CREATE SONGWRITING WORKSHOP

INTRODUCTION

THREE MAIN AREAS OF SONGWRITING

• LYRICS
• FORM/MUSICALITY
• STYLE/PRESENTATION

LYRICS

THEME

• What is the song about?
• "Free association"
• Literary techniques
• BRAINSTORM!

Write down the theme of your song and think of different words and phrases that it can be associated to.
e.g "love" - hearts, valentines, romance

LITERARY TECHNIQUES

Literary Techniques can make songs more interesting.
The use of these techniques can create certain images in your head.

RHYME
When a word ends with a sound that corresponds to another.
Not always important but can be effective and make something "catchy".
Don't overdo it (it can sometimes be distracting/annoying)
Half rhymes - time & mine

SIMILE
When you say something is "like" something else.
It is a figure of speech which compares two things and usually contains the words "as" or "like"
"The dragon flew as fast as the wind"
"The sound was like fingernails on a chalkboard"

METAPHOR
When you say that something IS something else (not just like it!)
Metaphors create a stronger image than similes.
"My teacher is a dragon"
"She was a sea of happiness"

ALLITERATION
Words that start with the same sound and are used in a phrase or sentence.
"Horses have heavy hooves"
"The lion licked his lips"

ONOMATOPOEIA
is where a word mimics the sound of the object or action it refers to.
When you pronounce the word, it will mimic the sound.
BANG, CLAP, CREAK, DING-DONG, POP.....

TRY WRITING LYRICS AROUND YOUR CHOSEN THEME USING AT LEAST ONE LITERARY TECHNIQUE!

SONGWRITING TIPS!

Untitled Slide

• LISTEN TO MUSIC
• DON'T LISTEN TO MUSIC
• KEEP A RECORDER/NOTEPAD
• COLLABORATE
• READ LOTS

BASIC SONG STRUCTURE

INTRO - introductory section, usually short
VERSE - where lyrics begin
CHORUS - "hook", section that everyone knows
OUTRO - conclusion

FORM + MUSICALITY
Moulding lyrics and melody into a shape that most effectively creates a dynamic delivery and captures the listener

STYLE
The style of a piece of music helps to identify the genre.
Rock, pop, rap, operatic, classical etc

LET'S WRITE A SONG!