Songwriting Class Update & Weekly Assignment 🎶
Greetings Musicians, @Rosabella Mina @Kiruba Collins @Jocelyn Mejia @Alex Olson @Michele A. Olson @Kailiee @Rosa Mina
We’ve had a very productive start as we explore the fundamentals of songwriting and composition. Over the past few rehearsals, we’ve focused on building the essential foundations that will support your creative process as we begin crafting original music together. Each week, new layers are added—so it’s important to review and strengthen every step along the way.
Here’s a quick recap of what we’ve covered so far:
Functional Harmony – Understanding how chords and progressions create emotion and structure.
Lyric Writing – Continue journaling and refining your ideas. Your lyrics should show your message through imagery and descriptive language, not simply tell the listener what to feel.
The Groove – We discussed the three key parts:
Downbeat Energy
Upbeat Energy
Side-to-Side Energy(Here’s a reference video to review these concepts:
We also studied the anatomy of a song — verse, chorus, pre-chorus, and solo sections. Begin mapping out your song’s structure and identifying your hook, the main idea that captures the listener’s attention.
🎧 This Week’s Assignment:
Watch the provided video on musical styles and genres.
Identify which genre inspires you most and analyze its key characteristics—rhythms, instrumentation, and feel.
Focus on percussion first. Take note of the drumming or rhythmic patterns that define your chosen genre.
Come prepared to share your ideas and examples in our next session.
Keep up the great work—your creativity and focus are building the foundation for something powerful!
Very Important – Be Prepared for Tomorrow
Document and record every idea. As songwriters and creators, you must be able to clearly articulate your vision. Using vague language like “ugh,” “kinda like,” or “maybe” is not effective communication.
You are responsible for making clear, confident decisions about your creative direction. Remember—decisions can evolve, but you must first define them.
Bring your written notes, journal entries, and any recorded ideas to class tomorrow. We will be building directly from your documented work, and preparation is key to progress.
Best
Brandon
