Hi everyone! 👋 Please help me give a warm welcome to @Keri Schneider 💜 Keri, we’d love to get to know you! Tell us a little about yourself—where are you from? What do you love to write? Welcome to Ink & Alchemy! ✨

Hello I’m starting a new series “Songwriting Alchemy” We will discuss (1) concept from Music Theory along with a writing promopt. If you have an instrument already great, make sure you grab it. —- I know @Eva Savicki and @Jase Hearrell you play guitar 🎸 this is perfect for this series. But chords can be played on any instrument - 🎹 Piano - 🎸 Acoustic guitar - 🎸 Electric guitar - 🎻 String quartet - 🎺 Horn section - 🎼 Orchestra - 🎛️ Synthesizer - 🎸 Bass + implied harmony from other instruments - 🎤 A choir singing the note If you don’t play or have access to an instrument to learn on then I’ll try to attach videos to help you hear the sound we are talking about Our first mini lesson is about chord progressions. Let’s get started… First, let's talk about what a chord progression actually is. A chord progression is simply the order of chords played throughout a song. Think of it as the emotional foundation beneath your lyrics. The chords create a feeling, and your words tell the story that lives inside that feeling. For example: (The Chords) C – G – Am – F This progression feels hopeful, nostalgic, emotional, and uplifting all at once. That's why it's been used in countless hit songs. Here's the magic: The same chord progression can support completely different lyrics. "I still see your face in every crowded room." ❤️🖤Love song "I barely recognize the person I used to be.” 🦋 🌈Transformation song Same chords. Different story. As songwriters, we don't just write words—we write words that interact with emotion. The chords create the mood. The lyrics give that mood a voice. The lyrics are what we are concentrating on in this community most and so they are very important. ***** remember when writing that your words are super powerful. Don’t swap a great word to make it rhyme. maybe just shift a lyric to another section like the bridge. Now it fits and you still keep your power.

Thank you @Amanda J for sharing this today Do you guys remember Afroman? I know @Renee Flanagan does Well he had some court troubles this week and now he’s my hero He turned Adversity Into Art — With a Touch of Alchemy ✨ Recap: Afroman (Joseph Foreman), the rapper behind “Because I Got High,” faced a botched 2022 police raid on his Ohio home — no evidence, no charges, just damage. Instead of backing down, he turned the footage into viral satirical music videos, transforming his misfortune into art, which now will probably go viral again!!! Seven deputies sued him for defamation, invasion of privacy, and emotional distress — but in March 2026, the jury cleared him on all counts. Afroman, calm, confident, and striking in his American flag suit, turned the courtroom into a First Amendment moment, showing that creativity and composure can triumph over adversity. 🎤🔥 check out the song he made ⬇️⬇️⬇️ Lemon Pound Cake Video https://www.facebook.com/reel/1631286294686182/?fs=e&s=TIeQ9V&fs=e&mibextid=wwXIfr&fs=e

🌙 We are proud to announce Ink & Alchemy will be teaming up with The Art of Poetry, Alive Poets Society and Skool for something very exciting…. 🌙 As some of you may know, April happens to be National Poetry Month — And We’re Celebrating TOGETHER! These Skool communities happen to be some of the best poetry communities on the platform, and they are coming together for a month-long celebration of poetry, creativity, and connection. And we will be collaborating with poets from all around the world directly through this collaboration. Poetry Skool Communities: • Alive Poets Society • The Art of Poetry • Ink & Alchemy All throughout the month of April, these communities will be hosting: • Poetry contests • Daily writing prompts • Shared poetry from members • Supportive community feedback 🌙🖤🍀🎵For all of you Alchemists out there this is your invitation.🎵🍀🖤🌙 • Come write with us. • Come share your voice. • Come meet poets who care deeply about the craft. 👇 Join ALL of the communities and be part of National Poetry Month: Alive Poets Societyhttps://www.skool.com/dead-poets-society-5071/about The Art of Poetryhttps://www.skool.com/the-art-of-poetry-1080/about Ink & Alchemyhttps://www.skool.com/ink-alchemy-2100/about And if you’d like to explore mote visit:www.artofpoetry2026.com Hosted by Art of Poetry’s @Jason Strickland Because poetry was never meant to be written alone. 🖤🍀🌈😻🎵

A poem I write this morning for The Art of Poetry Reposting here Osaka We retreated into a concrete hole Descending below the silent traffic whipping by. Happening upon a streets filled with silent life Osaka so quiet yet busy and alive. Street lights dancing, cars buzzing by, yet it is so quiet one could hear a mouse cry life here so polite you must watch your volume height. For you could end up disturbing the night. Nikki, Ink & Alchemy