“For a songwriter, you don’t really go to songwriting school; you learn by listening to tunes. And you try to understand them and take them apart and see what they’re made of, and wonder if you can make one, too.”
Tom Waits
Since the dawn of time humans have developed ways to tell stories, inspired by our experiences and imaginations. One of the most significant and popular ways to tell stories is to create it through song. The Songwriting Workshop and resource pack is designed to unlock the art and craft of songwriting so that teachers and students alike can build their skills and confidence.
WHY TEACH YOUR STUDENTS SONGWRITING?
The materials suggest some processes, techniques and ideas for encouraging your students to write their own songs, without suggesting actual musical or lyrical content – this should come from the students themselves.
All songwriters, whether individuals or groups, write best in their own way, in the order which suits them and their songs, and very often dealing with more than one aspect of the writing at a time – for example, coming up with words and music together. Furthermore, they may well write different songs in different ways. So there is no one way to teach songwriting but many places from which to get started!
WHY TEACH YOUR STUDENTS SONGWRITING?
- Students can direct the outcome of their music making and creatively apply their musical knowledge and skill;
- Students can express themselves, as well as work collaboratively with their peers to explore shared experiences and ideas;
- They develop the ability to critique and analyse their own work;
- Songwriting exposes them to a range of music technologies, as well as legal issues around intellectual property rights, and an exploration of the value of ideas and creativity;
- Students can share their work through performance, recording and publishing of their song(s).
- Songwriting can be an excellent way of enabling students to express themselves about topics that are important to them, and in musical styles and genres with which they are familiar.
The materials suggest some processes, techniques and ideas for encouraging your students to write their own songs, without suggesting actual musical or lyrical content – this should come from the students themselves.
All songwriters, whether individuals or groups, write best in their own way, in the order which suits them and their songs, and very often dealing with more than one aspect of the writing at a time – for example, coming up with words and music together. Furthermore, they may well write different songs in different ways. So there is no one way to teach songwriting but many places from which to get started!
“Songwriters write songs, but they really belong to the listener.”
Jimmy Buffet
