Undergraduate BA(hons) or BSc (Hons) Creative Industries Futures (Music) Songwriting

Modules & Skills Units

Introduction to Songwriting

This skills unit is an introduction to the core aspects of songwriting, covering topics such as structure, lyrical & melodic devices & harmonic construction. Students will explore what factors and attributes contribute towards effective commercial songwriting.

Theory, Aural Skills & Critical Listening

This skills unit is an introduction to the core fundamentals of music theory, and how these tools can contribute towards commercial songwriting. Students will have the opportunity to gain knowledge and understanding on critical listening skills.

DAW Composition & Arrangement

This skills unit introduces students to the fundamentals of music production and it’s importance within the art of songwriting. Students will gain skills, knowledge and experience in composition & arrangement using digital audio workstations.

Co-Writing, Collaboration & Constructive Feedback

Running alongside the core module “Engaging in Collaborative Work”, students can use this skills unit to explore the fundamentals of songwriting with others, and the importance of co-writing within the music industry. Students will also gain experience in giving and receiving constructive feedback.

Sound Recording Techniques

This Skills Unit, introduces the students to Large Format Mixing Consoles, a wide range of microphones and associated techniques and how to record and process a range of instruments commonly found in Contemporary Music.

Music & the Creative Industries

This module enables students to understand how music-related skills, practices and theories are being applied in other industry sectors to problem-solve, connect and innovate. It examines the principles and terminology used in these professional contexts and requires students to research and investigate the potential futures of music, musicianship, and music applications. You will consider your place as a musician or music practitioner within the creative industries landscape, mapping out your path and how to maximise opportunities to make money and grow your profile and career.

Music, Media and Technology

This module enables students to examine the role of music across a range of media. Students will consider and compare the purpose, structure, and method of how music is used across different platforms and for different audiences. The module requires students to review creative industries theory and practice of creating, sourcing and using music in media in a variety of formats and technologies and to connect the theory with the practice.

Preparing for Collaborative Work

This module enables students to prepare and organise themselves and their work to engage in an interdisciplinary collaborative creative project with other students with some guidance and support. Students will also prepare to engage with relevant professional networks and any professional contributors by researching working contexts, philosophies, and work. Students will identify their strengths and development needs and examine team profiles and characteristics for participating in an effective collaborative project through a series of practical workshops.

The impact and influence of music: from creator to consumer

This module enables students to understand the impact of music, musical applications and activities on physical and mental health. Students will consider and contrast the potential and actual impact of music on well-being in different contexts. The module requires students to consider and analyse the components of musical applications and activities to support or challenge current research on this topic and to connect the theory with the practice.

Music, society, and Culture: Perspectives and Debates

Music is ubiquitous and global, existing everywhere and anywhere across the world, every minute of the day. Music is also deeply personal and has unique meaning across countries and local communities. The creation of new music is often a blend of beat, bar, melodies and harmonies, with influence from other artists and genres, from rap to k-pop. As a musician or music practitioner it is incredibly important to understand where sounds come from, how you can use them and where it will land with the audience that you are trying to build. There will be those who like what you do and others who criticise. The easiest way to become a target for criticisms is if you are perceived to have not taken care to understand music within societies and across cultures, being aware of issues and challenges that have shaped and continue to shape your industry. For example, as a creator you may love the syncopation or phraseology of another language, but it may not always be appropriate to lift, stitch and sample words from other cultures in an unsympathetic way. At one level this is known as ‘censorship’, which we often associate with regulation, government or policy. However, this module also places an emphasis on self-regulation and self-censorship by having a deeper understanding of how music works across cultures and societies. Words matter, words can start wars or friendships. Therefore, in this core module we aim to inform you, whilst also allowing you a safe space to discuss and debate yourselves about your own views and forms of artistic and academic expression. There is often no right or wrong, it is just important that you can discuss and explain your creative outputs in an evidence based and critical manner. This is a skill that is valued in the professional sphere too, giving you the ability to know who you are as a creative practitioner and explain your influence and values to your industry networks and audiences.

Engaging in Collaborative Work

This module enables students to work collaboratively on a shared project brief. Students will carry out a collaborative creative project in which they will apply their Level 4 personal, interpersonal and soft skills; their technical and sector specific professional skills; their creative, critical thinking and problem-solving skills and their project management, research, networking and presentation skills. Students will regularly and routinely meet to develop, manage, problem-solve, reflect on and evaluate the project progress and success at meeting the project brief with support from staff with professional industry project experience.

Modules & Skills Units

Musical Directing and Studio Craft

Every Producer working in a studio environment at some stage will work with other Artists. This Skills Unit, links Production students to Musicians with a focus on communication & collaboration. Getting the best performance from an Artist, while also managing the technical responsibilities in the studio is a skillset that prepares the students for the Industry.

