​It all Starts with a Song | ​Judy ​Stakee | TEDxIHEParis

how important are songs in your life and

how important are songs in your life and if you were going to write one what

if you were going to write one what

if you were going to write one what would it be like maybe a ballad or maybe

would it be like maybe a ballad or maybe

would it be like maybe a ballad or maybe something a little hard rock heavy metal

something a little hard rock heavy metal

something a little hard rock heavy metal or maybe even a jazzy feel I’m Judy

or maybe even a jazzy feel I’m Judy

or maybe even a jazzy feel I’m Judy steaky

steaky

steaky Oh what would the story be about love

Oh what would the story be about love

Oh what would the story be about love gone wrong or hope for a new day

gone wrong or hope for a new day

gone wrong or hope for a new day I’m Judy sticky and for over 35 years I

I’m Judy sticky and for over 35 years I

I’m Judy sticky and for over 35 years I have been mentoring developing and

have been mentoring developing and

have been mentoring developing and nurturing songwriters now it’s important

nurturing songwriters now it’s important

nurturing songwriters now it’s important to note about songwriters is that one of

to note about songwriters is that one of

to note about songwriters is that one of the things that defines them is their

the things that defines them is their

the things that defines them is their ability to choose their words carefully

ability to choose their words carefully

ability to choose their words carefully and tell us their story in a short

and tell us their story in a short

and tell us their story in a short amount of time now I’ve had the

amount of time now I’ve had the

amount of time now I’ve had the privilege of working with some amazing

privilege of working with some amazing

privilege of working with some amazing songwriters Sheryl Crow Katy Perry and a

songwriters Sheryl Crow Katy Perry and a

songwriters Sheryl Crow Katy Perry and a few others you may not recognize like

few others you may not recognize like

few others you may not recognize like who here has heard of Julian Vanetta

who here has heard of Julian Vanetta

who here has heard of Julian Vanetta okay exactly

okay exactly

okay exactly but he’s had a lot of success writing

but he’s had a lot of success writing

but he’s had a lot of success writing with a few international acts like one

with a few international acts like one

with a few international acts like one direction and fifth harmony now my job

direction and fifth harmony now my job

direction and fifth harmony now my job in any case is to make sure that I

in any case is to make sure that I

in any case is to make sure that I navigate and help that songwriter

navigate and help that songwriter

navigate and help that songwriter navigate their career whether they were

navigate their career whether they were

navigate their career whether they were writing for pop hits like pop acts like

writing for pop hits like pop acts like

writing for pop hits like pop acts like Julian or writing for themselves like

Julian or writing for themselves like

Julian or writing for themselves like Katy and Cheryl I make sure that they

Katy and Cheryl I make sure that they

Katy and Cheryl I make sure that they have what they need in order to make

have what they need in order to make

have what they need in order to make their songs great and to develop

their songs great and to develop

their songs great and to develop themselves and their business now for

themselves and their business now for

themselves and their business now for most of my career I worked in the

most of my career I worked in the

most of my career I worked in the corporate music industry and I had a lot

corporate music industry and I had a lot

corporate music industry and I had a lot of room to do my job but when the

of room to do my job but when the

of room to do my job but when the industry became a little too corporate

industry became a little too corporate

industry became a little too corporate by hiring leaders who were micromanaging

by hiring leaders who were micromanaging

by hiring leaders who were micromanaging us and putting too many structures in

us and putting too many structures in

us and putting too many structures in place my soul felt like it was time for

place my soul felt like it was time for

place my soul felt like it was time for a change and so in 2009 I founded my own

a change and so in 2009 I founded my own

a change and so in 2009 I founded my own company developing song writers and

company developing song writers and

company developing song writers and artists based on my motto it all starts

artists based on my motto it all starts

artists based on my motto it all starts with a song to tell you it was pretty

with a song to tell you it was pretty

with a song to tell you it was pretty exciting starting a brand new company

exciting starting a brand new company

exciting starting a brand new company and watching it grow into something new

and watching it grow into something new

and watching it grow into something new and innovative

and innovative

and innovative I started consulting songwriters and

I started consulting songwriters and

I started consulting songwriters and different companies I started a

