SWF08 – tasks
Here’s a list of the songwriting tasks from the 2008 festival. Most people did one task per day, with the guidance and support of their tutor;
Introductory task ñ ìMy Name Isî ï Write ten titles. If you have time, choose the most inspiring one and develop it into a chorus. If you have (more) time, complete the song. ††
SKILL DEVELOPMENT ñ beating writersí block
Task 1 ñ ìDo It Againî ï Write a chorus-based song where the title appears at least twice in the chorus.
SKILL DEVELOPMENT ñ making your songs memorable.
Task 2 ñ ìThereís a Placeî ï Write a song with a place name as the title.
SKILL DEVELOPMENT ñ breaking out of lyric clichÈ/ developing emotional truth.
Task 3 ñ ìAll Together Nowî ï Work with another one or two members of your tutor group and write a collaborative song.
SKILL DEVELOPMENT ñ collaborative negotiation/pitching ideas/creative space
Task 4 ñ ìScream If You Wanna Go Fasterî ï Write a song at a tempo faster than 120 beats per minute (use a drum loop, metronome or wristwatch ñ 120BPM = 2 beats/sec).
SKILL DEVELOPMENT ï avoiding mid-tempo blandness
Task 5 ñ ìMiss Ghostî ï Write a song using a ëghost songí. Choose an existing hit and rewrite its lyric and melody, but keep the syllable count and scansion the same.
SKILL DEVELOPMENT ñ creative starting points/avoiding doggerel scansion
Task 6 ñ ìWords are all I haveî ï Complete a lyric in its entirety and then add music later. Try describing your songís ëBig Ideaí in ten words or fewer before you start.
SKILL DEVELOPMENT ñ developing a strong central idea
Task 7 ñ ìYou and Iî ï Write a song that features ìIî and ìYouî characters. ††
SKILL DEVELOPMENT ñ avoiding diaristic clichÈ
Task 8 ñ ìPicture bookî ï Choose a selection of Google images and include them in your song lyric. ††
SKILL DEVELOPMENT ñ using imagery.
Task 9 ñ ìAll by myselfî ï Write a song without using a musical instrument.†
SKILL DEVELOPMENT ñ developing melodic shape
Task 10 ñ ìMy Name Isî ï Write a song with a characterís name as the title. ††
SKILL DEVELOPMENT ñ avoiding diaristic clichÈ/ developing narrative
Task 11 ñ ìTake it to the bridgeî ï Write a 32-bar song in AABA form. ††
SKILL DEVELOPMENT ñ controlling form/using hooks
