Course Description
The components of American popular song from the perspective of the developing songwriter. Following successful examples, techniques to improve studentsʼ expressive and artistic songwriting potential will be applied, culminating in performance of a finished song. Relevant aspects of music production and music business will also be addressed.
Athena Title
Intro to Songwriting
Prerequisite
(MUSI 1100 and MUSI 1110) or MUSI 3550
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Students in the course will: 1. analyze salient lyrical and musical characteristics of popular songs and discuss the role of each in their expressive and commercial potential. 2. develop their own songwriting skill through awareness of these characteristics and techniques for improving them. 3. compose, independently and collaboratively, portions of songs—including lyrics, melody, harmony, and groove/accompaniment within a provided set of characteristics. 4. compose and refine an original song and facilitate its public performance at the conclusion of the semester. 5. gain a basic knowledge of the fundamentals of music business that are pertinent to songwriters. 6. also gain a basic knowledge of the methods of music production used by professional songwriters, producers, and artists.
Topical Outline
Fundamentals of Music Pitch, Key, Harmony Rhythm, and Meter Relevant Means of Notation Fundamentals of Lyric Rhyme Meter and Stress Syllable/Line Count Song Forms and Sections Sections: Chorus, Verse, Bridge, Lift, Intros, and Tags Verse-Chorus Form AABA Form Less Common Forms Conceiving the Song The Hook Generating and Collecting Ideas Point of View Song Map, Selecting Form Selecting Tempo, Groove, Key Musical Germs Composing the Song Where (literally) do I start? Donʼt Bore Us. Get to the Chorus (usually). Developing Melody Motivic Development Range Phrasing Repetition vs Contrast Making it Interesting Pacing Relationship to Lyric Developing Lyric Repetition vs Contrast Meaningful Word Choice Imagery (“Furniture”) Narrative Metaphor Musical Word Choice Metric/Rhythmic Concerns Melodic Concerns Staying on Target Building to the Hook The Money Line Harmonization Re-writing Common Problems Wandering Writerʼs Block Second Verse Hell Untouched Cliché Specificity vs Universality Married to a Word Collaboration How and Why Common Practices 360 Deals and the 21st-Century Artist-Writer Nashville vs. LA Music Production Demos vs Commercial Recordings Roles of Producer, Artist, Writer, Musician, Engineer DAWs Studios Music Business Copyright Basics Structure Revenue Sources Protecting and Exploiting Your Music Performing Your Music
Syllabus
Public CV