Songwriting Camp

Class description:

 

Learn about song structure, melody, lyrics, and chord progressions to improve your songwriting ability.  

 

Students will be given songwriting prompts and homework each day to complete and prepare for the following class.

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All students must be proficient in either piano or guitar to be accepted at the intermediate level.  The camp focuses on improving upon their already established songwriting skills and incorporating chord progressions while working through the curriculum.  

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CURRICULUM

1. Songwriting Terms

• Basic terms: Melody, harmony, chords, lyrics

• Sections/Tools: Verse, Pre-Chorus, Chorus, Bridge, Hook, Tag, Intro, Outro

• Song forms: Strophic/AAA, AAB(12-bar blues), AABA
  (American popular song form), AB (verse chorus), ABC (verse chorus bridge)

• Genre and characteristics: pop, country, blues, R&B, etc.

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2. Chords/harmony

• How to play more advanced certain chords and how to add extensions/substitutions (Group 2 only)

• Common progressions

• How to match the chord quality to the tone or emotion needed in a song

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3. Melody

• How to craft a melody that fits in the key or matches the quality of your chords

• Writing for different voice parts

• Tips and tricks for writing melodies that help establish sectional identity (ex, the listener can tell that the verse has ended and we are in the chorus now)

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4. Lyrics

• Rhyme

  • Types: perfect, family, additive and subtractive, assonance, and consonance

  • Schemes: AABB, ABAB, AAAA, ABBA or ABA, AAAB, etc.

• ​Tools: metaphor, simile, personification, imagery, hyperbole, engaging the five senses

• Editing: learn how to analyze your lyrics and figure out ways to get your message across in the most efficient manner

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5. Songwriting Assignments

• Follow the instructions given by the teacher and create a song based on that

• Improve your collaborative skills in co-write sessions (groups or duo)