The first two years of BOOK Music and Lyrics have been quite challenging, but they’ve been absolutely worth it. Despite the hard work and moments of self-doubt, I’ve truly enjoyed the experience and had the pleasure of meeting incredibly talented people.
The first year was a blissful journey, giving me the opportunity to collaborate with a number of amazing lyricists, including Tilly Lunken, Kirsty Greenwood, Nicky Allpress, Sussanna Bezooyen, Amy Clare Tasker, Charlie Dunkin, James Sherwood, and Grace O’Keefe. Each one was a joy to work with, and we explored various song typologies as part of the program, such as charm numbers, AABA structures, comedy songs, and more. I hope our musical paths cross again in the future. Throughout this time, we were scrutinized and mentored by Jason Carr, Tim Sutton, and David James, with constant guidance from music teacher Jonathan Worsley.
I’ll soon be sharing all the material here, both as a memento of that first year and to illustrate the progress I’ve made in music and engraving. I believe I’ve evolved, particularly with my transition from Notion and Musescore to Dorico, and from Studio One to Cubase.
The highlight of the first year was a 10-minute musical that I was fortunate enough to create with Grace O’Keefe and Ian Grant, which you can check out below:
In the second year, my collaborator and lyricist, unfortunately, had to step away, so I took a leap and wrote my own lyrics. While they might not be the best lyrics in the world, the experience was an incredibly valuable learning opportunity. I chose to musicalize the story of The Princess Bride, as it’s a well-formed narrative with clear plotlines and characters, minimizing the need for additional dramaturgy. This allowed me to focus on both music and lyrics.
Year two was hosted by David James, with Adey Grummet and Caroline Humphris serving as the main facilitators, offering insightful feedback throughout. The year culminated in a 20-minute showcase at Crazy Coqs in Piccadilly.
Thank you, BML, for these incredible two years. I’m eagerly looking forward to what the advanced group and discussions will bring. I have high hopes that this next chapter will be just as fruitful, if not more so, than the first two.