Songwriting

Welcome to the Songwriting/Music 1 Page.

On this page you will find Course Information, Assignments and Assessment Rubric. You will find links to interactive websites. You can share interesting ideas for songs on the blog.

Course Information

Stationery and Books required for this course: Red and blue biro HB grey lead pencil Eraser Highlighter Music exercise book Master Your Theory, Grade One - revised edition, by Dulcie Holland

Course Outline (each week consists of five days) Week 1: Engage – Analysing what’s in a song Week 2: Explore – Listening, viewing and responding to song styles Week 3: Explain – Lyric structures and musical elements Week 4: Experiment – Building technique and skills Week 5: Create – Forming groups Week 6: Communicate – Plan, implement, revise ideas Week 7: Elaborate – Applying knowledge Week 8: Making – Original works Week 9: Evaluate – Making adjustments Week 10: Presenting – Recording or Live Performance

Skills building Students require access to a chordal based instrument such as a keyboard or guitar, melodic instrument (includes voice), rhythmic instrument (digital/acoustic). Students will be developing their language of music through the systematic study of theory.

Assignments In class activities: Structure; song styles; instrumentation; voice; perspective; rhyme; syllables; metaphors; message;
 * Free Choice Project**.
 * What's in a Song?**

Collect poetry, titles, phrases, metaphors, appealing lyrics, photographs, words and anything else you find inspirational and include them in your note book.
 * Lyric Folio **

Choose a prompt and have a go at writing lyrics.

Begin singing your lyrics**.** Use a recording device and record your melodies.
 * Melodic hooks **

Use a melodic instrument and invent some short riffs or motives that you can include in your introduction and interludes.

Build your skills on a chordal instrument such as a keyboard or guitar. Use the chord charts provided.
 * Chord progressions **

Listen to the colour of their sounds and choose the chords that blend best with your melody.

Arrange the chords into a progression that you can skillfully manage.
 * Arrangement **

Choose various instruments and strategically place them at points you feel would enhance the sound of your song.

Rehearse your song until it is a polished performance
 * Performance **

Record your song

Share your song

Assessment Rubric
 * Original Song**

Songwriters Workshop Course Handout You will find the 2013 course description in the year 9/10 Course Guide Book found on the College Website. [|Year 9/10 Course Handbook]

Interactive Websites [|guitar tabs]

[|Music Theory]

[|Music flash cards]

[|songwriting and production tips]

Glossary of Musical Term