different companies I started a

different companies I started a songwriting interview video series I

songwriting interview video series I

songwriting interview video series I wrote a book and I started teaching

wrote a book and I started teaching

wrote a book and I started teaching workshops and retreats all over the

workshops and retreats all over the

workshops and retreats all over the world and because of all of that I

world and because of all of that I

world and because of all of that I started working with a much broader

started working with a much broader

started working with a much broader audience from all walks of life and

audience from all walks of life and

audience from all walks of life and that’s when I planted the seed I

that’s when I planted the seed I

that’s when I planted the seed I wondered could songwriting only be for

wondered could songwriting only be for

wondered could songwriting only be for the talented few or could anybody do it

the talented few or could anybody do it

the talented few or could anybody do it I mean having seen the impact of

I mean having seen the impact of

I mean having seen the impact of songwriting on my writers for all those

songwriting on my writers for all those

songwriting on my writers for all those years I know that developing your

years I know that developing your

years I know that developing your ability to write can really change your

ability to write can really change your

ability to write can really change your life when you learn how to write your

life when you learn how to write your

life when you learn how to write your story in a lyric form using your words

story in a lyric form using your words

story in a lyric form using your words from your perspective

from your perspective

from your perspective well that translates into great

well that translates into great

well that translates into great storytelling in real-life situations

storytelling in real-life situations

storytelling in real-life situations such as auditions interviews first dates

such as auditions interviews first dates

such as auditions interviews first dates even speeches so as my company began to

even speeches so as my company began to

even speeches so as my company began to take form I decided I needed to put a

take form I decided I needed to put a

take form I decided I needed to put a process in place that would teach

process in place that would teach

process in place that would teach fundamental tools and create a language

fundamental tools and create a language

fundamental tools and create a language so everyone could understand just as I

so everyone could understand just as I

so everyone could understand just as I had with my professional songwriters for

had with my professional songwriters for

had with my professional songwriters for all those years so I developed a

all those years so I developed a

all those years so I developed a methodology to make songwriting

methodology to make songwriting

methodology to make songwriting accessible to everyone and it goes like

accessible to everyone and it goes like

accessible to everyone and it goes like this it’s based on two questions the

this it’s based on two questions the

this it’s based on two questions the first question is what is a song the

first question is what is a song the

first question is what is a song the song is the integration of your voice

song is the integration of your voice

song is the integration of your voice the lyric and the melody your voice is

the lyric and the melody your voice is

the lyric and the melody your voice is your power the lyrics are your words to

your power the lyrics are your words to

your power the lyrics are your words to your stories and the melody well that’s

your stories and the melody well that’s

your stories and the melody well that’s the music that exudes your emotions now

the music that exudes your emotions now

the music that exudes your emotions now you for we always talk about the music

you for we always talk about the music

you for we always talk about the music and lyrics as being part of the song as

and lyrics as being part of the song as

and lyrics as being part of the song as being the song but I never leave out the

being the song but I never leave out the

being the song but I never leave out the voice it’s just as important I mean note

voice it’s just as important I mean note

voice it’s just as important I mean note the difference I quit my job I quit my

the difference I quit my job I quit my

the difference I quit my job I quit my job please

job please

job please now the second question is the kicker

now the second question is the kicker

now the second question is the kicker how do you develop how do you get better

how do you develop how do you get better

how do you develop how do you get better well we live in a three-dimensional

well we live in a three-dimensional

well we live in a three-dimensional reality so we’ve want something to

reality so we’ve want something to

reality so we’ve want something to change in our lives we’re going to have

change in our lives we’re going to have

change in our lives we’re going to have to change something in our body our mind

to change something in our body our mind

to change something in our body our mind and our soul our bodies we can touch our

