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360songwriting.com

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About This Site


My new book Songwriting Strategies: A 360º Approach (Berklee Press/Hal Leonard, 2014) presents a comprehensive approach to songwriting I call 360º songwriting.

This site is an archive of supplemental resources about songwriting methods and techniques, including:

  • Expanded exercises and detailed explanations of material in the book;
  • Community forums where readers, and songwriters more generally, can exchange ideas and questions sparked by the book;
  • Discussion of example songs and repertoire;
  • Creative work—by myself, students and alumni, and other songwriters—showing 360º principles applied in real songs.


About Mark Simos
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Mark Simos, associate professor in songwriting at Berklee College of Music, is a renowned songwriter, composer and tunesmith, teacher and writer. Over four-plus decades, Mark’s songs and “tunes from imaginary countries” have stretched musical boundaries with innovative melodies and harmonies and intricately crafted lyrics, bringing a contemporary sensibility to “neo-traditionalist” forms.

Over one hundred and fifty of Mark’s compositions have been recorded by artists, including Americana supergroup Alison Krauss and Union Station, Ricky Skaggs, Del McCoury, and Laurie Lewis. He’s co-written with artist/writers such as Lisa Aschmann, Australian rock icon Jimmy Barnes, Catie Curtis, and the Infamous Stringdusters’ Andy Hall. He’s featured on many recordings as a fiddler and guitar accompanist, and has recorded an acclaimed song-cycle album, Crazy Faith, and four albums of original and traditional fiddle music.

At Berklee, Mark creates innovative curriculum in 360° songwriting, collaboration and co-writing, guitar techniques for songwriters, and tunewriting, and leads Berklee’s American Old-Time Ensemble. He also continues to perform and teach at workshops, camps, festivals, and retreats worldwide.