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

Modules 

MIF – 407 Music Industry Futures 

Studying alongside students from every music pathway, you’ll explore the people, organisations and processes that shape today’s music business, from recording and publishing to live events and emerging technologies. You’ll gain an understanding of how songwriters collaborate with industry professionals, whilst developing a broad awareness of the opportunities, challenges and career paths that define the modern music industry.

MIF-411 Specialist Creative Practice 1

Build the practical skills that form the foundation of your future career as a songwriter. This module is taught through hands-on Skills Labs where you will explore the core aspects of songwriting and what factors and attributes contribute towards effective commercial songwriting, as well as the fundamentals of contemporary popular music theory, ear training and critical listening.

MIF-412 Specialist Creative Practice 2

As you build on the foundations established in Specialist Creative Practice 1, you’ll refine your technical approach, strengthen your creative decision-making and develop your Digital Audio Workstation Composition and Arrangement skills, using DAWs such as Logic and Ableton. You will also explore the fundamentals of songwriting with others and the importance of co-writing within the music industry. Through your practical Skills Labs, you’ll develop more advanced techniques that support your ongoing growth as a songwriter.

MIF-413 Music Culture & Communities

Music shapes cultures, communities and influences the world around us. In this module, you’ll study alongside other pathways across music and explore how the music industry connects with society, identity and creative communities. Through discussion, research and shared perspectives, you’ll gain a broader understanding of the cultural impact of music whilst developing valuable research skills that will inform your own practice as a songwriter and help you create work that connects with music industry professionals and audiences.

CIF – 405 Preparing for Collaborative Projects

During this module you’ll develop the skills needed to prepare you for working with peers across the music degree to apply your songwriting skills to an interdisciplinary creative project.

CIF – 406 – Engaging in Collaborative Projects

Following on from CIF-405, you’ll work collaboratively on a shared project brief with students from other disciplines. You’ll build upon your skills to support larger projects with the creative industry and contribute your songwriting skills to fulfilling a creative brief.

Skills Units

SKU-CAC-01 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.

SKU-COM-02 Theory, Aural Skills & Critical Listening 

This unit teaches you the fundamentals of contemporary popular music theory, ear training and critical listening, enabling you to analyse, understand, and reapply concepts across a spectrum of contemporary popular music examples.

SKU-PRO-01 DAW Composition & Arrangement 

This Skills Unit reinforces the underlying skills required to produce music within a Digital Audio Workstation. Introducing students to other DAWs and focusing on how arrangement skills can assist the role of the producer.

SKU-CAC-02 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.

Modules 

CIF – 501 – Specialist Collaborative Work

This module allows you to apply your songwriting skills within ambitious, cross-disciplinary creative projects. Working alongside students from across the music degree, you’ll respond to industry-inspired briefs, taking on the role of a songwriter to shape songs and compositions to collaborative outcomes. Along the way, you’ll be strengthening your project management, communication and creative problem-solving skills.

CIF – 502 – Professional Collaborative Work

You’ll take your collaborative experience into a professional context by delivering a major project that reflects the realities of the music industry. Working with students across the course, you’ll apply your songwriting expertise to help realise ambitious creative work, managing technical and creative challenges and developing the confidence, adaptability and professional mindset needed to succeed as a songwriter in today’s collaborative creative industries.

CIF – 503 – Specialist Route Skills 

Refine the skills needed to compose and release professional songs. Your skills labs will take you through the fundamentals of communication, documentation, contracts and negotiation and introduce you to marketing strategies, brand partnerships and media relations, as well as supporting your songwriting skills through applied lyrical and topline development. Combining advanced technical practice with critical reflection, you’ll build the confidence, creativity and professional understanding required to deliver industry-ready songs.

CIF – 504 – Professional Route Skills 

Building on your Specialist Route Skills, you’ll expand your songwriting and production expertise by applying your skills to a range of professional projects. Through advanced skills labs, you’ll start to build on production skills alongside songwriting and further develop your skills in writing to a brief, alongside delving into copyright, royalties, publishing and income streams. Through building a portfolio of professional work, you’ll demonstrate the technical ability, adaptability and critical thinking needed to succeed across the modern music industry.

Skills Units

SKU-CAS-03 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.

SKU-PRO-06 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 skill set that prepares the students for the Industry.

SKU-CAC-03 Applied Lyrical & Top Line 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.

SKU-MUS-05 Second Instrument 

This unit gives students the opportunity to study an instrument different to their first study, including keyboards, vocals, and guitar.

SKU-PRO-07 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 its sensible limits. Here, you can explore creative approaches and processes as applied to mixing and begin to develop a unique sound as a producer.

SKU-CAS-05 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.

SKU-CAC-05 Writing To Brief

This skills unit will introduce students to the creative domain of songwriting to brief, whilst gaining skills and knowledge relating to writing and arranging songs in a range of musical genres. This unit will serve to broaden the songwriting repertoire and skillset of the creative individual alongside the development of collaborative infrastructure.

