The tasks
Introductory task – “My Name Is” • 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 – beating writers’ block
Task 1 – “Do It Again” • Write a chorus-based song where the title appears at least twice in the chorus.
SKILL DEVELOPMENT – making your songs memorable.
Task 2 – “There’s a Place” • Write a song with a place name as the title.
SKILL DEVELOPMENT – breaking out of lyric cliché/ developing emotional truth.
Task 3 – “All Together Now” • Work with another one or two members of your tutor group and write a collaborative song.
SKILL DEVELOPMENT – collaborative negotiation/pitching ideas/creative space
Task 4 – “Scream If You Wanna Go Faster” • Write a song at a tempo faster than 120 beats per minute (use a drum loop, metronome or wristwatch – 120BPM = 2 beats/sec).
SKILL DEVELOPMENT • avoiding mid-tempo blandness
Task 5 – “Miss Ghost” • Write a song using a ‘ghost song’. Choose an existing hit and rewrite its lyric and melody, but keep the syllable count and scansion the same.
SKILL DEVELOPMENT – creative starting points/avoiding doggerel scansion
Task 6 – “Words are all I have” • Complete a lyric in its entirety and then add music later. Try describing your song’s ‘Big Idea’ in ten words or fewer before you start.
SKILL DEVELOPMENT – developing a strong central idea
Task 7 – “You and I” • Write a song that features “I” and “You” characters.
SKILL DEVELOPMENT – avoiding diaristic cliché
Task 8 – “Picture book” • Choose a selection of Google images and include them in your song lyric.
SKILL DEVELOPMENT – using imagery.
Task 9 – “All by myself” • Write a song without using a musical instrument.
SKILL DEVELOPMENT – developing melodic shape
Task 10 – “My Name Is” • Write a song with a character’s name as the title.
SKILL DEVELOPMENT – avoiding diaristic cliché/ developing narrative
Task 11 – “Take it to the bridge” • Write a 32-bar song in AABA form.
SKILL DEVELOPMENT – controlling form/using hooks
