Songwriting - Understanding the Purposes of Verses, Choruses and Every Other Section of a Song

It's important to understand that each section of a song typically has a role to fulfill. If you know the purpose of each section in your song, you'll be better prepared to write a great song. Of course, most songs won't use all of the sections listed below, but knowing the purpose of your sections is crucial to understanding how to put together a solid song.

Verse

Lyrically, the verses of your song will move your story forward. The chorus or refrain is likely to have the same words each time, so the verse is your chance to keep your ideas moving along.

Chorus

Think of your chorus as the big idea for what your song's all about. That's partly why your title is most likely to show up in your chorus. Your title also sums up what the song's about. Melodically, the chorus will be the catchiest part of your song. This is what people will have stuck in their head long after your song is over. That's another reason it's good to have your title in the chorus. When people get your chorus stuck in their head, they'll easily know what your song is called and can find it later when they want to hear it again.

Pre-Chorus

The pre-chorus is an add-on before the chorus. It usually repeats the same lyrics each time, the same way a chorus does. Musically, a lot of times it creates a nice build up to what's coming in the chorus. Katy Perry's "Firework" was a good example of that, as you saw above.

Bridge

The bridge is a departure from what we've heard in a song, previously. This goes for both the lyrics and the music. Lyrically, it's an opportunity for a new perspective. Musically, it's a chance to offer the listener something they haven't heard before to keep the song interesting.

Refrain

In the verse / verse / bridge / verse song structure, the refrain is the line that draws all the attention in your verses. It's usually at the beginning or end of each verse and is often the title of the song.

Hook

The hook doesn't necessarily refer to a specific section of a song, except to say it's the catchiest part of a song. Most of the time, it will be your chorus, if your song has one. If your song doesn't have a chorus your hook will most likely be your refrain. As hit songwriter, Clay Drayton, says "A fish knows the hook... Once it's in you, it's hard to get it out."

Professional Counseling for Students

Right from the time a child is born,  his parents start thinking about his education, his career and his future.  His mother wants the child to be a doctor but the father wants him to be a pilot. In the tussle between the dreams of both parents, somewhere along the line,  the child’s dreams, hopes and most importantly aptitude is forgotten. A fathers unfulfilled dreams are to be fulfilled by the son and so on. Parents practically brainwash their kids to think that he was born to be an engineer, doctor or pilot.  For all you know, the kid wants to be an artist but never got a chance to utilize his painting skills! He was too busy solving problems day and night. In the process, he might end up becoming an engineer, but he is going to be a bad professional because he may not have the aptitude for it. He might end up being a  ‘not-so-happy’ individual!

Therefore, it is very essential that kids are brought up the right way and all his talents and skills are honed and sharpened.

If math is important, well then so is learning other languages. If music is his hobby, so be it! In such a scenario, professional counseling and guidance is very essential for kids. The ultimate question of career choice is not a minor one. The decision needs to be taken seriously and carefully, keeping in mind the students ability, capacity, inclination and aptitude. If he does not understand math at all, engineering is definitely not his life-long profession!

Professional counseling helps students develop strategies to cope with academic and personal pressures. Counselors are specially trained individuals who understand the students psyche, by conducting aptitude tests and emotional quotient tests in order to understand the student properly.

It is a one on one interaction with the student, along with a battery of tests, to help the student understand himself better. Every school, college and educational institute has a counseling department and students are encouraged to talk to the professional counselors to make a prudent and wise decision about their future. Imagine a student who sings fantastically but because of pressure from her family, is only encouraged to attend law school. She may become a lawyer but is she really going to enjoy her life to the fullest? Most likely not!

Students have their own social pressures and issues. They might not be discussing or sharing their issues with their parents. In fact, many a times, parents are not equipped to deal or guide their child, as a student in the most unbiased way. In such cases, professional counselors are the best way. They are professionally trained to help students in various ways. They have scientific ways and means to help and guide students. Counseling is not necessary only for emotionally unstable people or students who are failing miserably. A student excelling in studies also might need counseling. Ultimately, he is at an age where complete and correct guidance is very necessary. This is the time and age when crucial decisions need to be taken very prudently. A step in the wrong direction might hamper the students growth in the field of their strongest abilities and they will not be living their true, authentic life.

Why take a chance? These students are the future of our country , therefore creating the world our children will live in and they are also pillars of support for the older generations. They need to be happy in life and fostering this is every parents and teachers responsibility.