Introduction to Songwriting

This course will provide an opportunity for students to learn to compose original music with and without lyrics in the context of 20th and 21st century popular music song forms. The principles of composing melodies, creating chord progressions, writing lyrics, and structuring song form will be addressed throughout the semester. An analysis of the music and lyrics of significant songwriters will serve as musical examples. Additional time will be spent on improvisation, arranging techniques, music theory, computer notation and sequencing software, and the business of music.