MUS 271 - Topics: Contemporary Songwriting (1)

This course is designated for aspiring singer/songwriters who have an interest in pop and commercial music. This class will focus on how to craft a successful pop contemporary song through targeted songwriting assignments, which includes instruction on writing lyrics. This course will also put heavy emphasis on collaborations, along with daily professional and peer-to-peer critiques of each student’s work in-progress. This class will conclude with an overnight trip to downtown Chicago to record students’ tunes at the Chicago Recording Company. There are no official prerequisites but having some basic facility over your instrument (knowing a four chord progression) or voice (singing in tune) is a must. If you don’t play an instrument and make music by your own means of electronic construction, this is acceptable. If you’re solely a lyricist, this too is acceptable and we will pair you up with a collaborator that plays an instrument. If there are more questions concerning what the aforementioned basic facility means, please contact the instructor.<p>This course has an additional materials fee of approximately $100 per student.
(Fine Arts)