MUS 176C Popular Songwriting
POPULAR SONGWRITING SYLLABUS
Instructor: Joseph C. Gallo
Prerequisite: MUS 101 or MUS 103A
Credit: 3 Units
Office Hours: Virtual M 7:30-8:00A T 9:15A-11:00A,
Office MW 9:15A-10:30A TH 9-10:15A
Office: FA 206
Phone: Office (714) 484-7031
Time/Room: Rm 214D MW 10:40A - 12:05P
Texts: Better Lyrics by Pat Pattison 2nd edition Roget’s A to Z Thesaurus The Comprehensive American Rhyming Dictionary, by Sue Young
This is an introductory to intermediate course in popular songwriting. Students will learn keyboard skill and notation. They will analyze melody, harmony, song form, rhythm, and lyrics as they apply to popular music. Emphasis will be placed on original compositions and composition by well-known songwriters and recording artists.
Objectives: Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Analyze formal, melodic, and harmonic characteristics of a "pop" song.
2. Compose a pop song and its component parts.
3. Construct lyric forms appropriate to various popular idioms.
4. Demonstrate the ability to write perfect rhymes as well as
5. Develop and recognize musical motives in popular song
6. Construct melody and lyrics with the proper lilt.
MUS 176 Popular Songwriting
Upon completion of this course:
I. The student will be able to construct a melody line and lyric, with the proper lilt, at a 70% success rate.
II. The student will be able to demonstrate prosody in a compostition with a 90% success rate
Assignments: Due to the nature of this class, tape recorders will not be permitted!
Weekly tests, assignments, and Pop Quizzes will cover material in text and lectures. A Mid-Term will be given Oct. 16th and a Final (comprehensive) given Dec 11th. Students will keep a music journal workbook that should be brought to class at each meeting. This workbook will keep daily writing. It is a major source for your final grade!!! Students will be given field research assignments, usually an analysis of a contemporary song or artist. One assignment will be a presentation of a popular song which will serve as a guide for writing a song of their own, due week 10, and the other will be composing a song of their own due week 16. Failure to complete any part of the work will reduce the grade. There will be no make-ups, late assignments or extra credit given
Grading and Tests:
The instructional method for this class is lecture, textbook assignments, research activities and classroom discussions. Grading is based as follows:
Workbooks 30%of total grade
Mid-Term and Final 10% of total grade
Weekly Tests 10 % of total grade
Comp and Analysis 30% of total grade
Participation/Attendance 20% of total grade
Grading Scale: 90-100 = A; 80-89 = B; 70-79 = C; 60-69 = D 59 and below = F
Weekly Schedule LYRIC MUSIC
1st Week Object Writing Art of the Diver Pattision
Chapter 1 Josefs
Melody, Rhythm, Harmony
2nd Week Showing and Telling P19 Making Metaphors Similies Pattison Pg23-32
Engendering Lyrical Construction: Repetition, Assonance, Consonance, Alliteration, Onomatopoeia Chapter 2 Josefs
Song Forms and Hooks
Motive Mirror, and Inversion Melodic development. Intervals handouts. Motives in Transposition , Augmentation and Fragmentation
3rd Week Chapter 4 Pattison Learning to Say No Building Worksheets Chapter 3 Josefs
Prosody and Contrast
4th Week Chapter 5 Pattison Cliches
Chapter 6 Repetition Chapter 4 Josefs
5th Week Chapter 7 Pattison Verse Development Power Positions Chapter 5 Josefs
6th Week Chapter 8 Pattison
Travelogues Chapter 6 Josefs
7th Week Chapter 9 Pattison
Stripping Your Repetition for Repainting Chaprter 7 Josefs
8th Week MID-TERM
9th Week Chapter 10 Pattison
Perspectives Chapter 8 & 9Josefs
Flat VII and Sus 4 Secondary Dominants
10th Week Chapter 11 Pattison
Point of View 2nd person hangmen Chapter 10 Josefs
11th Week Chapter 12 Pattison
Point of view 2nd person narrative Chapter 11 Josefs
12th Week Chapter 13 Pattison Dialogue
Piont of View Chapter 12 Josefs
Extensions and Alterations
13th Week Chapter 14 Pattison Meter
Something in Common
Chapter 15 Spotlighting in meter Part Five Josefs
14th Week Chapter 16 Pattison Two by two
Chapter 17 Managing Couplets Part Six Josefs
Writing in Minor Keys
15th Week Chapter 18Pattison Prosody
Chapter 19 Understanding Motion Part Seven Josefs
Putting It All Together
16th Week Final Dec 12th
