The IELTS Co-Owner Lost 94% of Its Value. The Reason: Visas.

Class Central is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

University of California, Santa Cruz

Songwriting Craft and Practice: Voice, Text & Performance

University of California, Santa Cruz via Coursera

Go to class Write review

Overview

Google, IBM & Meta Certificates – 40% Off
One Coursera Plus subscription covers most Professional Certificates on Coursera.
Unlock All Certificates
This course is about finding your voice. You'll learn to build vocal harmonies, balance lead and background vocals, and work with techniques that bring out the deeper meaning in your lyrics. It closes with two projects: an analysis of one song by a songwriter you love, and a Final Concert, where you present an original song as a video recording. By the end, you'll be able to arrange vocal tracks, listen analytically to songs, and develop your songs into fully produced pieces.

Syllabus

  • Voices // Music and Text
    • Your voice, and voices plural. We'll arrange vocals: stacking harmonies, parallel and contrary motion, deciding what background vocal parts are for and how much room they leave the lead. Then setting text, using vocal inflection, spoken word, and word painting to bring out what a lyric is doing. By the end, you'll be able to arrange multi-part vocals and set text so that the music says something about the words it carries.
  • Song Analysis // Final Concert!
    • In this final module, you'll pull together everything from the course. For your song analysis project, you'll choose one song by a songwriter you love and break down what makes it compelling to you. Then comes the Final Concert. You'll make a video (live performance or music video) of an original song written during the course. It's a chance to celebrate your songwriting, share your music with peers, and cap off the course with a finished work you're excited about.

Taught by

Alexander Wand

Tags

Reviews

Start your review of Songwriting Craft and Practice: Voice, Text & Performance

Go to class

Never Stop Learning.

Get personalized course recommendations, track subjects and courses with reminders, and more.

Sign up for free
Someone learning on their laptop while sitting on the floor.