Vocal Health & Development

As a singer/songwriter, vocal health is incredibly important. This skills unit will give students the correct tools to maintain a healthy vocal career & knowledge on specific vocal techniques for rehearsals, touring & recording.

Applied Lyrical & Topline Development

This level 5 skills unit follows “Introduction to Songwriting”. Students will gain further skills and knowledge on advanced lyrical & melodic devices within their songwriting, such as: use of imagery, imaginative narratives, metaphorical & rhythmic devices and musical prosody.

Second Instrument

This skills unit will give students the opportunity to gain experience and support in using a second instrument through performing ans songwriting. Having the ability to accompany yourself when performing live can be an excellent skill within your career as an artist, as well as expanding the use of instrumentation within your songwriting.

Creative Mixing

Building on skills and knowledge gained in the Mixing Fundamentals Skills Unit, this course explores the creativity that emerges from breaking the rules and pushing recording and mixing equipment beyond their sensible limits. Here, you can explore creative approaches and processes as applied to mixing and begin to develop a unique sound as a producer.

Be Your Own Boss

This Unit looks at the world of self-employment. Students will explore both the positives and negatives of self-employment and will learn about the legal and financial side of this type of work. The Unit will also introduce students to a range of techniques to protect their mental health and maintain a healthy work/life balance when working for themselves.

Writing to Brief

This skills unit will take students through various professional briefs delivered to commercial songwriters within the music industry. Students will gain skills and knowledge in writing to a range of different genres & styles.

Stagecraft, Musicianship & Performance

This skills unit aims to help each student discover and develop their persona as a performing artist, whilst maintaining the integrity that is fundamental to effective live performance.

Copyright, Royalties, Publishing and Income Streams

This Unit builds on the introductory look at these topics that students recieved at L4. Through an in-depth exploration of copyright, royalties, publishing and income streams students will learn how to protect their work and make money from it.

Specialist Collaborative Work

This module enables students to contribute through their chosen specialism to an interdisciplinary collaborative creative industries project. Students should engage with the appropriate professional networks for their specialist or interdisciplinary field.

Specialist Route Skills

This module enables students to use tools, techniques, and procedures to work toward producing work of a professional standard in their chosen specialist route. These sources will be used to critically reflect and analyse their work and the work of other practitioners in the appropriate frameworks. ARTS-RELATED SPECIALIST ROUTE (A) Students will be able to use relevant academic research and sources to critically review and place their practice in a humanities, phenomenology or cultural framework. SCIENCE-RELATED SPECIALIST ROUTE (S) Students will be able to use relevant academic research and sources to critically review and place their practice in a scientific methodological and technical framework.

Professional Collaborative Work

This module aims to enable students to explore, examine, and review the function of a professional project. Students will work in a professional context to deliver a project in their specialism. Students will be responsible for identifying the requirements of a professional project brief. They will plan, deliver and review a professional project to current industry standards with their peers. Students will register themselves or/and their work as appropriate with a professional association and actively manage their professional networks, professional ethics and professional communications.

Professional Route Skills

This module enables students to create a portfolio of professional, specialist work demonstrating transferable skills to meet sector expectations. Students will apply sector specific creative and technical skills in different industry contexts. ARTS-RELATED SPECIALIST ROUTE (A) Students will be able to use relevant academic research and sources to critically review and place their practice in a humanities, phenomenology or cultural framework. SCIENCE-RELATED SPECIALIST ROUTE (S) Students will be able to use relevant academic research and sources to critically review and place their practice in a scientific methodological and technical framework.

Modules & Skills Units

Advanced Songwriting (Advanced Briefs and Global Songwriting)

This skills unit focuses on the relevant fundamentals of music business for both commercial and performing songwriters. You will explore the necessary skills required to market yourself as a professional songwriter, from creating a unique brand to releasing music & marketing yourself as a creative professional. Topics covered include funding opportunities, distribution, music law, advanced branding and marketing skills.

Music Business & DIY Artistry

This skills unit focuses on the relevant fundamentals of music business for both commercial and performing songwriters. You will explore the necessary skills required to market yourself as a professional songwriter, from creating a unique brand to releasing music & marketing yourself as a creative professional. Topics covered include funding opportunities, distribution, music law, advanced branding and marketing skills.

Composition to Film, TV & Media

In this skills unit, students will explore compositional techniques for commercial advertising, television, video games & films. Students will also gain the skills needed to approach writing for music libraries and so much more.

Advanced Stagecraft, Musicianship & Performance

This skills unit aims to provide an opportunity for students to integrate their instrumental, vocal and stagecraft skills into a coherent whole, consistent with professional levels of live performance. Students will explore their stagecraft and musicianship in depth, as a way of enhancing creativity and musical expression.

Critical Reflection & Creative Identity

Building upon all songwriting units across levels 4-5, students will gain the skills to explore, analyse and evaluate their authentic creative intentions as an artist, as well as develop a deeper understanding on the process of A&R.

