If you test positive for Covid – Don’t come to class until you test negative. But let your teacher know and we’ll work to give you access to your missed classes via Zoom.
If you show Covid symptoms OR If you have been exposed to someone with Covid – Don’t come to class for at least 5 days after showing symptoms or exposure, and then take a test to confirm that you are negative. Let your teacher know and we’ll work to give you access to your missed classes via Zoom.
If you have any questions about this, you may call (212-974-8377) or email us ([email protected]).
Songwriting I
Songwriting I is a 10-week workshop, which includes lectures, exercises, and the critiquing of student projects. It’s for beginners or anyone who wants to brush up on the fundamentals. Farther down, you can view a syllabus for this course.
It happens in a darkened club. On a spotlit stage. Or behind the soundproof walls of a studio. A song unleashes its power and who knows where it’ll go? Songs fuel desire, inspire hope, break hearts, rock worlds, unite people, shake booties, turn blahs into blues, and sometimes make us feel as good as James Brown. All in a mere few minutes.
If you dream of taking your music beyond the shower, you’ll want to do it right. Here you’ll learn the time-tested elements of songwriting craft and how to market your work.
Whether you dig pop, rock, hip-hop, R&B, or country, we’ll show you how to write songs that soar.
If you’re unsure about your place in the music biz, this will definitely steer you to where you need to go.
Bennett Bennett
writer/content strategist
10-Week
-
Zoom
Real-time videoconference
Tuition: $439 (returning students: $409)
-
One-on-One
Tuition: $1,895
Syllabus
This course gives you a firm grounding in the basics of songwriting craft and gets you writing one (or two) songs. Course components:
Lectures
Writing exercises
Workshopping of student projects (each student presenting work two times)
This course concentrates on the study of lyrics and includes an introduction to melody, harmony, rhythm, and music production.
Week 1
Introduction to Songwriting Structure: Four basic song structures and templates. Creating “listing” lyrics. Titles and opening lines.
Week 2
The Classic Form: Standard AABA form. Types of rhyme. Literary devices. Stresses.
Week 3
Contemporary Songwriting Styles: Verse/Chorus form and variations. Crafting memorable verses, choruses, and bridges. Generating stronger themes and ideas. Set and setting.
Week 4
Blues and Ballad/AAA Forms: Classic types. In a contemporary setting.
Week 5
Sharpening Your Craft: Creating strong memorable, melodies. Exploring rhythm and harmony.
Week 6
Scaffolding Strategies: Combining lyrics and music effectively. Pre-choruses, choruses, and bridges.
Week 7
The Art of Collaboration: Team songwriting. Plot, character, and storytelling. Musical thinking.
Week 8
Beyond Radio: Writing for film, TV, theater, and advertising. Developing a unique personal style.
Week 9
Song Demo Tech: Overview of music production. Creating an effective song demo.
Week 10
The Business of Music: Royalty streams, performing rights organizations, Publishing—master and synch rights. Songwriters associations.
Note: Content may vary among individual classes.
Teachers
Jody Gray
Jody Gray is a composer, songwriter, music producer, and arranger of films, TV series, video games, and CDs. He has written songs for artists as diverse as Judy Collins, Ray Charles, Grace Jones, Skid Row, Dr. John, and Jennifer Holliday. He has produced over 30 albums, including multi-platinum hits in the Pacific Rim. He’s the musical director/composer/songwriter for the TV series Space Racers (NBC, Netflix). His work is featured on network, cable, and streamers, including Sex And the City, Law and Order SVU, The Tonight Show, Sesame Street, Courage the Cowardly Dog (Cartoon Network), Clifford the Big Red Dog, and Fairy Tale Forest, and the feature films Clifford’s Really Big Movie (WB), Arthur’s Missing Pal (Lionsgate), Stellaluna (MGM), What’s the Name of the Dame?,Drawing Home, and Straight Outta Nowhere: Scooby-Doo Meets Courage the Cowardly Dog. He attended the Julliard School.
Read moreJody Gray
Jody Gray
is a composer, songwriter, music producer, and arranger of films, TV series, video games, and CDs. He has written songs for artists as diverse as Judy Collins, Ray Charles, Grace Jones, Skid Row, Dr. John, and Jennifer Holliday. He has produced over 30 albums, including multi-platinum hits in the Pacific Rim. He’s the musical director/composer/songwriter for the TV series Space Racers (NBC, Netflix). His work is featured on network, cable, and streamers, including Sex And the City, Law and Order SVU, The Tonight Show, Sesame Street, Courage the Cowardly Dog (Cartoon Network), Clifford the Big Red Dog, and Fairy Tale Forest, and the feature films Clifford’s Really Big Movie (WB), Arthur’s Missing Pal (Lionsgate), Stellaluna (MGM), What’s the Name of the Dame?,Drawing Home, and Straight Outta Nowhere: Scooby-Doo Meets Courage the Cowardly Dog. He attended the Julliard School.
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