Everything You Need to Know
COURSE OVERVIEW
FIRST LESSON: INTRO TO SONGWRITING
By the end of this lesson, you will learn how to develop your song idea so it creates an interesting journey from start to finish. You’ll understand your options developing the point of view of your song, expanding your vocabulary and spoken English.
SECOND LESSON: RHYTHM AND STRUCTURE
By the end of this lesson, you will understand the concept of rhythm as it relates to the number of lines/musical phrases in a section and to line lengths/musical phrases. Using these tools, you’ll write a verse and chorus and learn about the various song structures available to you.
THIRD LESSON: RHYME AND WORD SOUNDS
By the end of this lesson, you will understand the relationship of rhyme schemes to song using both intensive and Extensive listening skills. We will adopt various rhyme schemes to show your ear the way to express feeling through rhyme. Using these tools, you’ll continue to develop your song.
FOURTH LESSON: WORD STRESS AND PRONUNCIATION
By the end of this lesson, you will understand language rhythms—the difference between stressed and unstressed syllables and how to put rhythm in your lines, preparing them to join into the dance with musical rhythm. Using these tools, you’ll put last week’s verse and chorus to music.
FIFTH LESSON: WRITING THE SONG
In this lesson, you’ll select a song title and work collaboratively to help develop your ideas. You’ll write your lyrics, learning essential vocabulary and begin to set it to music, matching your lyric rhythms to melodic rhythms. You’ll create a melody to support your ideas.
SIXTH LESSON: CROSSING THE FINISH LINE
In this final lesson you will understand the role of phrasing to create the body language of your song, Then you’ll put the finishing touches on your song from lesson 5. At this stage you will have all the tools you need to go off into the world and write songs of your own!