How to Turn Poetry into a Song

Just like poetry, song writing is an art. It takes time and practice to create that perfect song. An easy way to get started is by taking one of your poems and transforming it into a song. The key to this is knowing the basics and applying them.

Things You'll Need

• Poem
• Pen or Pencil
• Paper
• Musical Instrument (Optional)

Instructions

1. Select a poem. If you have a rhyming poem, use that. These work the best as most songs are written using the rhyming method. Write one if you don't have one to start with.

2. Break it up into sections. The structure of poems and songs is very similar. They both contain verses that tell the story (first verse--introduction; second, third and fourth verse--body; last verse--conclusion). However, in a song you will be adding a chorus and for more advanced song writing, you would also add a bridge.

3. Create a chorus. The chorus is the "catchiest" part of the song and is repeated throughout. Take the theme of your poem and write a chorus that reflects that. The chorus tends to stay the same and if any changes are made, they are few and subtle. Put the chorus in between the verses.

4. Review the verses. Check to make sure the same theme and form is applied throughout. Check the flow of the verses. Edit where necessary.

5. Review the song. Try singing it out loud, or if you can't sing, reading it out loud. Again, check the rhythm and flow of the song and make any necessary changes.

6. Have someone else review your song. Iit's best to have someone with a musical background review it, if you can.

7. If you play a musical instrument, create the music that will accompany your song. You may find that you need to make changes to the lyrics when completing this. If you don't play a musical instrument, work with someone who does to fine-tune the song.

Tips & Warnings

• Practice, practice, practice! This is the best way to learn your craft, whether it's poem writing or song writing.

• For more information and techniques, talk to professional song writers or check out song writing websites (some of them have contests as well) or go to your local library and see what books they have there. It's always beneficial to get as much information as you can to perfect your craft.

• Remember, these are just the basics; there are many more aspects of song writing. This is just to get you started and it is not intended to make you a professional song writer.

Resources

• Song Writing