Course # / Title:	SNG 2110.01/Fundamentals of Commercial Songwriting I
Course Credit Hours:	3
Semester:	Fall, 2008
Instructor:	Ginny Owens, Bachelor of Music Education
Instructor Contacts:	615-460-6508; chickpowermusic@gmail.com
Instructor Office Hours	Mon/Wed 5:15-6:15 or by appointment
Class Location:	Music Square East 218
Meeting Time(s):	Mon/Wed 4:00-5:15 p.m.
Final Exam:	Fri, Dec12 @ 7:00 p.m.

Course Description:

This is the practical application and technique of the working songwriter. Melody, lyrics, “hooks,” points of view and song logic will be covered. Solo writing as well as the concept of collaboration is introduced. Participants will work individually and in small groups.

Course Outcomes: At the end of this course, the student will be able to:

• define commercial song terminology
• explain commercial song structure
• distinguish between commercial song genres
• critique commercial hit songs
• explain the essential elements of a commercial hit song
• define and identify his/her unique “creative process”

• create (with competence and confidence) songs with commercial song structure

• work effectively as part of a songwriting team

• use a self-reflective approach to analyze group projects

Performance Tasks: During this course, the student will:

• Demonstrate the application of song structure by creating songs

• Identify the structure of commercial hit songs
• Demonstrate the application of collaboration by co-writing songs with fellow students
• Identify commercial songs from all popular music genres

Assessment Tools: During this course, outcomes mastery will be evaluated by:

ú Written responses comprising short and multiple choice answers, as well as presentation of original musical compositions submitted in written, recorded or live performance forms.

ú Song collaboration assignments

ú Weekly journal submissions

Testing & Assignments:

Activity	Credit	Purpose/Description
1. Weekly Journal entry	20 %	A song, poem, essay, memoir, or story submitted each Monday
2. Song Assignment 1	15 %	Original composition evaluated for writer’s potential strengths, weaknesses, and “writing voice.”
3. Song Assignment 2/Midterm	20 %	Original composition assessed for its commercial viability; multiple choice mid-term exam based on previously-covered material
4. Song Assignment 3	20 %	Composition co-written by two or more class members. Evaluated on the basis of commercial song structure and viability.
5. Song Assignment 4/Final Exam	25 %	An original song assessed for commercial viability, as well as a multiple choice/short answer exam based on material covered throughout the semester.

Course & Classroom Policies:

Attendance & Participation:

Class attendance follows university policy as stated in the current Undergraduate Bulletin. Class participation is expected; attendance and absence will be noted.

Materials:

6 Steps To Songwriting Success: Jason Blume (Billboard Books)

Spiral-bound notebook, loose-leaf binder with blank pages, or journal for writing activities

Writing utensils

Recommended Reading:

Bird by Bird: Anne Lamott, (Random House)

The Artist's Way: Julia Cameron "Tarcher"

Writing Down the Bones: Natalie Goldberg (Shambahla)

Grade Evaluation: As per CEMB policy, the grade assignment scale for this course is:

Grade	Percent (GPA)
A	94 (4.0)
A-	90 (3.7)
B+	87 (3.3)
B	84 (3.0)
B-	80 (2.7)
C+	77 (2.3)
C	74 (2.0)
C-	70 (1.7)
Final grades below 70 % will not apply to the major.
D+	67
D	64
D-	60
F	< 60

Honor Code: It is the responsibility of each student to abide by the Belmont University Honor Code. “In affirmation of the Belmont University Statement of Values, I pledge that I will not give or receive aid during examinations; I will not give or receive false or impermissible aid in course work, in the preparation of reports, or in any other type of work that is to be used by the instructor as the basis of my grade; I will not engage in any form of academic fraud. Furthermore, I will uphold my responsibility to see to it that others abide by the spirit and letter of this Honor Pledge.”

Accommodation of Disabilities: In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, Belmont University will provide reasonable accommodation of all medically documented disabilities.  If you have a disability and would like the university to provide reasonable accommodations of the disability during this course, please notify the Office of the Dean of Students located in Beaman Student Life Center (460-6407) as soon as possible.

Class Schedule:

Wed. Aug. 27: Introductions/Class syllabus, set presentation schedule

Mon. Sept. 1: Labor Day

Wed. Sept. 3: Writing exercise; The History of the Popular Song- Early 20^th Century; Group 1 presentations

Mon. Sept. 8: Writing exercise; The History of the Popular Song (continued); Group 2 presentations; Journal Entry 1 due by midnight; read Chapter 1 before next class

Wed. Sept. 10: Writing exercise; Identifying Song Components Verse, Pre-Chorus, Chorus, Bridge;

Group 3 presentations

Mon. Sept. 15: Writing exercise; Non-Traditional Song Forms; Journal Entry 2 due by midnight; Read

Chapter 2 for next class

Wed. Sept. 17: Writing exercise; Anatomy of a Song (critiquing popular songs); Group 1 and 2 favorites

Mon. Sept. 22: Writing exercise; Anatomy of a Song, Continued; Group 2 and 3 favorites; Journal Entry 3 due by midnight;

Wed. Sept. 24: Writing exercise; Creativity – Preparing for Battle

Mon. Sept. 29: Writing exercise; Creativity – Problem Solving, Self-Critiquing & The Morning After; Journal Entry 4 due by midnight; read Chapter 3 before next class

Wed. Oct. 1: Writing exercise; Meter, Rhyme, and Time; improv fun; read Chapter 4 for next time;

Mon. Oct. 6: Fall Break!

Wed. Oct. 8: More Fall Break!

Mon. Oct. 13: Writing exercise:Lyric Writing – Titles and Hooks; Group 1 presentations; Journal Entry 5

due by midnight;                

Wed. Oct. 15: Writing exercise; Group 2 and 3 presentations

Mon. Oct. 20: Writing exercise; titles and hooks (continued); writing for specialty markets; Journal Entry 6

due by midnight;

Wed. Oct. 22: Writing exercise; Composing Melodies – Form, Feeling, and Phrasing

Mon. Oct. 27: writing exercise: Melodies – Rhythm, Repetition, and The Musical Hook; Journal Entry 7

due by midnight;

Wed. Oct. 29: Writing exercise; Harmony/Chords – Standard Progressions and The NNS

Mon. Nov. 3: Writing exercise; Chord Progressions – Chords as Hooks/Getting Fancy; Journal Entry 8

due by midnight;                                                                                                     Read Ch. 6,7;

Wed. Nov. 5: Writing Exercise: let's get our co-write on; read Ch. 8-10;

Mon. Nov. 10: Writing exercise; more co-writing fun; guest writer/speaker; Journal Entry 9 due by

midnight

Wed. Nov. 12: Writing exercise; co-write performances;

Mon. Nov. 17: Writing exercise; more on co-writing; Journal Entry 9 due;

Wed. Nov. 19: Writing exercise; Song Demos – Making Your Song Presentable

Mon. Nov. 24: Writing exercise; "Let's Make a Demo!"; Journal Entry 10 due by midnight

Wed. Nov. 26: Thanksgiving

Mon. Dec. 1: Writing exercise: Publishing Low-Down--being an artist-writer, becoming a staff writer, or

doing it yourself; read Chs. 11-14; Journal Entry 11 due by midnight

Wed. Dec.3: Writing exercise; Publishing discussion continued; preparation for final exam and song

submission

Mon. Dec. 8: Writing exercise; prep for final and song submission