Task

Brief

Skill development

Introductory task ñ ìMy Name Isî

(This task should be completed before you arrive).

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.

Beating writersí block

ìDo It Againî

Write a chorus-based song where the title appears at least twice in the chorus.

Making your songs memorable.

ìFrom Me To Youî

Complete a lyric based on one of your titles, and give it to a collaborator to set to music ñ and the other way around (you set their lyric).

Developing craft without ëbaggageí.

ìAnyone can fall in loveî

Steal a fragment of dialogue from a soap opera and develop it into a complete song.

Beating writersí block.

ìThereís a Placeî

Write a song with a place name as the title.

Breaking out of lyric clichÈ/ developing emotional truth.

ìAll Together Nowî

Work with another one or two members of your tutor group and write a collaborative song.

Collaborative negotiation/pitching ideas/creative space

ìScream If You Wanna Go Fasterî

Write a song at a tempo faster than 120 beats per minute (use a drum loop, metronome or wristwatch ñ 120BPM = 2 beats/sec).

Avoiding mid-tempo blandness

ìMiss Ghostî

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.

Creative starting points/avoiding doggerel scansion

ìWords are all I haveî

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.

Developing a strong central idea

ìYou and Iî

Write a song that features ìIî and ìYouî characters.

Avoiding diaristic clichÈ

ìPicture bookî

Choose a selection of Google images and include them in your song lyric.

Using imagery.

ìAll by myselfî

Write a song without using a musical instrument

Developing melodic shape

ìMy Name Isî

Write a song with a characterís name as the title

Avoiding diaristic clichÈ/ developing narrative

ìTake it to the bridgeî

Write a 32-bar song in AABA form.

Controlling form/using hooks.