The Producer as Composer: digital sound & songwriting in practice

Module overview

In 2017, global recorded music revenues totalled $17.3 billion, the majority of which comes from the consumption of what we would classify as songs. This module aims, through lectures and practical work, to investigate & demonstrate how new production, distribution and consumption technologies are changing the way songs are made.

Aims and Objectives

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

songwriting fundamentals: lyrics, rhythm, melody and harmony;
song production fundamentals: Digital Audio Workstation control of dynamics, texture, timbre and space.
roles and processes in contemporary song production, distribution and consumption;

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

identify key compositional and production elements of musical styles/genres.
manage a non-linear creative process;
use a range of appropriate techniques to realise musical ideas as sound;

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

work independently and demonstrate critical self-awareness;
apply critical listening and critical thinking skills to recorded music.

Learning and Teaching

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures and demonstrations Seminars, tutorials and group sessions Practical tasks (both in-class and in independent study) Reading Blackboard resources and hardware/software manuals Watching curated online video content Critical listening to a range of audio resources (both in-class and in independent study) Group work

Study time
Type	Hours
Lecture	12
Supervised time in studio/workshop	12
Independent Study	126
Total study time	150

Resources & Reading list

Internet Resources

Holistic Songwriting.

DAW production resources.

Textbooks

Moorfield, Virgil (2010). The Producer as Composer. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press.

Seabrook, John (2016). The Song Machine: Inside the Hit Factory. New York City: W. W. Norton & Company.

Pattison, Pat (2010). Writing Better Lyrics. Cincinnati, Ohio: Writer's Digest Books.

Herstand, Ari (2017). How to Make it in the New Music Business: Practical Tips on Building a Loyal Following and Making a Living as a Musician. New York City: Liveright.

Assessment

Assessment strategy

•Formative assessments or tasks designed to provide informal, on-module feedback; •Production assignments to allow students to demonstrate the practical technical skills covered; •Reflective report writing.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Composition	60%
Group project	40%

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Practical assignment and write-up	100%

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Composition	100%

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal