Writing the Blues, Songwriting Techniques & Scales for Improvisation
Weekly Wonders March 20th, 2025
Hello, Musical Wonders community!
This week, we’re diving into writing traditional blues songs, exploring advanced songwriting techniques, and sharing a handy music theory cheat sheet for scales and improvisation. Whether you’re looking for lesson inspiration or ways to help students expand their musical creativity, we’ve got you covered!
Let’s jump in!
🎸 New Resource: Writing a Traditional Blues Song
MUSICAL WONDERS | MAR 20, 2025
The blues is one of the most foundational forms in modern music, and learning to write a blues song is an excellent way for students to develop lyric writing skills, melodic phrasing, and rhythm.
📌 Blues Form at a Glance:
🎵 AAB Lyric Pattern – The first line states an idea, the second repeats it, and the third line resolves the thought.
🎶 12-Bar Chord Progression – A simple yet powerful harmonic framework that works in every key.
🎹 Call & Response Feel – Encourages musical interaction and improvisation.
📥 What’s Included?
✔ Student Handout: A guided worksheet to help students write a four-chorus blues song.
🎬 Student Example: Watch an All-Region student group perform “Sick Saxophone Blues”, an original blues song they wrote.
🎧 Backing Tracks: Blues progressions in all 12 keys and a variety of styles for students to perform their songs.
🎼 Chord Progressions: In both chord symbols and Roman numerals for flexible teaching.
🌟 Featured Resource: “How To Write Songs” YouTube Channel
MUSICAL WONDERS | MAR 20, 2025
At Musical Wonders, we focus on helping students get started with songwriting. But what happens when they’re ready to take their skills further? That’s where “How To Write Songs” comes in!
This fantastic YouTube channel, created by Keppie Coutts and Ben Romalis, dives into melody writing, lyrical phrasing, song structure, and more.
📽 Featured Video: Setting Lyrics to Melody
🎤 Align stressed syllables with strong beats for natural phrasing.
🎶 Use contrast between sections by limiting note choices in verses and expanding in the chorus.
🎼 Employ strategic intervals and note durations to create a compelling melody.
✅ Why We Recommend This Channel:
🔹 Practical exercises to improve songwriting skills.
🔹 Step-by-step breakdowns of how to develop lyrics and melodies.
🔹 Approachable teaching style—perfect for students who want to go beyond the basics.
📌 In Case You Missed It: Music Theory Cheat Sheet for Scales & Improvisation
MUSICAL WONDERS | JAN 28, 2025
Looking for a quick and easy reference to help students understand scales, chords, and improvisation? This Music Theory Cheat Sheet is a fantastic resource for students learning to compose, improvise, and develop technique.
📥 What’s Inside?
🎼 Scale reference charts for major, minor, and modes.
🎵 Basic chord structures for songwriting & accompaniment.
🎸 Improvisation tips to help students explore their musical ideas with confidence.
🎶 That’s it for this week!
We’d love to hear how these resources are working in your classroom. Reply to this email and let us know!
Until next time, keep making music, keep making choices, and most importantly—keep having fun!
🎵 The Musical Wonders Team