Introductory description

Song is defined as a musical composition performed by the human voice. Contemporary song combines lyrics, music accompaniment, and performance. To write a song means to reach into several artistic forms and combine their elements into a short form that can be quite striking in its emotional and artistic delivery.
Students of Creative Writing will be familiar with almost all these elements, but in different forms: lyrics are a form of poetry, performance is included in the training for public reading and promotional activities but also—and more importantly—into the tradition of oral literature. Rhythm is a key element in both poetry and prose. The principles of harmony in a song are not that different from those of harmony applied in composing a literary text. Thus, songwriting as a discipline involving all these elements represents a unique chance to offer the students a unified approach, training them in something that can be used towards their literary works, but also as a standalone art.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Each week will include time for presenting and evaluating works-in-progress with peers and professional songwriters

Week 1: What is a song?

• What do we mean by "songs"?
• How are songs constructed?
• Working collaboratively vs working alone
• Write a new song in under an hour

Week 2: Structure and form

• What does genre mean in relation to songwriting?
• Style and structure
• What makes a song connect with people?

Week 3: Harmony and Melody I

• What key is my song in? And why it is (and isn't) important to know.
• Introduction to Western harmonic conventions
• Understanding scales and chords

Week 4: The human voice

• Vocal health and techniques
• Working within your limitations and how to take advantage of them
• The role of the performer

Week 5: Harmony and Melody II

• Hooks: how to write a catchy melody
• Melody or chords first?
• How instrumentation can make or break a song

Week 6: Lyrics and editing

• Relevance, coherence and making a connection
• Understanding the cultural environment in which you are writing
• Is it okay to compromise?
• Stealing ideas: plagiarism and songwriting

Week 7: Music Technology and the creative process

• How can Music Tech aid, enhance and complicate the songwriting process?
• Performing with technology

Week 8: Performance Practice

• What makes a good performance?
• How a performance can impact on a song's success
• Developing your own identity as a songwriter/performer (performing your own songs vs writing for others)

Week 9: Rehearsing and refining

• Getting ready to perform
• Practical and emotional considerations
• Perfecting your performance

Week 10: Performance Assessment

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Develop their capacity for close critical analysis of the artistic content, and apply these skills in their approach to their own creative writing.
• Engage in multi-pronged research, and apply the results towards their final project;
• Recognise and evaluate the specific methodology and creative choices in working with the form.
• Analyse some of the most innovative examples of contemporary music, and get a historical perspective of the genre.
• Be equipped with theoretical and practical knowledge that will allow them to explore various aspects of composing pop songs.

Research element

Students will explore the artistic opportunities that this complex form opens. Song is among the oldest forms of human expression, and the history of music—in basic elements—will be explored in preparation for the final project. Students will also learn about the contemporary approach and be able to juxtapose it with the traditional form.

Interdisciplinary

Song as a form unifies writing verses, composing music, and performing. It stands at the crossroads of poetry, music and performance. An interdisciplinary approach is built into the core of this module.

International

The approach to contemporary music, needed in this module, is not based on any particular tradition, or language, or culture. Students are not expected to have a detailed knowledge of any localised content.

Subject specific skills

Student will:

• Understand how innovative techniques can be applied in writing songs.
• Be able to choose and apply advanced writing techniques within their work confidently.
• Become versed in the form that is among the most prominent segments of popular culture.

Transferable skills

• Being able to plan and execute a sustained project;
• Make connections between critical analysis and creative practice;
• Improved communication skills.