Academic honesty policy: Students shall not plagiarize, which is defined as stealing or passing off as one’s own ideas or words of another and as using a creative production without crediting the source. Please click on www.cypresscollege.edu and click on the "Schedule and Catalog" link. This is the Cypress College Academic Honesty Policy, which can also be found in the 2013-2014 Cypress College Catalog
Attendance: Regular attendance is expected of every student. Attendance at the first class meeting is strongly recommended since a full period of instruction begins the first day of the class. Any student not attending the first class meeting may be dropped by the instructor. In the case where a class is taught entirely online, instructors may drop students who have not been in contact with the instructor by the end of the first day of classes for that semester or short-term session. www.cypresscollege.edu and click on the "Schedule and Catalog" link. 2013-2014 Cypress College Catalog
Absences: After a student accumulates in any class more than a week’s absences (more than the number of times the class meets per week), consecutive or nonconsecutive, an instructor may drop the student according to the drop deadline dates. No absence excuses a student from making up class work missed. Students should realize that undue absences may adversely affect their grades. Each missed day will count as a 4 point deduction in your final grade. 2013-2014 Cypress College Catalog
Student Responsibility: While an instructor may drop a student who has poor attendance, it is the student’s responsibility to officially drop the class. 2013-2014 Cypress College Catalog Refer to the class schedule for further instruction on “How to Add/Drop a Class”.
Admissions and Records The first contact students will generally have with Cypress College is Admissions and Records . The Office provides clear and concise information to all members of the community. The Admissions and Records Office is located on the first floor of the Student Center. 2013-2014 Cypress College Catalog
Sexual Harassment/Discrimination Policy: Students, who believe they have been subjected to unlawful discrimination, including sexual harassment, or who seek information regarding the District’s Unlawful Discrimination Policy, should contact the Office of the District Director of Human Resources. 2013-2014 Cypress College Catalog
Food/Beverage Policy: No food in the class room! Only water will be allowed.
Pager/Cell Phone Policy:
All electronic devices will be turned off during class time. Please turn these devices off before entering. Use of these devices in class may lead to the student being asked to leave the classroom incurring a recorded absence.
For your student and instructional service needs, click on
www.cypresscollege.edu Refer to the 2013-2014 Cypress College Catalog
Campus Safety provides escort service upon request at (714) 484-7387.
Special Needs DSPS
Students with verified disabilities requiring accommodations should make a specific request of the instructor at the beginning of the semester or one week prior to the specified need. Refer to the 2013-2014 Cypress College Catalog
Advisement/Counseling The Webpage for counselors and their e-mail addresses is located under Counseling on the Cypress College Website at www.cypresscollege.edu
Availability of On-Campus Computers On-campus computers for student use are in the Cypress College Library Learning Resource Center. The library web page provides access to an online catalog listing the library holdings from Cypress, Fullerton, Golden west, Orange Coast, Cal State Fullerton and Cal State Long Beach. Students will need their campus ID card to check books out from these libraries.
Tips For Success The successful student is independent, self-motivated, willing to learn on-their-own, and willing to ask questions as soon as questions arise. They are also good with written instructions, good at expressing themselves in writing, and are aware that technology is as much a convenience as a barrier. Stay on task and be aware of your personal timelines when completing assignments.
Cypress College Music Library The Music Library is located on the second floor of the Fine Arts Building Room 212.
Online Writing Lab (OWL) OWL brings the writing center services to cyberspace. Besides a host of links and downloadable handouts for writers, the OWL also offers interactive exercises, Power Point lessons, tutor email and a tutor chat room. OWL is located at: www.cypresscollege.edu/~writing