BMASW205 – Songwriting 2
Module code
BMASW205
Module title
Songwriting 2
Prescription
This module extends students skill in composition whilst examining a range of practical applications for songs in the commercial music industry. Students will learn how to identify and utilise idiomatic features within music genres to develop a range of songwriting styles. Projects will simulate a professional commercial music environment whereby songs are commissioned with pre-defined specifications for a particular market demographic.
Programmes
- BM9601
NZQA Level
Level 6
NZQA Credits
15
Delivery method
- Web-Enhanced
Learning hours
- Total learning hours
- 150
Resources required
- Assessment Criteria
- To pass this course, students must complete all assignments and accumulate an overall course mark of no less than 50.
- Teaching and Learning Strategy
- Students examine issues of form and technique through exercises and project briefs prescribed by lecturer.
Students research content for their own assignments.
Students adopt structure prescribed by lecturer for working through projects.
Students adopt procedures prescribed by lecturer, students identify specific questions within those topics.
Students participate in informal presentations of their work.
Students participate in formative assessment according to criteria set by lecturer.
Students receive feedback on their performance through graded assessment performed by lecturer. - Content
- 3.1 Contextual Issues
Target audience
Commercial contexts
Commercial styles
Concept development
3.2. Lyric Writing
Form
Hook placement and focus
Rhyme
Scansion
Poetic devices
3.3. Song structures
3.4. Melody and Harmony - Learning Outcomes
- 2LEARNING OUTCOMES and PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
2.1Understand relevant aspects of the discourses and practices in contemporary music
- produce written and oral analyses of selected texts, identifying relevant issues
- review and write descriptions and analyses of selected texts
- reflect critically upon relationships between representative texts, examples of work and self practice
- produce oral and written interpretations of and comparisons between selected works
- develop and test rationales for self practice
- conduct conventional presentations of outcomes
2.2Understand the process which advances the structured and reflective refinement of a response to a music brief
- identify the issues and problems set in the course brief
- complete self directed research and reflect upon the working process
- demonstrate the ability to generate responses through the generation, regeneration, manipulation and refinement of ideas
- discuss with peers and tutors the individual working process adopted
- show evidence of independent and interdependent processes for working
2.3 Recognise the ways in which a given concept determines the nature of practice and products
- select and explore appropriate composition techniques and methods
- systematically examine the relationship between musical elements, their function and meaning and the given concept
2.4 Develop an understanding of the contemporary context of songwriting
- discuss and examine selected songwriters in relation to their practice
- consider and discuss a variety of commercial applications for songs within the music industry
- demonstrate an ability to compose songs within a given industry brief
2.5 Apply advanced songwriting techniques
-utilise conventional harmonic, melodic and rhythmic devices
- utilise conventional lyric writing devices
- research and analyse specific song styles as a means of generating new compositional ideas
2.6Understand assessment methodology
- employ a music vocabulary for describing work
- demonstrate ability to interpret and analyse objectives
- demonstrate the integration of conceptual knowledge and practice
- actively participate in informal class performances and discussions
- be involved in formative assessment
