Visual
Rather than take notes, learn to outline
Color code words
Do mapping: http://www.studygs.net/mapping/
Watch videos (not studying videos, but videos about what you want to learn; if you are studying Jane Austin, for example, watch a video of Sense and Sensibility and then read the book, etc.)

Kinesthetic
Field trips, go to museums
Study with others
Role playing
Mneumonics: http://www.back2college.com/memorize.htm

I love to read but cannot read textbooks or "assigned" books effectively so I Web surf a whole lot and write and ask myself questions I want to know the answer to and, over time, I get a good enough picture so I know about that subject.

Rather than your weaknesses, what are your strengths in terms of interests and abilities? Your song writing is only a good idea if you are interested in song writing and can make it work; you said the words did not fit, that says to me that you don't normally write songs, were just doing what someone else suggested. If you want to learn something, want to engage with it, you will, as is easiest/best for you. Pay attention to what you like and do it a lot in relation to the material.

"Play" with the material. If you don't understand a scientific concept, go learn something about the scientist and his life, time period, why he wanted to know the information, get the "context" down and then the concept might make more sense. Read and write things that do make sense to you (write a short short story ("flash fiction" http://www.flashfictiononline.com/) about each of your outline points you have made listening in class).

You have to engage with the material; it does not get into your head any other way. Someone else or a system can't make it work for you, only you can.