FredMcKinnon.Com

There are some items in my digital toolbox that are qualified as “must haves”.  You know – the kind where you get a new hard drive or computer and after booting it up, this is one of the first things you install?

“Evernote” is one of those tools for me.  I use it to take notes during sermons, keep up with tasks, ideas, Bible Study thoughts, and blog ideas.  That’s fairly typical usage but I’ve surprised quite a few people when I tell them that Evernote is one of my primary tools in songwriting.

I can’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve had a song idea pass through my mind.  Usually, those ideas can leave my mind about as quickly as they came in!  That’s where Evernote comes in handy.

Because Evernote is installed on ALL of my Mac computers and on my Android-based Motorola DroidX phone, I have a digital “notebook” at my disposal all the time.  Since the notes sync automatically, my ideas are always available.

Case in point:

Village Creek Landing, St. Simons Island GA

The other day I was sitting in one of my favorite “solitude spots”.  (aka “Village Creek Landing” on St. Simons Island, GA).  I was reading in Titus and was inspired by the text.  I immediately had a catchy “hook” in my mind … “Glorious Grace Appear”.

Keep in mind, I’m sitting in my 1996 Ford Explorer with the windows down and moon roof open – soaking in the morning sun – studying the Word, praying, and meditating on what I’m reading.  I’m not in the studio.  I don’t have a moleskin handy (OK, I don’t OWN a moleskin) and I don’t think there is a pen in my truck at all.

I pick up my phone, launch the Evernote App, open my “Song Ideas” folder and tap “new note”.  Jot down the Scripture reference, a few phrases, and save the note.

Then, the most powerful feature yet – the voice memo!  I’ve lost more hooks than I’ve kept, so I edit the note, click the voice memo button, and start singing away.

Now I have my idea captured so that I can revisit it while in the studio or at the piano.

Here’s a peek at my “Songs” notebook in Evernote:

So, that’s my songwriting usage of Evernote.  You’ve seen a glimpse into my vault … and now, I’ve got to discipline myself to take these ideas to the next level – actually writing the song!

UPDATE:
The night before this blog entry was scheduled to be published, I had an interesting twitter exchange with one of my favorite bloggers, Michael Hyatt.  He’d just had a blog post about Evernote featured.  I replied and told him about my pending article and others chimed in about their Evernote usage.  So check out their articles as well!

Michael Hyatt:  “A Better Filing System for Public Speakers and Writers”
David Santistevan:  “Use Evernote To Help You Write Songs”

A few weeks ago I debuted the first song I’ve written in … well, 6+ years.  It was such an incredible feeling to do that.  Since doing this, the floodgates have opened, and I’ve got a handful of songs from folks who want to co-write.  And I can’t wait.

One of the guys on our worship team recently wrote a song that has just been signed by Tim McGraw.  That’s a big deal. I was on the phone with him a few hours ago and … without really thinking about it … I said, “Tim, you and I are going to write some songs together”. [proofread alert - just to clarify, I was on the phone with Tim, who wrote the song, not Tim, as in Tim McGraw, his (McGraw) number isn't in my cell ... yet]

Yesterday, I received a random IM from my friend McKendree Augustas (with Sonic Flood, though, an incredible writer, producer, artist in his own right!) that said “hey man, when are we gonna get together and write” …

Then a few minutes ago …. I saw this post by Sarah Williams McMillan (husband of John Mark McMillan, author of “How He Loves” and plenty of other awesome tunes!) …

So, here’s where it gets wild.  I saw this post, and felt compelled to respond to it … and just as I was about to start typing, I got this “IM” from another person:

OK … so, do you think it’s time to acknowledge that God is speaking?

Today is Sunday, June 13, 2010 – and this is our worship service recap from SSCC.  I’m posting this along with hundreds of other worship leaders in the “Sunday Setlists” event that happens every week over at TheWorshipCommunity.Com.

Today was a blast because I was able to debut the first song I’ve written in nearly 6 years.  It’s called “You Save” and it’s the fruit of my first songwriting collaboration with Mandy Thompson.  More on that in a second …

Our walk-in song this morning was “Marvelous Light” … Shannon Lewis has always “owned” that song and done an awesome job leading it.

Opening Set:
“Alive Again” (Matt Maher and Jason Ingram)
“You Save” (Fred McKinnon and Mandy Thompson)

After some announcements, missions video, sermon promo, and challenging word by Pastor David Yarborough, we celebrated Communion.  During communion we worshiped with:

“You Gave Your Life Away” (Paul Baloche and Kathryn Scott)
“Be Thou My Vision” (hymn)
“Revelation Song” (Jennie Lee Riddle)

One of the cool additions today was violin, courtesy of Ms. Carol Parks.  Below is a video of the new song, “You Save”.  Enjoy!

Verse 1:
Darkness, famine, trials, temptations,
Sorrows, anger, lies, frustrations,
Where, o where are You, God?
I feel a million miles away yet I know you are near
Are you listening?  Do you even hear?
Where, o where are You, God?

Chorus:
Where o where does my help come from?
I cry out into the night …

Verse 2:
Lusts of the flesh and the greed in my heart
Selfish desires to be set apart
Where, o where are You God?
Have my sins hidden me for all eternity?
Will you rescue?  Will you still help me?
Where, o where are You, God?

(Chorus 2x)

Bridge:
Your arm is not too short to save
Your reach goes deeper than the grave
When I’m crying to You
You save!  You save!
You save …. You save …

(repeat)

My help comes from the Lord above
Maker of heaven and of earth
You watch over me and run
to save!  To save!
To save …. To save …
You save …. You save ….

Hey Everybody -

Today I’d like to discuss songwriting in the church.  Bobby Gilles of Sojourn Music has been writing an incredible series on Developing Songwriting over at TheWorshipCommunity.Com.  I’d encourage anyone who is interested to check those articles out:

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

I’m ashamed to admit that it’s been a few years since I was writing songs.  I’ve written some songs that I’ve been blessed to see used throughout the world in churches.  I could throw out a laundry list of excuses of why I’m not writing or recording any more these days, but when the dust settles – it’s still just a long list of excuses and choices that I’m making to do certain things instead of other things.

I believe there are many new songs to be written.  There are some incredible songwriters out there who bless us immensely with their material. Then there are the thousands of songs that are undiscovered by the mainstream worshiping community, or worse – that aren’t written at all.

I’m going to let you in on a little secret.  My site, HighestPraise.Com, was once a forerunner in publishing and promoting original worship material online.  It’s been around for nearly 15 years in one “form” or another.  It’s been pretty static lately.  But the sleeping giant is restless and I’m working on some ideas that will revive the site, the purpose, and it will be an incredible opportunity for those of you who are writing corporate worship material.  So stay tuned.

In the meantime, I’d like to hear about your songwriting.  Do you do it?  What’s your take on using original material in the local church.  What inspires you to write?  What distracts you from writing?

Let’s discuss!