and our soul our bodies we can touch our

and our soul our bodies we can touch our minds what we know and our souls that’s

minds what we know and our souls that’s

minds what we know and our souls that’s who we are so if we want a situation a

who we are so if we want a situation a

who we are so if we want a situation a behavior an attitude to change then

behavior an attitude to change then

behavior an attitude to change then we’re going to have to change something

we’re going to have to change something

we’re going to have to change something first in our body mind and soul

first in our body mind and soul

first in our body mind and soul so my methodology in a nutshell is this

so my methodology in a nutshell is this

so my methodology in a nutshell is this if you want your songs to be great then

if you want your songs to be great then

if you want your songs to be great then you’re going to have to continuously

you’re going to have to continuously

you’re going to have to continuously develop yourself for the rest of your

develop yourself for the rest of your

develop yourself for the rest of your lives and with these two questions

lives and with these two questions

lives and with these two questions I send my writers off on a journey that

I send my writers off on a journey that

I send my writers off on a journey that lasts a lifetime they put in in place a

lasts a lifetime they put in in place a

lasts a lifetime they put in in place a host of processes that will develop

host of processes that will develop

host of processes that will develop their body mind and souls to further

their body mind and souls to further

their body mind and souls to further develop their voice their melody and

develop their voice their melody and

develop their voice their melody and their lyric now with this methodology

their lyric now with this methodology

their lyric now with this methodology this became my core curriculum the

this became my core curriculum the

this became my core curriculum the essence of what I wanted to pass on to

essence of what I wanted to pass on to

essence of what I wanted to pass on to these such ambitious songwriters but I

these such ambitious songwriters but I

these such ambitious songwriters but I needed someplace to test it and so I

needed someplace to test it and so I

needed someplace to test it and so I started workshops out of my home

started workshops out of my home

started workshops out of my home inviting a handful of songwriters over

inviting a handful of songwriters over

inviting a handful of songwriters over for eight weeks at a time and inviting

for eight weeks at a time and inviting

for eight weeks at a time and inviting and exposing them to yoga vocal toning

and exposing them to yoga vocal toning

and exposing them to yoga vocal toning co-writing assignments

co-writing assignments

co-writing assignments not to mention story writing exercises

not to mention story writing exercises

not to mention story writing exercises and asking them thought-provoking

and asking them thought-provoking

and asking them thought-provoking questions to assert their own

questions to assert their own

questions to assert their own perspective now let me give you an

perspective now let me give you an

perspective now let me give you an example the first week I start with the

example the first week I start with the

example the first week I start with the body the foundation and I invite a yoga

body the foundation and I invite a yoga

body the foundation and I invite a yoga teacher over to give them an hour

teacher over to give them an hour

teacher over to give them an hour experience at the end I invite everyone

experience at the end I invite everyone

experience at the end I invite everyone to go up into a handstand fully spotted

to go up into a handstand fully spotted

to go up into a handstand fully spotted of course but I do this so I can

of course but I do this so I can

of course but I do this so I can challenge their body to do something

challenge their body to do something

challenge their body to do something that it wouldn’t normally do and I do

that it wouldn’t normally do and I do

that it wouldn’t normally do and I do this intentionally because I’ll let you

this intentionally because I’ll let you

this intentionally because I’ll let you in on a little secret if you can change

in on a little secret if you can change

in on a little secret if you can change something in your body first

something in your body first

something in your body first then your mind and soul follows so much

then your mind and soul follows so much

then your mind and soul follows so much easier now the other thing I do is I

easier now the other thing I do is I

easier now the other thing I do is I devote a large portion of the workshops

devote a large portion of the workshops

devote a large portion of the workshops to the art of co-writing because I

to the art of co-writing because I

to the art of co-writing because I didn’t believe it is one of the best

didn’t believe it is one of the best

didn’t believe it is one of the best skills that a co-writer that a writer

skills that a co-writer that a writer

skills that a co-writer that a writer can learn when you have to sit in a room

can learn when you have to sit in a room

can learn when you have to sit in a room with another human being and share your

with another human being and share your

with another human being and share your stories

stories

stories tick tick collectively write one song

tick tick collectively write one song

tick tick collectively write one song well that takes life experiences it

well that takes life experiences it

well that takes life experiences it takes getting along with other people it

takes getting along with other people it

takes getting along with other people it takes standing up for yourself it takes

takes standing up for yourself it takes

takes standing up for yourself it takes valuing everyone’s ideas it is a process

valuing everyone’s ideas it is a process

valuing everyone’s ideas it is a process that challenges and forces the

that challenges and forces the

that challenges and forces the songwriter to grow gaining

songwriter to grow gaining

songwriter to grow gaining self-awareness and learning to love

self-awareness and learning to love

self-awareness and learning to love themselves now it was after a particular

themselves now it was after a particular

themselves now it was after a particular workshop gained at teenagers that set my

