[jseth]

The vast percentage of songs I play have lyrics, so the most challenging portion of learning a new song is memorizing th4 lyric... other than a few artists whose music is extremely demanding - i.e. Steely Dan, Stevie Wonder...! - I first work out an arrangement of the music; what kind of groove will I use, what tempo, what key works for my voice?

Then I will WRITE DOWN THE LYRIC, LONGHAND! After listening to the song multiple times and actually writing the lyrics down, those words stick in my memory pretty well.

The problem with Youtube and places where they "give you" the lyric and the chord changes is that they are SO easy that I don't have to remember them, so I don't.

While I'm writing the words down, I'm thinking of "how?" this song relates to me, how do I fit in to those words, to the story... this is a method that Judy Davis taught as a way to personalize each song we sing...

I have spoken very highly of Judy Davis' methods and coaching in my replies on this Forum - I am very pleased to announce that ALL her vocal lessons and exercises are now on YouTube!

Everything from vowel sounds, breathing exercises to sub-plots. If you are serious about your singing, take some time and dig in to these glorious lessons from the same woman who coached Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Peter, Paul and Mary, Steve Perry (Journey), Eddie Money, Lena Horne, Judy Garland... and SO many more! Her work is invaluable to the singer...