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Danny, I see a major difference in comparing guitar & vocal lessons to a song critique. In taking instrument or vocal lessons, you are paying an instructor to teach you how to read music, understand music theory, solo over chord changes, and technique. These are things that are based on solid, foundational music principles, not opinion. I see song critiques as nothing more than another person's opinion on how THEY think you could improve a particular song. I think it's an underhanded way that some songwriters use to take advantage of the naive and supplement their income. These are writers that have in most cases, little or no more credentials than the people whose songs they are critiquing. Besides, I also don't believe that songwriting is something that can necessarily be taught. I think songwriting is something that is a gift that allows a person to be in touch with the human condition in a very special way and then to express those observations in song and lyrics. You might be able to show someone about forms, ie; verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge etc... but you can't teach someone about content. That's personal, and something that gets better with experience and time as you learn through that experience how to write, edit and how to carefully choose the language that you use in your songs. You also have to come to grips over the course of time that not every song you write is going to be golden. Sometimes you have to write a dozen clunkers to finally get a good one. You wanna know where I go for a song critique? To my audience. When I play a new song to my audience, their reaction helps me to gauge whether it has touched them or not. I am also very fortunate to have a producer/friend that is brutally honest and a wife that is equally and brutally honest when I play a new song for either of them. I'm sorry, my conscience just would not allow me to take advantage of another writer that way for a few supplemental dollars. I think a wiser situation would be to become a member of a local songwriters group and play a song for them every once in awhile, and in return offer an open and honest ear to the other members of the group. Everyone benefits, you can take or leave their opinions, and it's FREE. And, that's just my opinion...
All the Best,
davey O.

[This message has been edited by 3daveyO3 (edited 06-16-2002).]