workshop gained at teenagers that set my

workshop gained at teenagers that set my course in motion even more at the end of

course in motion even more at the end of

course in motion even more at the end of it I asked the parents to come and join

it I asked the parents to come and join

it I asked the parents to come and join us for their last exercise and I asked

us for their last exercise and I asked

us for their last exercise and I asked the kids to get up and answer three

the kids to get up and answer three

the kids to get up and answer three questions number one what is your goal

questions number one what is your goal

questions number one what is your goal number two what is your definition of

number two what is your definition of

number two what is your definition of commitment to get there and what is your

commitment to get there and what is your

commitment to get there and what is your monster that’s hiding under the bed

monster that’s hiding under the bed

monster that’s hiding under the bed keeping you from getting there

keeping you from getting there

keeping you from getting there well the kids all got up they answered

well the kids all got up they answered

well the kids all got up they answered just work they were forthcoming they

just work they were forthcoming they

just work they were forthcoming they were honest fantastic one boy when I

were honest fantastic one boy when I

were honest fantastic one boy when I asked him what his definition of

asked him what his definition of

asked him what his definition of commitment was he said ball and chain

commitment was he said ball and chain

commitment was he said ball and chain with that without a beat and another

with that without a beat and another

with that without a beat and another girl when I asked her what her monster

girl when I asked her what her monster

girl when I asked her what her monster was she said self-doubt and

was she said self-doubt and

was she said self-doubt and procrastination I don’t know how to

procrastination I don’t know how to

procrastination I don’t know how to start so after they all finished

start so after they all finished

start so after they all finished I turned the tables and I asked the

I turned the tables and I asked the

I turned the tables and I asked the parents the same three questions now

parents the same three questions now

parents the same three questions now granted I did spring it on them but

granted I did spring it on them but

granted I did spring it on them but their answers were not as near as great

their answers were not as near as great

their answers were not as near as great as the kids and it really showed me

as the kids and it really showed me

as the kids and it really showed me something all these teenagers came in

something all these teenagers came in

something all these teenagers came in with all the intention of being

with all the intention of being

with all the intention of being songwriters but with little experience

songwriters but with little experience

songwriters but with little experience and after that workshop their progress

and after that workshop their progress

and after that workshop their progress was amazing they were more open

was amazing they were more open

was amazing they were more open communicative and confident and their

communicative and confident and their

communicative and confident and their parents were blown away and that’s when

parents were blown away and that’s when

parents were blown away and that’s when that seed I planted got sprouted and I

that seed I planted got sprouted and I

that seed I planted got sprouted and I had my next idea

had my next idea

had my next idea I wondered I’ve been teaching mostly

I wondered I’ve been teaching mostly

I wondered I’ve been teaching mostly adults whose life mission it was to be

adults whose life mission it was to be

adults whose life mission it was to be songwriters but I’d never even thought

songwriters but I’d never even thought

songwriters but I’d never even thought about teaching a kid from scratch and so

about teaching a kid from scratch and so

about teaching a kid from scratch and so I needed a new guinea pig so with a

I needed a new guinea pig so with a

I needed a new guinea pig so with a little luck I found a 12 year old girl

little luck I found a 12 year old girl

little luck I found a 12 year old girl named Juliana and with her parents

named Juliana and with her parents

named Juliana and with her parents permission we started meeting every

permission we started meeting every

permission we started meeting every Tuesday after school for a few months I

Tuesday after school for a few months I

Tuesday after school for a few months I taught her my methodology I played her

taught her my methodology I played her

taught her my methodology I played her songs I gave her exercises homework to

songs I gave her exercises homework to

songs I gave her exercises homework to do and when she was finished when she

do and when she was finished when she

do and when she was finished when she was ready to write her first song we

was ready to write her first song we

was ready to write her first song we started with the lyric and I asked her

started with the lyric and I asked her

started with the lyric and I asked her tell me what you liked most about

tell me what you liked most about

tell me what you liked most about yourself she said I love that I’m

yourself she said I love that I’m

yourself she said I love that I’m fearless I said okay go write me a few

fearless I said okay go write me a few

fearless I said okay go write me a few paragraphs on that go tell me what that

paragraphs on that go tell me what that

paragraphs on that go tell me what that looks like to you were you born that way

looks like to you were you born that way

looks like to you were you born that way or did you you know just come to you

or did you you know just come to you

or did you you know just come to you overnight what does it feel like what

overnight what does it feel like what

overnight what does it feel like what does it taste like so I’d like to share

does it taste like so I’d like to share

does it taste like so I’d like to share with you now what she wrote I used to be

with you now what she wrote I used to be

with you now what she wrote I used to be scared of everything I used to be scared

