Serenading

the Earth:
Songwriting for the
Environment
by Ivee Bongosia

Camp Luntian, DENR- EMB

WHY write songs
anyway?
Songs are stories
Elements of a Song
•Lyrics/Words
•Melody
•Title
•Beat/Rhythm
•Dynamics
•Harmony
•Structure
•Length
Songs for the environment
listening session

- 3 R’s – Jack Johnson

- Walang Ibang Sadya
- Will-I.am
Songs for the environment
• May tackle pressing environmental issues
• May be about appreciating/ pondering on
nature
• May be a call to action
• May simply be inspired by nature (lyrically,
musically)
When in doubt…
Remember these
3 S’s :

Singable
Simple
Sincere
“What’s your song’s
core message?”
Writing the actual song…

WHERE or HOW to start writing the actual song?

How do songwriters start anyway?

What’s their process?
Start …
- with what you know
- from your own experience
- by listing phrases, words, images you
would like to include in your song
- with your core message
- with a structure
 Part of song Core message

Lupa, laot, langit ay magkaugnay

Intro
Song: “Magkaugnay”
Artist: Joey Ayala
Chorus
Album: Mga Awit ng
Tanod Lupa(1995)
Hayop, halaman, tao ay magkaugnay
“We are all
connected”
Ang lahat ng bagay ay magkaugnay
Magkaugnay ang lahat

Tayo ay nakasakay sa mundong

Verse 1
naglalakbay “We are
dependent
Sa gitna ng kalawakan on the
Umiikot sa bituin na nagbibigay-buhay earth, the
Sa halaman, sa hayop at sa atin sun”

Ang lahat ng bagay ay magkaugnay

Chorus
Magkaugnay ang lahat
Song: “Magkaugnay” Iisang pinagmulan
Artist: Joey Ayala
Album: Mga Awit ng
Iisang hantungan ng ating lahi
Verse 2 “We are all
Tanod Lupa(1995) Kamag-anak at katribo ang lahat ng the same”
narito
Sa lupa, sa laot at sa langit

Chorus
Ang lahat ng bagay ay magkaugnay
Magkaugnay ang lahat
Writing a verse:

• Use imagery – show, don’t tell

• Think of the story, the
message
• Rhyme?
Creating the Melody
 Creating a Basic Melody: Tips
- Listen to diverse types of music
- Have an idea of how you’d like your song to feel, or the impact it will make
- Don’t be afraid of repetition, again- singable, simple, and sincere
- Tinker with the keyboard/piano
- Be inspired by your surroundings, particularly the sounds around you -
https://timberfestival.org.uk/soundsoftheforest-soundmap/
- Record ideas on your phone. Sometimes melodies come when you least
expect it
- Think of a “Hook”
- Collaborate with others, especially if you have musician friends
Song hook
- Part of the song that
catches the ear of
the listener
- A phrase or a riff

*example
- Magkaugnay
• Tell a story through song, start with a core message
• Utilize different songwriting tools
• Remember: Start with - Simple, Singable, Sincere
• Just keep writing, singing, creating, and listening
• Continue serenading the earth & investing in Our Planet
Thank you
WORKSHOP
Output of workshop
• to be able write a verse or chorus of a song about
or inspired by the environment, nature, or one’s
environmental advocacy

• Lyrics & basic melody

Materials:
• Pen & paper or any writing device
• Optional: your musical instrument (if any) or
music making software (optional)
DRILL 1
Choosing a topic

With your pen and paper, think of as many environmental

themes/ideas as you can that you would like to write a song
about

let ideas flow, don’t block them, don’t judge them

 exercise

From your list, pick one

topic/theme/idea
let ideas flow, don’t block them, don’t judge them
exercise
DRILL 2
Writing exercise
Now that you’ve chosen a topic/idea/theme…

Write down phrases, images, words related to this

topic/theme
let ideas flow, don’t block them, don’t judge them
Verse
- From the words/phrases you jotted down,
start writing 1 Verse or Chorus of a song
- Remember your core message 
- You may create with a melody, or borrow the
melody of an existing song