What you'll learn
Learn how to write a song with our music and singing short courses in Sydney.
Have you ever wanted to write a song? Have you ever considered the process of writing a song? Songwriting is an amazing and very rewarding craft. It allows you to let your imagination run wild.
The feeling that you get when you perform a song that you’ve written yourself, to an audience, is truly exhilarating and inspiring. However, in order to write a song, you need to have a grasp of important songwriting elements such as how to make use of the songwriting tools, how to focus on lyrics, melody, harmony and structure while receiving constructive feedback on the songs you are writing.
By the end of this songwriting beginners course, you will have composed at least one song.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this songwriting course, you should be able to:
- Compose songs utilising appropriate lyric, melody and harmony writing techniques
- Utilise a variety of song structures
- Demonstrate a basic understanding of copyright and royalties
- Gain an understanding of songwriting components
- Have a sound knowledge of the components of musical form
- Gain knowledge of the history of songwriting
- Gain an insight into the music industry
- Have an understanding of the well–being of musicians.
Course content
What will be covered in this Songwriting Course for Beginners course?
Session 1
- Developing creativity
- Creativity exercises
- Anyone can write a song
- Brainstorming word lists
- Finding ideas
- Starting to shape a song idea
- Point of View
Session 2
- Song form
- Song components- verse, chorus, bridge etc
- Song idea development
- Song design
- Song energy
- Prosody
- Hooks and motifs
- Examples of song form uses
- Planning your song form
- Instrumental songs
Session 3
- Prosody
- Number of lines
- Line length
- Stability vs instability
- Chord progressions basics
- Using Chord progressions to build the song
- Strong vs weak progressions
- Chords first vs melody first writing
Session 4
- Chord progressions expanded
- Chord progressions using roman numerals
- Weak vs Strong progressions chart
- Building an idea from chord progressions
- Rhyme types
- Rhyme schemes
- Examples of using rhyme effectively
- Prosody between rhyme and number/length of lines
- Using a rhyming dictionary
Session 5
- Brainstorming with a rhyming dictionary
- Using metaphor
- Using imagery
- Melodic rhythm
- Using language natural rhythm
- Stressed vs unstressed
- Weak vs strong beats
Session 6
- Finishing songs
- Polishing off songs
- Creating from drum loops
- Getting your music out there
- Forming a writing partnership
- Copyright basics
- Song arrangements
- Using arrangements for better prosody
- Roles of different instruments in a song
Intended audience
Who is this songwriting course for?
This course is for beginner to experienced songwriters and is open to all genres of contemporary music.
Course venue
2A Gordon Street, Rozelle NSW 2039 (corner of Gordon St & Victoria Rd on the grounds of St. Joseph's Church)
Course materials
What to bring to class
- Pen and notebook.
- If you do play a portable instrument (eg. guitar) please bring it along.
Course testimonials
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Doug said: Keith is a really knowledgeable tutor and great at coaching you to stretch yourself. He explains a wide range of song techniques and styles. Very enjoyable.
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Linda said: Luke was very generous in sharing his years of experience and expertise. It was terrific having him playing keyboard and guitar as he taught us various things in class, He was also very encouraging so that you felt you could share what you had been working on, even if it was a bit out of your comfort zone to do that. It was a jam-packed course full of plenty to things to keep us going and to encourage to develop our songwriting. Terrific content and amazing that Luke could adapt the course to those with less musical knowledge. A fantastic course!
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Ken said: The top three (of many) positive things about the song writing course were: # It worked well on Zoom which enabled me, as a Victorian resident, to attend # The credibility and knowledge of the presenter, Keith Armitage, resulting in a large and practical take-away # The friendly, supportive atmosphere from Keith and my fellow students made each lesson enjoyable
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Tony said: Tutor very knowledgable
Course tutors
Luke Kent
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Classes Online Courses
<p>Learn how to write a song with our <a href="https://www.sydneycommunitycollege.edu.au/courses/arts/music">music and singing short courses</a> in Sydney.</p>
<p>Have you ever wanted to write a song?
...If there isn't a class to suit you, please join our waitlist and we will notify you when we have places available. Join waitlist for Songwriting Course for Beginners
If there isn't a class to suit you, please join our waitlist and we will notify you when we have places available. Join waitlist for Songwriting Course for Beginners
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