Module 6 of 6: Music Project H6

Learn how to write great songs		...and work together

Summary

The sixth and final module of the Music Production Course - HNC is about creating a music project and then actually marketing it. Taught to you by Grammy and Ivor Novello award-winners and million-selling songwriters, you will learn the art of modern music composition, including structure and arrangement. As the product takes shape, you will find out what it takes to plan and carry out an actual music project working in groups. You'll need to work to a brief and a deadline, take on and hand out responsibilities and evaluate the project's success realistically. This will be very useful for your career in music and you can put everything you have learned during the year into practise.

Structure

Music composition - definitions and terminology explained.

Song structure - verse, chorus, bridge (pre-chorus), middle 8, tags and hooks.

Various instrumentation styles.

Specialise in specific genres: what techniques do they utilise?

Arrangement

Melody and vocals; how to write a melody.

The role of the bassline.

Composing motifs and phrases; melodic tension and release.

Lyric Writing

Song concepts - types of lyrical theme.

Lyrical approaches from Elvis to Eminem.

Rhyming structure.

Do's and don'ts of successful lyric writing.

Studio Production

Complete a track in the studio.

Combining live and processed elements in one track.

Recording vocals in the studio - guidance and preparation; editing vocals.

Using effects and processing to enhance your product.

Musical Creativity

Jam and create new music in response to various stimuli; solo and in groups.

Use computers to aid creativity.

Specialise in a genre or genres.

Respond to other work and art forms creatively.

Pitch Ideas for a Project

Working in small groups suggest practical project ideas.

Analyse the roles required by a professional project.

Learn how to assess individual capabilities.

What is a brief?

Planning Project

Organisation: timescales; pre-production, production and post production, setting goals, marketing.

Working to budget.

Analysing brief.

Project Requirements

Product quality standards.

Working to deadline.

Personal and team evaluation, feedback.

Personal and professional standards.

Project Evaluation

Assess personal performance.

How can you improve on personal performance?

Assess group performance.

How can we improve as a team?