scared of everything I used to be scared

scared of everything I used to be scared of myself I had no desire to get out and

of myself I had no desire to get out and

of myself I had no desire to get out and explore I put my heart up on the shelf

explore I put my heart up on the shelf

explore I put my heart up on the shelf but I need to get over this fear of

but I need to get over this fear of

but I need to get over this fear of being feared pop this bubble I’m in try

being feared pop this bubble I’m in try

being feared pop this bubble I’m in try something new and challenge myself start

something new and challenge myself start

something new and challenge myself start collecting my wins if I just put my mind

collecting my wins if I just put my mind

collecting my wins if I just put my mind to it then I know I can do anything if I

to it then I know I can do anything if I

to it then I know I can do anything if I just put my mind to it I know I can be

just put my mind to it I know I can be

just put my mind to it I know I can be fearless this is what she wrote a 12

fearless this is what she wrote a 12

fearless this is what she wrote a 12 year old girl I mean look at the

year old girl I mean look at the

year old girl I mean look at the language that came out of her this was

language that came out of her this was

language that came out of her this was not this came out of her it was not

not this came out of her it was not

not this came out of her it was not poured into her it may not be what I

poured into her it may not be what I

poured into her it may not be what I envisioned this road and so it is in

envisioned this road and so it is in

envisioned this road and so it is in life but the time and work that it will

life but the time and work that it will

life but the time and work that it will take is so worth it I won’t give up the

take is so worth it I won’t give up the

take is so worth it I won’t give up the fight

fight

fight needless to say I was thrilled of course

needless to say I was thrilled of course

needless to say I was thrilled of course her dad wants to know when she’s getting

her dad wants to know when she’s getting

her dad wants to know when she’s getting a record deal but that’s a whole other

a record deal but that’s a whole other

a record deal but that’s a whole other question so how did writing a song

question so how did writing a song

question so how did writing a song impact her well in two wonderful ways

impact her well in two wonderful ways

impact her well in two wonderful ways first of all self-discovery

first of all self-discovery

first of all self-discovery self-discovery happened when I asked her

self-discovery happened when I asked her

self-discovery happened when I asked her the question what do you like most about

