Course Syllabus MUSC Song writing. Creative Arts Department. Technical Education Division. Levelland Campus. South Plains College

Transcription

1 Course Syllabus MUSC Song writing Creative Arts Department Technical Education Division Levelland Campus South Plains College Campus: Levelland Course Syllabus

2 Course title: MUSC Song writing South Plains College Improves each students life. ****************************************************************** General Course Information A. Course description: Introduction to the techniques of writing marketable songs including the writing of lyrics and melodies, setting lyrics to music, developing lyrical and musical hooks, analyzing the marketplace, and developing a production plan for a song demo. B. Course learning outcomes: The student will develop skills to compose marketable melodies with commercial music form, and harmony: set lyrics to a song; create lyrical, melodic, and harmonic hooks ; and devise a production plan for a song demonstration. C. Course competencies: Student must develop and demonstrate competency in the following areas: A) Song development B) Song construction C) Lyric characteristics D) Studio production (Summer course will be less intensive in this area than Fall and Spring semester classes) E) Co-writing/song writing workshop F) Song writing business D. Academic integrity Refer to College Catalog p.22 E. SCANS and Foundation Skills: This course will provide the following SCANS skills: C-1-20; and the following foundation skills:f-1, 2,5-17. (note: a complete list of SCANS and Foundation Skills is located on the reverse side of title page.) F. Verification of workplace competencies: successful completion of this course will equip the student with many of the skills necessary to complete part of the capstone experience at the end of the second semester of study for certificate candidates and at the end of the fourth semester of study for degree candidates. II. Specific Course/ Instructor requirements: A. Textbook and other materials: The Craft and Business of Songwriting by John Braheny (available in the SPC bookstore). Instructor will also provide handouts and other materials. Subject outlines, and a reading list will be included. I recommend student purchase a rhyming dictionary and thesaurus.

3 B. Attendance/Tardiness Policy. The South Plains College attendance policy is stated in the General Catalog. It is the desire of all commercial music instructors to instill in students attributes of professionalism and commitment to excellence. Therefore, it is imperative that all students in this class be here on time, every time. Punctual and regular attendance is required of all commercial music students and absolutely necessary to achieve the highest level of success in this class. Each student is responsible for all class work covered while he/she was not in class. At the discretion of the instructor, a student may complete make up work assignments for unavoidable absences. Only two absences are allowed, and each additional absence will result in the loss of one letter grade per absence. Four successive absences will be grounds for the instructor to drop the student with an X or an F. Two tardy marks will count as an absence. In the event that a student is not able to complete course work, he/she is expected to initiate a withdrawal prior to the last day to drop. C. Assignment policy. Student will be required to prepare and submit the following as part of their final grade: 1) To compose original lyrics and melodies and present them in class as part of workshop/co-writing exercises. 2. To present a finished original song,in demo form, during the final week of class.(instructor will be available to assist with demo process.) 3. Present a research paper about song writing. Paper will be 3-5 pages in length, typed, double spaced in full terabain( or MLA research form) with sources cited. Instructor will provide class with ideas and parameters for research paper. Student may substitute the research paper assignment with an oral and written presentation of a personal interview with a professional in the songwring/music publishing or broadcast entertainment industry. The oral presentation a 3-5 minutes and will be presented in class. The assignment will also require a one page outline of the interview points. 4. Daily/weekly Writing assignments. Final examination. D. Grading policy/procedure and /or methods of evaluation. Song Project(Demo) 50% Grade is based on objective evaluation of process and technical aspects of writing and recording original song- (hand out will be provided) and the subjective evaluation of the artistry of the song. Research paper/ oral presentation 10% Grade is based on objective evaluation of process and technical aspects of writing a research paper- (hand out will be provided) and the subjective evaluation of the relevance and interesting aspects of the research paper, or oral presentation. Daily/weekly writing assignments 15% Grade is based on student attendance, punctuality and participation in class and timely delivery of assignments. Final exam 25%

4 Grade is based on correct answers and timely delivery of test. Final grade for the class will be based on total of percentage scores for each category. III. Course outline by weeks(daily outline for summer course) Week I Tuesday- Introduction/syllabus/ assignments p.3-5 in Textbook - Song writing techniques- 1 Song form discussion p.7-18 in textbook. reading assignment- Chapter 5 in Textbook Wednesday- Presentation and discussion of Student s favorite song reading assignment- Chapter 2 & 4 in Textbook Thursday- Song writing techniques-2 Writing Workshop- First writing assignment p.23 in Textbook reading assignment -Chapter 6 in Textbook Week II Monday- Techniques-3 handouts workshop songwriting assignment reading assignment-chapter 7 in Textbook Research paper/oral presentation assignments Tuesday- Second writing assignment additional handouts Writing workshop -2 reading assignment Chapter 8, 9,10, Wednesday-Music Business/sources/web sites/magazines-1 Thursday- Co-writing Workshop second writing assignment Week III Monday- No class Tuesday-Rough draft presentation of original song due Wednesday- song writing Video/guest lecturer reading assignment Chapter 11,13 Thursday- Music Business/sources/web sites/magazines-2 reading assignment- Chapter 12 Week IV Monday- Second Presentation of original song Tuesday- Begin demo process(instructor will assign times for each student to record original song)

5 Wednesday- continue demo process Thursday- continue demo process Week V Monday- continue demo process Tuesday- continue demo process research paper due/review for final examination Wednesday- continue demo process Thursday- Presentation of original song demo Take home Final examination due by 11:30AM IV. Accommodations- South Plains College strives to accommodate the individual needs of all students in order to enhance the opportunities for success in the context of a comprehensive community college setting. It is the policy of South Plains College to offer all educational and employment opportunities without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, gender, disability or age(spc Equal Opportunity--General Policy). V. Disability Statement: Students with disabilities, including but not limited to physical, psychiatric or learning disabilities, who wish to request accommodations in this class should notify the Special Services Office early in the semester so that appropriate arrangements may be made. In accordance with federal law, a student requesting accommodation must provide acceptable documentation of his/her disability to the Special Services Office in the Special Services Building. For more information, call or visit the Special Services Office in the Student Services building, ext 2529, 2530.