[5in5] tomorrow…

The five in five songwriting project, referred to on this blog as [5in5], begins tomorrow. If you would like to be a part of the madness fun and you have not already let me know then just leave a comment on this post saying “I’m IN!!” or something equivalent.

If you need a few more details about this songwriting project or want to see who will be writing with us then check out THIS POST to catch up.

Also, part of the project is putting your song out there for people to hear, so please email me a daily link to your song. You can contact me HERE and let me know where your song is posted (i.e. youtube, facebook, a personal blog, etc.)

I hope you’re excited and ready to write (that’s actually the focus of this project)

As a BONUS this year, you can receive a daily update during [5in5] detailing which songs were written & where you can go to hear them. Simply click this link – tinyletter.com/danieljohn – & put in your email address. I promise you will not want to miss these updates!!

 

I leave you now with this quick  list of ideas to help get your creativity flowing – see you all tomorrow!!

 

 

the 2012 edition of [5in5]

 

As I said Friday, [5in5] officially begins May 14th-18th, 2012!!

This year I’m hoping to have many people from all over the country & globe join us for the 2012 edition of [5in5].

Before I give you the rules, you are going to want to sign up for this event.

To do so simply comment on this post, email me, or send a smoke signal (if you’re so inclined) telling me that you’re in!

 

Now for the rules of [5in5] (via Aaron Ivey’s 7in7 rules):

1) you must start and finish 1 song every day for 5 days.
the goal is not to write 5 amazing songs”¦ it’s simply to start and finish a song to stretch your creativity and discipline as a writer.

 

2) old material cannot be used.
you can’t brush off the dust from an old song, or one that was started a while ago. it must be a brand new song. phrases & words from old journals can be used, but old songs or uncompleted songs cannot be used.

 

3) co-writing with a person (sorry no animals this year) is completely legit.
this really helped me get started last year and is something we highly encourage you to try at least once.

 

4) post the song in some public forum.
most people post their songs on a blog, youtube, facebook, soundcloud, etc. part of the beauty of 5in5 is forcing yourself to be vulnerable with your writing by putting it out there. plus, we’re all in this together.

 

5) if you’re on twitter, we can easily follow each other by using the hashtag #5in5.

 

=============
MUSIC NEWS
=============

1) guess what?? this spring/early summer I will be releasing an EP of new instrumental music!!

I have been writing for a couple months & have begun laying down tracks for this EP.

more details about this project will be coming VERY soon!

 

2) currently I have a video theory course I am developing for YOU.

this will be due out in early fall 2012.

while this initially may not sound super exciting, I can guarantee that this series will be one of the most beneficial courses you can watch & immediately apply to your playing.

I am going to personally walk you through a ton of secrets I have picked up from great musicians + answer any questions you might have, so start thinking about what you would like to ask.

woohoo!! I’m super-jazzed just thinking about how this is going to help you grow…

stay tuned… we are getting ready to have some serious fun!!

dj

[5in5] – save the date!

This will be quick today, but I wanted to let you know that we will be having the [5in5] songwriting challenge again this year!

Anyone can participate, but you have to commit to writing all 5 days.

We will be holding this challenge May 14th-18th, 2012, so save the date!!

Check back on Monday for all the details. I promise that you are not going to want to miss this!

PLUS I have some exciting MUSIC NEWS that I cannot wait to tell you about!!

See you Monday…

DJ

 

day 5 – [5in5]

[this song was inspired by the photograph above which in turn caused me to do a little study of cathedrals. the thought behind them is that as you walk into a cathedral you suddenly realize how small you are. you look up because of the surrounding beauty. as i continued thinking about it, i wondered if we could be like cathedrals – live beautiful lives that would cause those around us to look up and see our creator. a sincere thank you for helping me look up this week.]

cathedrals
by daniel john

walking in
to the house
of the holy
stained glass windows
tell the story
as the lights
falling down
on the lowly
i can see

deeper
higher

marching by
every life
their own glory
wondering what
has become
of their story
with the storms
reigning over
the lowly
can they see?

we could be
cathedrals

cathedrals [5in5 version] by danieljohn

copyright 2011 danieljohnmusic.com

day 4 – [5in5]

about this song: Jesse wrote all the lyrics to this song after learning about our [5in5] challenge. He wrote the melody line and I wrote the piano part and helped on a few minor rhythms. He wanted to “summarize” the story of the Bible. I think he did well.

god’s favor

in the beginning
god created heavens and earth
he said i’m gonna give a new birth
gonna create a man
in my own image yeah!
i’m gonna call him man
and then name him adam
oh yeah adam
oh oh

then he talked to abraham
he said I’m gonna give you many sons
look at all the stars
and see how far it goes oh

i’m gonna do a favor
gonna send a savior
in your family yeah
in your family (x2)

then a small baby child
was born in a mild place
ooh yeah
you could see his little face
oh yeah
his little face
yeah
yeah

then he started to grow
learn about the holy ghost
later he was was crucified
all the ladies cried
for jesus had died
god even sighed

then they put him in a tomb
it was kinda like his own room
then it was opened
an angel sat on it
then the ladies came
the angel said
he’s not dead
oh yeah
he has risen
he went to heaven
amen
it is finished

copyright 2011 danieljohnmusic.com

day 3 – [5in5]

our song
by felicity & daniel john

darkened houses
lonely people
empty churches
crooked steeples

they’re singing out
we need a song
we need a song

every corner
hearts broken
has death
already spoken

they’re singing out
we need a song
we need a song

hope arising
making amends
final chapter
o how love mends

and your grace
will be our song
we’ll sing it loud
until we all sing along

our song [5in5 version] by danieljohn

copyright 2011 danieljohnmusic.com