the question what do you like most about

the question what do you like most about yourself fact try answering that right

yourself fact try answering that right

yourself fact try answering that right now what do you like most about

now what do you like most about

now what do you like most about yourselves it’s a tough question huh

yourselves it’s a tough question huh

yourselves it’s a tough question huh yeah because it forces us to answer from

yeah because it forces us to answer from

yeah because it forces us to answer from within

within

within Julianne took her every day life for the

Julianne took her every day life for the

Julianne took her every day life for the material for her lyric now the second

material for her lyric now the second

material for her lyric now the second way it impacted her life was

way it impacted her life was

way it impacted her life was self-expression she realized that she

self-expression she realized that she

self-expression she realized that she was fearless but once she said it out

was fearless but once she said it out

was fearless but once she said it out loud and then how to write about it

loud and then how to write about it

loud and then how to write about it well that feeling became stronger and a

well that feeling became stronger and a

well that feeling became stronger and a knowingness happened and a little side

knowingness happened and a little side

knowingness happened and a little side note a song is typically only 200 words

note a song is typically only 200 words

note a song is typically only 200 words in four minutes so she had to be clear

in four minutes so she had to be clear

in four minutes so she had to be clear concise and creative she had to make

concise and creative she had to make

concise and creative she had to make every word count now when she was done

every word count now when she was done

every word count now when she was done with her lyric and I read it back to her

with her lyric and I read it back to her

with her lyric and I read it back to her her eyes got as big as saucers she

her eyes got as big as saucers she

her eyes got as big as saucers she looked at me a little hesitantly and

looked at me a little hesitantly and

looked at me a little hesitantly and said I wrote a song I said yep she

said I wrote a song I said yep she

said I wrote a song I said yep she bounced out of her chair danced around

bounced out of her chair danced around

bounced out of her chair danced around the room she was so proud of herself and

the room she was so proud of herself and

the room she was so proud of herself and I have to tell you being witness to her

I have to tell you being witness to her

I have to tell you being witness to her progress and to her development was an

progress and to her development was an

progress and to her development was an absolute privilege what a journey eight

absolute privilege what a journey eight

absolute privilege what a journey eight years ago I was developing and managing

years ago I was developing and managing

years ago I was developing and managing professional songwriters and today I’m

professional songwriters and today I’m

professional songwriters and today I’m teaching a 12 year old who has no prior

teaching a 12 year old who has no prior

teaching a 12 year old who has no prior experience or intention of even being

experience or intention of even being

experience or intention of even being one learning how to write songs gives us

one learning how to write songs gives us

one learning how to write songs gives us a better grasp over our words

a better grasp over our words

a better grasp over our words and it’s our words that shape our

and it’s our words that shape our

and it’s our words that shape our stories and it’s our stories that give

stories and it’s our stories that give

stories and it’s our stories that give our life meaning and help us navigate

our life meaning and help us navigate

our life meaning and help us navigate our reality this is not true just for

our reality this is not true just for

our reality this is not true just for songwriters it’s true for everyone take

songwriters it’s true for everyone take

songwriters it’s true for everyone take a moment right now and think back to a

a moment right now and think back to a

a moment right now and think back to a time when you had to have a talk with

time when you had to have a talk with

time when you had to have a talk with somebody we had to use your words pretty

somebody we had to use your words pretty

somebody we had to use your words pretty carefully a conversation with maybe a

carefully a conversation with maybe a

carefully a conversation with maybe a boss or something a little bit more

boss or something a little bit more

boss or something a little bit more personal with family or friend a time

personal with family or friend a time

personal with family or friend a time when you needed to get those words right

when you needed to get those words right

when you needed to get those words right and say them in the right way

and say them in the right way

and say them in the right way well songwriters learn how to express

well songwriters learn how to express

well songwriters learn how to express the mysteries and intricacies of life

the mysteries and intricacies of life

the mysteries and intricacies of life and like I said they only get 200 words

and like I said they only get 200 words

and like I said they only get 200 words in four minutes that’s it

in four minutes that’s it

in four minutes that’s it but it’s a wonderful process to go

but it’s a wonderful process to go

but it’s a wonderful process to go through because it prepares us for those

through because it prepares us for those

through because it prepares us for those moments in our life when we need to use

moments in our life when we need to use

moments in our life when we need to use our words the most now to get this

our words the most now to get this

our words the most now to get this integrated into the curriculum of the

integrated into the curriculum of the

integrated into the curriculum of the school system will probably be a long

school system will probably be a long

school system will probably be a long process so what can you what can we do

process so what can you what can we do

process so what can you what can we do to inspire our children along this path

to inspire our children along this path

to inspire our children along this path well we can help put processes in their

well we can help put processes in their

well we can help put processes in their lives for their bodies their mind and

lives for their bodies their mind and

lives for their bodies their mind and their soul we could encourage them to

their soul we could encourage them to

their soul we could encourage them to sing and learn musical instruments to

sing and learn musical instruments to

sing and learn musical instruments to journal to take writing classes all of

journal to take writing classes all of

journal to take writing classes all of these things promote self-discovery and

these things promote self-discovery and

these things promote self-discovery and self-awareness teaching our children how

self-awareness teaching our children how

self-awareness teaching our children how to write and co-write songs will make

to write and co-write songs will make

to write and co-write songs will make them wonderful storytellers and the

them wonderful storytellers and the

them wonderful storytellers and the stories they write for their lives will

stories they write for their lives will

stories they write for their lives will shape the rest of their lives once you

shape the rest of their lives once you

shape the rest of their lives once you want that for the children in your lives

want that for the children in your lives

want that for the children in your lives so won’t you join me in my quest to

so won’t you join me in my quest to

so won’t you join me in my quest to empower the children in this world for

empower the children in this world for

empower the children in this world for their one life by giving them the gift

their one life by giving them the gift

their one life by giving them the gift of songwriting

of songwriting

of songwriting here

here

here [Applause]