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Course # / Title: |
SNG 3990.01 |
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Course Credit Hours: |
3 |
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Semester: |
Spring 2009 |
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Instructors: |
Tom Douglas, B.B.A., M.B.A., James I. Elliott, A.A.S.,B.A., M.A. |
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Instructor Contacts: |
460-5513, elliottj@mail.belmont.edu |
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Instructor Office Hours: |
Office 214, 34 Music Square East. Mon. 8:00-12:00, Tue. 9:30-12:30, Wed. 11:30-12:30, Fri. 8:00-12:00 Office or Writing. On campus in CEMB Advising Center: Tue. 8:00-9:00, Wed. 9:00-10:00 |
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Meeting Time(s): |
Monday & Wednesday 3:30-4:45 |
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Final Exam: |
Wednesday, May 6 @ 2:00 |
Course Description:
A study of commercial lyric writing. Historical masters of composition and lyric writing will be analyzed. Students will learn title/concept development and write lyrics based on selected readings and personal experiences.
Course Outcomes: At the end of this course, the student will be able to:
Performance Tasks: During this course, the student will:
Assessment Tools: During this course, outcomes mastery will be evaluated by:
ú Written analysis of assigned lyrics
ú Original lyrics composed throughout the semester
ú Multiple choice and short answer test based on lectures and assigned readings.
Testing & Assignments:
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Activity |
Credit |
Description/Purpose |
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1. Original lyric writing |
80 % |
8 original lyrics composed per instructions given by professors. Each lyric will valued at 10% (8 X 10 =80%) Lyrics should be submitted individually on assigned dates in the Class Schedule. All revised lyrics are due in a bound notebook/journal/portfolio on April 29th. Lyrics must be submitted in the format given by professors |
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2. Comprehensive Mid-Term Exam |
10 % |
Based on reading assignments and lectures, comprehensive tests will asses the depth of the student’s knowledge base of the topic. The exam is comprised of a series of short-answer essay questions supplemented with multiple-choice questions. |
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3. Written narrative |
10 % |
Observe a painting or sculpture from approved list and write a two - to four-page narrative describing the art. |
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Music and Film
Watch various scenes from approved movies and compose a list of titles that could be used as the end title of the movie.
Reading The Greats
One lyric from a well-known lyricist will be presented in class 10 times during the semester as designated in the Class Schedule. These will be read aloud and discussed in an effort to learn the techniques of the master lyricists. Students can choose any lyric that has been commercially released. A minimum of 5 lyrics must be from songwriters that are widely recognized in popular music
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
Popular Lyric Writing 10 Steps to Effective Storytelling: Andrea Stolpe (Berklee Press).
Grade Evaluation Scale: As per CEMB policy, the grade assignment scale for this course is:
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Grade |
Percent (GPA) |
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A |
94 (4.0) |
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A- |
90 (3.7) |
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B+ |
87 (3.3) |
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B |
84 (3.0) |
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B- |
80 (2.7) |
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C+ |
77 (2.3) |
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C |
74 (2.0) |
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C- |
70 (1.7) |
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Final grades below 70 % will not apply to the major. |
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D+ |
67 |
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D |
64 |
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D- |
60 |
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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. Jan. 14 Class introduction – play “Songs & Short Stories”
Mon. Jan. 19 MLK Day – No class
Wed. Jan. 21 “Two Songs I Love” listening to each others songs
Mon. Jan. 26 Discuss Chapters 1 & 2: Causing an Experience & Exposing the Artist Perspective
Complete Exercise 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and bring to class to discuss
Listen to a song from Listening Suggestions on page 19
Wed. Jan. 28 Discuss Chapter 3: Two Types of Detail
Complete Exercise 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and bring to class to discuss
Discovering the greats – reading lyrics of professional songwriters (1)
Listen to a song from Listening Suggestions (28)
Lyric 1 due – Read in class
Mon. Feb. 2 Discuss Chapter 4: Rhyme
Wed. Feb. 4 The Five Rhyme Types
Complete Exercises 4.1, 4.2 – discuss in class
Discovering the greats – Read chosen lyric in class (2)
Lyric 2 due – Lyric 1 rewrite due
Mon. Feb. 9 Discuss Chapter 5: Reflections of Music Form and Structure
Complete Exercise 5.1 – discuss in class
Listen to a Four-Line and Five-Line song from Listening Suggestions (52)
Wed. Feb. 11 Guest Speaker
Mon. Feb. 16 Discuss Chapter 6: Writing the Verse
Complete Exercise 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5 – discuss in class
Listen to song from Listening Suggestions (73)
Lyric 3 due [Destination – public transportation], Lyric 2 rewrite due
Wed. Feb. 18 Setting up the chorus
Reading the greats (3)
Mon. Feb. 23 Discuss Chapter 7: The Chorus
Complete Exercises 7.1, 7.2 – discuss in class
Listen to song from Listening Suggestions (88)
Wed. Feb. 25 Reading the greats (4)
Lyric 4 due, Lyric 3 rewrite due
Mon. Mar. 2 Discuss Chapter 8: Contrast
Complete Exercise 8.1 – discuss in class
Listen to song from Listening Suggestions (95)
Wed. Mar. 4 Mid-Term
Reading the greats (5)
March 9 -13 Spring Break
Mon. Mar. 16 Discuss Chapter 9: The Content Compass
Complete Exercises 9.3, 9.3
Listen to a song from Listening Suggestions (113)
Written narrative due based on visit to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts
Wed. Mar. 18 Writing a lyric from a written narrative
Reading the greats (6)
Lyric 4 rewrite due – read in class
Mon. Mar. 23 Discuss Chapter 10: Final Touches
Complete Exercise 10.1, 10.2, 10.3
Lyric 5 due [based on written narrative] read in class
Wed. Mar. 25 Guest Speaker
Mon. Mar. 30 Discuss Chapter 11: Ten Steps to Writing a Song
Lyric 5 rewrite due [Inspired by American Literature]
Wed. Apr. 1 Music and film titles
Reading the greats (7)
Mon. Apr. 6 Lyric 6 due [Inspired by American Literature]
Wed. Apr. 8 Song presentations
Reading the greats (8)
Lyric 6 rewrite due
Mon. Apr. 13 Guest Speaker
Wed. Apr. 15 Lyric 7 due
Reading the greats (9)
Mon. Apr. 20 Publisher/Songwriter relationship
Wed. Apr. 22 Lyric 8 due
Reading the greats (10)
Mon. Apr. 27 Field trip
Wed. Apr. 29 Song presentations
Final project due
Mon. May 4 Building relationships with composers