Portfolio (100%)
An individual portfolio comprising:
a) recorded compositions and songs written to set briefs, for a variety of mediums meeting the demands and requirements of each specific medium
b) well-documented reflective evaluation and justification of your creative choices in relation to each brief
[Learning outcome 1, 2, 3, 4]

Formative Assessment
Participation in workshops and discussions
Participation in collaborative performance and recording of songs and compositions

This module builds on your learning that took place in the level 4 module of Songwriting, helping you to acquire more sophisticated skills and use of techniques and applying them for the purpose of responding to specific client briefs in a variety of mediums.

Through this module you will explore the possible avenues for employment as a songwriter and composer. These may be, for example, working as a radio jingle writer, a composer for Film and TV, computer games, specific commissions, musical theatre shows; a songwriter for a record company or a music publishing company and so on. Many musicians and composers engage in work that spans many or all of these areas.

Alternatively, whilst some are permanently engaged in composing and/or signwriting, many people within the music industry use such work to supplement other occupations. Many practising musicians write and compose only for themselves or the band they are in.

The ability to write a song that evokes emotion from the listener is a fantastic talent and the opportunity to write freely is valuable. However, this module aims to extend your talent through the development of a set of skills that need to be utilised when writing songs for a specific genre, structure or brief and when ultimately the direction of the work is client-led.

Similarly, to compose a piece of music abstractly is very different to composing within a set of externally imposed parameters to a brief supplied by a director. Film composition requires an ability to work with several different specialists, including directors, editors and music editors. There is need for the composer or songwriter to demonstrate flexibility, to be able to respond to these demands rather than being restricted by too strong a personal style. Songwriting for specific artists or record company requirements requires such flexibility.

It is also, in many instances, necessary to work to tight deadlines. A composition for a radio advertisement for example, may require a very quick turnaround and may impose very different pressures to those of being a musician playing in a band.

This module will aims to enable you to be flexible, compromise and adapt to the changing requirements and circumstances that working as a songwriter and composer entail. It will require you to write and compose a range of songs and compositions to a set of specific briefs, demonstrating your ability to work within given boundaries though still demonstrating an appropriate level of creativity and innovation. By the end of the module you will have a portfolio that showcases you capability for producing diverse work in line with the requirements of entering the industry as a songwriter or composer.

Learning in this module should build on the knowledge and skill that you developed at level 4 of your studies and the emphasis is placed on practical work allowing you to explore composition and extend your songwriting skills so as to become more proficient in integrating techniques. You will learn by doing, and will have the opportunity to explore and experiment so that you may discover ways of working with methods that not only suit the brief, but also suit your individual style.

Active learning will be facilitated through workshops including demonstrations and studio tutorials, with teachers and visiting practitioners. However, there will be an increasing expectation that you work imaginatively, with independence and responsibility. There will be a mix of individual and collaborative learning in activities such as
• Analysis of compositions and songs for a variety of mediums.
• Analysis of successful composers and songwriters
• Songwriting and compositional skills workshops and exercises
• Writing and composing for different contexts (e.g. radio jingles, computer games, film and TV)
• Opportunities to interact with visiting practitioners
• Critiques and tutorials
• Screenings of compositional work
• Songwriting and composition reviews

• Practice/rehearsal rooms
• Keyboards/pianos
• Guitars
• Amplifiers
• Music Library
• Listening facilities
• Microphones and recording equipment when necessary.
• A large room will be needed for songwriter performances.
• Access to a variety of rehearsal and performance areas.
• Specialist performance and rehearsal spaces
• Recording Studio facilities
• PA equipment
• Whiteboard
• Projector
• Mac computers

Davis, R. (2010) Complete Guide to Film Scoring: Berklee Press Publications
Engle, T. (2014) Secrets of a Bedroom Composer: The tools, tips, and tricks you need, to make money writing music for TV, Film, and Commercials: Kindle Edition
Friedman, D. (2015) The Songwriters Handbook: The Artists League
Morricone, E. (2013) Composing for the Cinema: The Theory and Praxis of Music in Film: Scarecrow Press
Rooksby, R. (2010) Songwriting Sourcebook: How to Turn Chords into Great Songs (Fastforward): Backbeat Books
Zager (2015) Writing Music for Commercials: Television, Radio, and New Media: Rl
Zollo, P. (2003) Songwriters on Songwriting: Revised and Expanded: Da Capo Press Inc

1. DEMONSTRATE AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW SONGWRITING AND COMPOSING PRINCIPLES AND STRUCTURES CAN BE APPLIED WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF SET BRIEFS ACROSS A RANGE OF RECOGNISED GENRES AND PURPOSES.
[Learning]

2. USE SONGWRITING AND COMPOSING PRINCIPLES AND STRUCTURES LOGICALLY AND WITH CONFIDENCE WHEN WORKING WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF SET BRIEFS ACROSS A RANGE OF RECOGNISED GENRES AND PURPOSES.
[Application]

3. WORK COLLABORATIVELY WHEN RESPONDING TO SET BRIEF IN ORDER TO PRODUCE SONGS AND COMPOSITIONS THAT MEET THE CLIENT’S REQUIREMENTS.
[Working with Others]

4. CRITICALLY EVALUATE THE REQUIREMENTS OF CLIENT-LED BRIEFS IN ORDER TO SELECT APPROPRIATE CREATIVE AND TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS. REVIEW ON STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS IN ORDER TO EFFECTIVELY DEVELOP OWN SONGWRITING AND COMPOSING SKILLS.
[Reflection]