Solo Songwriting Competition: What It Is, Where It’s Run and How It’s Judged

An individual entry in which one writer presents an original song they composed, judged on lyrics, melody, structure and how well the song is performed.

Solo songwriting asks one entrant to bring a song they wrote themselves and present it to the panel. Unlike an interpretation item, where the performer chooses an existing piece, the song itself is the entry: the words, the tune and the way they fit together are what is being marked, and the performance is how the panel hears them.

A round normally runs with the entrant stepping up alone, introducing the title if the organiser allows it, and performing the song with voice and one accompanying instrument or a backing track, depending on the notice. Some organisers also ask for a printed lyric sheet so the panel can read the words while listening. The template prints none of these rules, so the notice should say what accompaniment is allowed and what must be handed in.

On eTalenter the item appears in one template: a teen talent template where it is an individual entry for ages 13 to 19, in English, open to both genders. It sits in the Music category and is scored as a rating out of 10, with a maximum of 5 printed against the entry. No time limit is printed, so organisers should publish one.

Organisers run songwriting because it rewards creativity rather than only technique. It gives writers who may not be the strongest singers or players a place to compete, and it produces original material that a talent event can showcase. Clear originality rules matter, because the whole item rests on the song being the entrant’s own work.

Where Solo Songwriting is run

On eTalenter this item sits in a single teen talent template, so the verified use is a youth talent event with a music category. Songwriting and composition classes also appear in school music programmes and youth talent showcases elsewhere, but this page records only the template that carries it.

• Worldwide

Key facts

• Individual item: one entrant, one original song, one rating
• Teen talent template: ages 13 to 19, English, both genders
• Scored as a rating out of 10; the entry prints a maximum score of 5
• No time limit printed in the template; organisers should publish one
• Listed in the Music category beside vocal and instrumental items
• The song must be the entrant’s own work; the template prints no further originality rule, so the notice should state it

On eTalenter, Solo Songwriting is filed under Music and typically scored with Rating out of 10. It appears in 1 ready-made event templates — each one can adjust its time limit, age-group assignment and scoring setup independently.

Across the templates that use it, Solo Songwriting is most often entered as an Individual competition, typically scored out of 5.

What judges look at in Solo Songwriting

What a Solo Songwriting panel is actually weighing up, and where the marks are usually won or lost:

• Originality: a song that sounds like the entrant’s own voice and ideas, not a copy or a close imitation of a well-known song
• Lyrics: a clear idea, natural language, imagery that fits the theme and lines that scan with the melody
• Melody and structure: a memorable tune and a sensible shape, such as verse, chorus and ending, with a clear start and finish
• Fit between words and music: stress falling on the right syllables, mood of the tune matching the message
• Performance: pitch, rhythm and confidence good enough for the song to be heard properly; the template prints a single rating, so a panel wanting separate headings should agree them beforehand

Treat these as the judging focus, not a fixed rubric: publish your own weighted criteria for Solo Songwriting under Scoring Setup, or start from the judge scoring and tabulation guide.

How to prepare for Solo Songwriting

How entrants and their teachers usually get Solo Songwriting right on the day:

• Write about something specific you know; a clear single idea usually beats a song that tries to say everything
• Draft the chorus first, since it carries the hook, then build verses that lead into it
• Read the lyrics aloud without the tune to check every line scans and the rhymes do not feel forced
• Keep the arrangement simple enough that you can perform it cleanly, because a nervous performance hides a good song
• Time the full song and trim it to the organiser’s limit before the day
• Record yourself and listen back for pitch drift, rushed tempo and words that cannot be understood
• Bring a clean, legible lyric sheet if the notice asks for one, and a spare copy for the panel

Frequently asked questions

Is Solo Songwriting judged individually or as a team?

Across eTalenter’s templates it’s most often run as an Individual entry, though an organiser can set either participation type when assigning the item to an age group.

Is solo songwriting judged on the song or on the singing?

Mainly on the song, with the performance as the way it is heard. The template prints a single rating, so organisers should tell entrants how much weight each part carries.

Can I perform a song someone else wrote?

No. The item is for original songs written by the entrant. Organisers should state this in the notice, since the template prints no further rule.

How long can a songwriting entry be?

The template prints no time limit. Organisers should state one so entrants can cut the song to fit.

Can I use a backing track or an instrument?

The template does not say. Organisers should state what accompaniment is allowed and who supplies equipment.

Want the full judging picture? Read the judge scoring and tabulation guide, or browse every music competition item.