The self-made musician

Music is a powerful tool, capable of expressing emotion in a way that sometimes words alone cannot. The ability to manipulate this tool in ways that can accomplish such expression is a goal of all songwriters, though it is no easy task. Doing so requires much practice, persistence, and the ability to receive help from others. This is especially true when turning written songs into a complete music production, usually in the form of a recording. The author of this paper wrote, arranged, produced, and recorded a full-length album; this paper describes the processes that took place from start to finish. Also included are details about setbacks and surprises that changed elements of the album. Additionally, the paper briefly describes some of the research undertaken by the author as well as the inspiration and events that led to the creation of the songs.