MINDY PETERSON, NCTM

Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels

Ever wonder how songs are written, what makes a song a hit, or what it would take to write a song yourself? In this episode, songwriter and author Mike Errico pulls back the curtain on the songwriting process, blending humor, neuroscience, and practical tips from his book Music, Lyrics, and Life. Whether you’re a musician, a music lover, or just curious about the magic behind your favorite tunes, you’ll gain a deeper appreciation for what makes a song resonate – and maybe even feel inspired to write one yourself.

Guest

Mike Errico is the author of the book Music, Lyrics, and Life: A Field Guide for the Advancing Songwriter. Mike is a New York City-based recording artist and educator. He’s toured internationally, composed extensively for film and TV, and teaches songwriting at universities including Yale, Wesleyan and NYU’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music. His work has been featured in publications including the New York Times, CNN, and the Wall Street Journal.

Notes

We discuss:

• How/why does the brain responds to certain elements in a song?
• The connection between songs, the brain, and dopamine, a neurotransmitter that opens the doors of the brain’s reward and pleasure centers.
• How important are song lyrics?
• What is the recipe for a “good song” or a “hit song,” and how should these be defined?
• The role and value of journaling in songwriting.
• Where do song ideas come from?

Connect/Other Resources

• Mike’s website
• Book: Music, Lyrics, and Life: A Field Guide for the Advancing Songwriter, by Mike Errico
• Connect with Mike on: Instagram  |  Tik Tok  | Facebook  |  Substack
• Mike’s recommended reading list (updated from his book’s Appendix): A Summer Reading List for Sometime Later in Life
• Hear Mike’s music on: Bandcamp  |  Apple Music  |  Spotify
• I mention the video Axis of Awesome – All Popular Songs Are The Same 4 Chords:

Other episodes we mentioned or that you may enjoy:

• Ep. 51: Conscious music: How do lyrics shape my mental narrative? with Jamie Goldstein, PsyD
• Ep. 43: A combat veteran tells his story and shares how music is serving those who serve our country, with CreatiVets’ Richard Casper
• View all episodes related to Education & Community

In-Episode Promo

SHEET MUSIC DIRECT: One of my favorite ways to enhance my life with music is to play just-for-fun songs on the piano at the end of the day. My current favorites are ABBA songs and songs from the 80s, like We Are The World. With Sheet Music Direct, I can explore new music, track my favorites, play and download scores any time, from any device. This online treasure trove of digital sheet music is powered by music publisher Hal Leonard and has over a million arrangements—ready to view, listen to, and download instantly. Prices start at just $0.99 and include selections for every instrument, genre, and skill level. My family has relied on Sheet Music Direct for years for musical joy and convenience. For an entire musical library at your fingertips, visit SheetMusicDirect.com.

LIVING WELL WITH DR. MICHELLE: If you’ve listened to this podcast for long, you know that, in addition to being passionate about music, I am also passionate about natural health and wellbeing. So I was intrigued to learn about an all-natural toothpaste developed by a biologic, holistic dentist to effectively clean and protect teeth and strengthen enamel without fluoride or the many chemicals that are ubiquitous in the commercial toothpastes that I’ve always used without a second thought. What really caught my attention was that one of these dentist’s products was specially formulated for sensitive teeth, which I have thanks to gum recession. I was a little skeptical that an all-natural product would provide adequate sensitivity protection, but after trying it for several months, I am a fan. What clinched the deal was going to my 6-month dental cleaning and having my hygienist rave about the whiteness of my teeth. To learn more about the Living Well Sensitive Tooth Powder and other products – and get 10% off your order – check out the link in the show notes (or use Coupon Code: musicenhances10 at livingwellwithdrmichelle.com). (Or buy on Amazon.)

Coda

Mike shares a clip of his song, “Shine,” which he describes as “relentlessly positive.” (Listen to the full song on Spotify.)

Closing Words

And that is the outro of “Shine.” You can listen to the full song on Spotify; the link is in the show notes.

You can always connect with me on email (mindy@mpetersonmusic.com), Facebook, Instagram, X, or LinkedIn.

Thank you so much for joining me today. Until next time, may your life be enhanced with music.

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