SKU-BUS-12 Copyright, royalties, publishing, and income streams

This Unit builds on the introductory look at these topics that students received 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.

Modules

CIF-601 Critical Review Preparation

Prepare for your dissertation by developing the research, analysis and critical thinking skills needed to investigate contemporary issues in songwriting. You’ll explore current debates, technologies and professional practice whilst learning how to evaluate sources, develop research questions and construct evidence-based arguments. This module will provide the foundation for independent research, helping you identify a topic that reflects your interests and future career ambitions.

CIF – 601 – Critical Review 

Undertake an independent research project exploring an area of songwriting that matters to you. Whether investigating emerging songwriting trends and technologies, creative practice, writing workflows, or the wider social and cultural impact of music, you’ll critically evaluate contemporary issues using academic research and professional evidence. You’ll produce a substantial piece of work that demonstrates your ability to think critically, conduct independent research and contribute to conversations shaping the future of songwriting.

CIF – 603 – Leadership and CPD

Prepare for life beyond your studies by developing the advanced technical skills and professional mindset expected of songwriters. Through specialist Skills Labs, you’ll explore music business and DIY Artistry, focusing on the relevant fundamentals of music business for a songwriter. You will explore the necessary skills required to release music & market yourself as a creative artist, alongside advanced marketing strategies to support the release of your music. As you refine your technical expertise, you’ll reflect on your strengths and develop your leadership skills.

CIF – 602 – Leading a Professional Collaborative Project

Bring together everything you’ve learned throughout your degree in your final major collaborative project that showcases your skills as a songwriter. Taking a leading role within an interdisciplinary team, you’ll manage the creative and technical demands of delivering a professional standard body of work. Supported by specialised Skills Labs in the future of creative artistry and consumer and audience psychology and how to reach differrent audiences with your portfolio of work.

CIF – 604 – Professional Portfolio 

You’ll prepare to launch your career by creating a professional portfolio that showcases your skills, creativity and technical expertise as a songwriter. In this module, you’ll curate your best work to develop a strong digital presence that reflects your creative identity.

Skills Units

SKU-CAS-06 Music Business & DIY Artistry

This skills unit focuses on the relevant fundamentals of music business for a performing songwriter. You will explore the necessary skills required to release music & market yourself as a creative artist.

SKU-CAS-08 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.

SKU-CAC-07 Composition For Film, TV & Media

This skills unit will allow students to explore advanced songwriting techniques across different musical styles and genres. Topics such as free writing, melodic math, song-mapping & advanced arrangement techniques will be covered.

SKU-CAC-08 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 a deeper understanding of the professional route and role of a commercial songwriter in the years ahead. 

SKU-CAC-09 Professional Specialism

In the ever-evolving landscape of music production and live performance, the need for versatile and skilled professionals is paramount. This degree module aims to elevate the capabilities of recording and performing artists, as well as songwriters, by delving into advanced techniques and theories essential for success in the creative domain. From studio intricacies to live production wizardry, participants will embark on a journey of discovery, honing their craft to perfection.

Through hands-on experience, theoretical exploration, and practical application, participants will emerge from this module equipped with the skills and knowledge to thrive in the competitive landscape of recording and live production. Whether shaping sonic landscapes in the studio or captivating audiences on stage, graduates will be prepared to unleash their artistic potential and make a lasting impact in the world of music and performance.

SKU-BUS-19 Consumer and Audience Psychology

This Unit will look at disruption within the creative industries. Students will look at current developments and innovations that are changing the creative landscape. Students will learn how to plan for industry disruption to ensure that their own businesses will continue to evolve and thrive. 

CIF – 701 – Professional Practice Frameworks

Develop the professional expertise expected of senior practitioners in the music industry. You’ll critically evaluate your own creative practice, reflect on your professional experiences and benchmark your skills against recognised industry standards. This module helps you strengthen your credentials and prepare for leadership roles within the evolving music industry.

CIF – 702 – Applied research 

Undertake an in-depth research project centred on an area of songwriting that aligns with your professional ambitions. Whether developing an advanced creative portfolio, investigating emerging songwriting technologies or exploring innovative musician practice, you’ll combine rigorous academic research with specialist practice to produce a substantial body of work that reflects your expertise and individual interests.

CIF – 703 – Ideas into action 

Transform ambitious ideas into professionally realised projects. From initial concept through to delivery, you’ll refine your practice whilst building the organisational and entrepreneurial skills required to deliver projects in professional environments.

CIF – 704 – Making connections 

Success in the music industry is built on relationships as much as talent. This module helps you expand your professional network by connecting with industry practitioners, creative organisations, community partners and potential collaborators. You’ll develop the confidence to build meaningful professional relationships, identify new opportunities and position yourself within the wider music industry.

Advanced Creative Practice Skills Labs

Alongside your postgraduate studies, you’ll have access to advanced Skills Labs each term, giving you the opportunity to further develop your specialist technical expertise. These practical sessions allow you to explore emerging creative practice techniques and encourage you to experiment with new technologies, ensuring your skills remain aligned with the latest developments in the music industry.