The Future of Commercial Songwriting

This skills unit takes a deeper look at the future of the commercial songwriting industry. Students will explore their career opportunities and develop deeper understanding of the professional route and role of a commercial songwriter in the years ahead.

Professional Specialism (The Performing Songwriter)

This skills unit will allow students to focus on their specialist subject as an artist, as well as dicover the various professional roles that are available to them as perfoming songwriters, using multiple transferrable skills gained throughout their degree.

Professional Specialism (The Producer/Writer)

This skills unit will allow students to focus on their specialist subject as a commercial songwriter, with a focus on production skills such as mixing and mastering demos. You will also discover the various professional roles that are available to them as producing songwriters, using multiple transferable skills gained throughout their degree.

Mix with the Experts

Leading mixers from a variety of genres will share their knowledge and experience in this skills unit through masterclasses, workshops and mix deconstructions.

Immersive Audio

The world of Immersive audio is ever changing and evolving, This Skills Units aim, is for students to be able to explore areas such as the use of Dolby Atmos and the way that sound can be produced and mixed to work in immersive environments.

Digital Skills

This Unit covers a range of digital skills needed to thrive in the current creative climate. Students will learn about the importance of these skills and have a chance to practice their skills in these areas.

Business Strategy and Planning

This unit aims to provide learners with powerful strategic tools for observing the birth of new markets, the development of a unique operating space. By asking the right questions the competitive predicament can unfold. The unit is designed to broaden strategic thinking and analysis to enable the seeds of competitive advantage. Build strategic sense making around market predictions and trends in order to make informed decisions and plans for a successfully operating and evolving business.

Leadership and CPD

This module enables students to engage with continuing professional development and to review and develop their leadership skills in different contexts. Students will examine different models of leadership and review and develop their range of leadership tools, techniques and expertise in this area.

Critical Review

This module includes a research or practical project that critically reviews one or more current issues, constraints or practices that impacts the music and wider creative Industries, the application of music to other industry sectors or broader cultural or workforce issues relating to music and the creative cultural industries. ARTS-RELATED SPECIALIST ROUTE (A) Students will be able to use relevant academic research and sources to critically review and place their practice in a humanities, phenomenology or cultural framework. SCIENCE-RELATED SPECIALIST ROUTE (S) Students will be able to use relevant academic research and sources to critically review and place their practice in a scientific methodological and technical framework.

Leading Professional Collaborative Project

This module aims to enable students to build their leadership and professional skills through an interdisciplinary collaborative professional project. Students will design the requirements of the professional project brief, manage the project and communications and evidence project outputs.

Independent Portfolio

This module enables students to create a portfolio and digital presence that includes course output, work experience, freelance work or volunteering targeted to professional opportunities or further study. ARTS-RELATED SPECIALIST ROUTE (A) Students will be able to use relevant academic research and sources to critically review and place their practice in a humanities, phenomenology or cultural framework. SCIENCE-RELATED SPECIALIST ROUTE (S) Students will be able to use relevant academic research and sources to critically review and place their practice in a scientific methodological and technical framework.

Modules & Skills Units

Professional Practice Frameworks

This module enables students to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the professional sector specific expertise required for a creative industries profession. Students apply these creative and technical skills in a wide range of interdisciplinary contexts. Students will create or synthesise tools, techniques, and procedures to produce work that solves complex problems and disrupts in order to meet interdisciplinary objectives.

Applied Research (Focus and Impact on Creative Industries Futures)

This module enables students to evidence academic expertise in an applied research context. Students will engage and reflect on the developmental process and develop learning strategies for applied research. They will work on a project collaborating with local communities, industry or academic networks as appropriate. This module runs across two terms, the first term focuses on the specific focus of the applied research and the second with the delivery and impact measurement for the research. ARTS-RELATED SPECIALIST ROUTE Students will be able to use relevant academic research and sources to critically review and place their practice in a humanities, phenomenology or cultural framework. SCIENCE-RELATED SPECIALIST ROUTE Students will be able to use relevant academic research and sources to critically review and place their practice in a scientific methodological and technical framework.

Ideas into Action

Within this module students will investigate the project management processes needed to develop a project from concept to release. Students will explore projects from the perspectives of different collaborators in the research. They will identify potential collaborators for the different stages of developing and implementing their ideas and will develop skills and techniques to effectively pitch at a high level to a variety of audiences.

Making Connections and Building a Community

This module enables students to Identify, inform, and establish a network of peers and relevant industry and community contacts to develop opportunities and advocacy in key organisations in the local community, research organisations, charities and the creative industries as well as connect with communities of investors. Students will engage core stakeholders in activities and communications to enable effective development of opportunities and increased advocacy using professional development tools such as action learning, critical reflective practice, clinical supervision, or other appropriate methods. Students will design, coordinate, and evaluate internal and external communications in a portfolio of evidence that tracks responses, activities, ethical considerations, influence, and impact.