It can be
an adult or a children's song. |
April
Song Challenge - Food Song
Bring a new song that is about food. It can be funny or pensive,
high cholesterol or organic, fictional or biographical, we'll
sample them all... |
May
Song Challenge - Story
Bring a new song that tells a story. It should have most of
the basic elements found in a short story, yet stay under seven
minutes.. |
June
Song Challenge - Song In The Hat
Bring a new song that uses a title idea drawn from a hat at
the May Circle Performance night. Everyone will think of a title
and put it in the hat, then we'll all draw one. |
July
Song Challenge - One Word Title
Bring a new song that has a one word title. The title should
be the main anchor for the song. |
August
Song Challenge - Funny Song
Bring a new song that uses humor. It can be a funny story with
a punch line, a funny "what if" situation, a parody
or a combination of each. |
September
Song Challenge - Topical
Bring a new song that uses a topic of a current event as its
main theme. It should be an issue that everyone is aware of,
even if the event may not be well publicized. |
October
Song Challenge - One Verse Song
Bring a new song that uses a simple a,a,a. form as opposed to
a verse, chorus, verse, chorus form. All the lyrics must be
in the first and only verse. There would be no refrain.. |
November
Song Challenge - Conversation
Bring a new song that is sparked by real conversation you have
overheard or a song with dialogue between two people in it. |
December
Song Challenge - On Automatic
Bring a new song that is sparked by automatic writing. Just
write whatever comes into your head for several pages without
any editing. Then use the best images and phrases. |
| |
|
|
January
Song Challenge - Disability Character
Bring a new song that shows a person with a disability in a
positive light. No pity, no cures, just reasonable accommodation.
|
February
Song Challenge - Portrait
Bring a new song that paints a portrait of a fictional individual.
This can be in the first person as a self portrait. |
March
Song Challenge - Parody
Bring a new song that is a parody of a song by a songwriter
you really admire. It must poke fun at the songwriter's style.
This is usually done by exaggeration. |
|
April
Song Challenge - Letter
Bring a new song that is in the form of a letter. It doesn't
need to start with "Dear____". It should be clear
at the beginning that it is a letter. |
May
Song Challenge - Story
Bring a new song that tells a story. It should have most of
the basic elements found in a short story, yet stay under seven
minutes.. |
June
Song Challenge - Collaboration
Bring a new song that is a collaboration with someone. Ideally
the work should be split about 50/50, but it's OK if one person
does the words and one the music. |
July
Song Challenge - Motif
Bring a new song that uses a motif. Each line must begin with
the same word or phrase. |
August
Song Challenge - Persona
Bring a new song that uses a different persona. Write from the
viewpoint of a person of the opposite sex, of a much younger
or older person, etc. |
September
Song Challenge - Children's
Bring a new song that is primarily a children's song. It should
be simple to learn. It should have enough elegance to be of
value to adults as well. |
October
Song Challenge - Newspaper
Bring a new song that is based on a newspaper article. It can
be a real event or one from the likes of the National Enquirer.
|
November
Song Challenge - Death
Bring a new song that tells about someone's death. The person
can be real or imaginary. |
December
Song Challenge - Emulation
Bring a new song that emulates a famous songwriter's style:
Dylanesque, Simonesque, Tayloresque, etc. as long as they are
well known and your song is clearly in their style. |
| |
|
|
January
Song Challenge - Narrow Escape
Bring a new song about a narrow escape. It can be realistic
or a tall tale.
|
February
Song Challenge - Laundry
Bring a new song that uses laundry or washing clothes in it.
|
March
Song Challenge - Restaurant
Bring a new song about a restaurant or one that takes place
in a restaurant. |
April
Song Challenge - The Seasons
Bring a new song that uses all four seasons in it. |
May
Song Challenge - Regretting What I Said
Bring a new song that includes wanting to take back something
you said. |
June
Song Challenge - Dorothy Met Eve
Bring a new song that has two well known characters (from different
stories) meet.. |
July
Song Challenge - Patriotic Song
Bring a new song about your love for your country. |
August
Song Challenge - Secrets
Bring a new song about something kept secret. |
September
Song Challenge - Crimes
Bring a new song about a crime, real or fictional, from anyone's
point of view. |
October
Song Challenge - Modulate
Bring a new song that modulates to a new key, but uses the musical
change to accent a change in the story or between sections of
the lyrics.. |
November
Song Challenge - Heroes
Bring a new song about one of your heroes, or has a character
being heroic. |
December
Song Challenge - The Circle
Bring a new song about the Songwriters Circle. |
| |
|
|
January
Song Challenge - Watercolors
Bring a new song that uses watercolors or watercolor painting
in it.
|
February
Song Challenge - Photograph
Bring a new song that is based on a photograph or uses one as
an image in the song. |
March
Song Challenge - Childhood Memory
Bring a new song that is based on a childhood memory of yours.
|
April
Song Challenge - Scat
Bring a new song that uses scat or nonsense syllables as part
of the lyric. (Such as "wac fol the daddy Oh, there's whiskey
in the jar.") |
|
May
Song Challenge - Something Wild
Bring a new song that uses something wild in it or is just
plain wild. |
June
Song Challenge - County Line
Bring a new song that uses a particular county line in it. |
July
Song Challenge - Escalator
Bring a new song that has an escalator in it or uses one as
an image or metaphor. |
August
Song Challenge - 5/4 Time
Bring a new song that is written in 5/4 time, or in a time signature
that you have never written in. |
September
Song Challenge - You're Fired
Bring a new song that is about losing your job from being fired,
downsized, squeezed out or the company going belly up. |
October
Song Challenge - Want Ads
Bring a new song that uses a want ad as part of the song. |
November
Song Challenge - Motif
Bring a new song that uses a motif. Each line must begin with
the same word or phrase. |
December
Song Challenge - Tight Lyric
Bring a new song where every word counts. No fillers until the
rhyme comes along, no setting the mood and no preaching at the
end of the song. |
| |
|
|
|
