BA (Hons) Songwriting

This module will equip you with core knowledge, skills and understanding as a songwriter, as you observe, reflect on and challenge your own writing process. You’ll explore the fundamental elements of songcraft through a combination of analytical and practical songwriting activities. You’ll also work individually and collaboratively to develop a repertoire of original songs within a specified range of thematic, structural and stylistic briefs, while you examine a variety of cultural, historical, social and political contexts for your songwriting. By the module’s conclusion, you’ll have a developed a brand-new body of work, plus a body of research that will support the development of your future songwriting material.

In this module, you’ll develop, edit and complete a portfolio of original songs within a specified range of thematic, structural and stylistic briefs. You’ll apply the fundamental elements of songcraft in a practical manner, embedding research from a variety of cultural, historical, social and political contexts into your songwriting. You’ll also examine the role of creative intention in your writing and will be supported in identifying frameworks for self-reflection that will aid your continuing development as a songwriter.

The overall aim of this module is to expand your musical literacy and confidence by providing you with a grounding in theory and musicianship skills. You’ll study melody, rhythm, harmony, developing your aural recognition and using these skills as a basis for realising new composition and performance works. You’ll also be introduced to core instruments while you learn how to engage musically in a variety of ensemble contexts. Each musical concept you study in this module will be outlined theoretically, technically and contextually, so you’ll gain a complete 360 degree understanding of its nature. You’ll then apply these principles in a practical manner to your songwriting.

In this module, you’ll explore what it means to be a live performer in today’s musical landscape. You’ll develop your understanding of how to play solo and in a group, while improving your stage craft and learning how to communicate your music to audiences in both ‘live’ gig and online ‘livestreaming’ performance settings. You’ll also consider the many other elements that go into creating a great live performance – from choosing the right venue and considering how you construct a set, to deciding how to move and talk on stage.

The module is assessed through an end-of-term performance, where you’ll demonstrate the practical skills you’ve learned, plus the submission of a research document which shows you understand how to put on a successful live performance.

This module will provide you with an introduction to a digital audio workstation (DAW) based approach to writing, developing and presenting song material, as you explore how skills within the digital recording realm can be invaluable for songwriters. You’ll learn how to use the DAW as a creative tool in the songwriting process and, through a combination of applied listening, research and practical instruction and application, will produce your own innovative music.

Songs are the lifeblood of the music industry. As a songwriter, it’s crucial to understand the importance of copyright and to have a complete grasp of the wider creative industries as you develop your portfolio career. This module provides a solid grounding for establishing a practical knowledge of the music business. You’ll start to establish an insider’s understanding of today’s music industry, from the point of view of a songwriter. You’ll explore the modern music industry’s three main sectors – recorded music, live music and publishing – and the processes and practices that take place within each area. Through case studies and applied projects, you’ll learn about music revenue streams and the inter-relationship between areas within the music industry.

• Introduction to the music industry 
• Music business processes and practices 
• A&R process 
• Music copyright 
• Creative industries business model
• Music recording and production
• Live music
• Music publishing 
• Artist management in the music industry
• Music rights and royalties
• Sales and distribution in the music industry

In this module, you’ll develop your technical knowledge of songcraft within a variety of creative contexts and projects. You’ll begin to contextualise your work according to the norms and standards of professional songwriting practice, producing a new body of work in the process. Through a combination of research and practical application, you’ll critically examine a variety of roles within your individual and collaborative songwriting practice while you reflect on your own areas of strength.

In this module, you’ll embed your technical knowledge of songcraft in a body of work that achieves a set of stated outcomes. Through in-depth research and the use of music technology, you’ll synthesise a range of concepts, techniques and approaches as you realise finished songs suited to a specified creative context. Critical reflection on your creative process, and justification of decisions you’ve made, is at the heart of this module. Through a combination of reflective practice and peer feedback, you’ll examine the specific ways the creative choices you make while songwriting can go on to impact what is communicated to your audience.

This module will explore the role of the songwriter and the purpose and power of songs within a variety of non-commercial contexts. Songwriting and Communities is an experiential module that will encourage you to look beyond the typically identified commercially focused scope of the professional songwriter. During the module you’ll be encouraged and equipped to facilitate real-world community songwriting via self-initiated projects. You’ll learn theoretical and practical skills and approaches that will serve to enhance your understanding of the nature and opportunity of collaborative songwriting in a variety of contexts.

In this module, you’ll have the chance to conceive your own creative performance project. In realising your project, you’ll explore the myriad of possibilities available to you as a performer in both the offline and the online worlds. The modern performer has to be adaptive, independent and multi-skilled. On the Creative Performance Project module, ICMP’s bespoke, project-focused teaching is designed to encourage autonomy, self-discovery and innovation, so you’ll be encouraged to thoroughly examine all the resources and techniques available to you. Through practical workshops, demonstrations, collaborative exercises and critical discussion, you’ll explore the conceptual and psychological aspects of performing life, plus the practical application of both established and emerging performance techniques.

In this module, you’ll examine contemporary production practice from a variety of contexts. You’ll apply technical knowledge of DAWs and a range of sample-based processes familiar to rappers and beatmakers to create a showreel of professional sounding productions.You’ll learn about vocal production techniques, recording and editing, mixing and basic mastering. Through a combination of applied listening, research and practical instruction and application, you’ll create a sonic identity for your own music, justifying your creative choices with relevant academic and sonic references.

Success as a freelance musician depends on your ability to sell yourself and your services. With that in mind, this module covers fundamental marketing principles, traditional marketing theories and contemporary marketing approaches and tools. This includes branding, advertising, promotion, pricing, distribution, PR, positioning, consumer behaviour, social media, competition, innovation, audience building, viral marketing, building an online presence, market research, analysis and product development and life cycles.

You’ll evaluate how the changing marketing environment has created new challenges and opportunities for creatives, and how marketing and branding is evolving and adapting to meet the changing needs of professionals in the creative industries. You’ll develop an understanding of consumer behaviour and how customer-driven marketing strategies are designed and turned into marketing plans that can be implemented to solve real-world problems. You’ll also explore the concept of creatives as a brand, considering key areas such as brand partnerships and commerce versus credibility. By the end of this module, you’ll have developed a fully assessed marketing plan.

In this module, you’ll use your high command of songcraft to originate, plan, develop and manage a viable songwriting project. You’ll engage in detailed research that will underpin the formation of a cohesive repertoire of original work. You’ll be coached in professional artist and repertoire (A&R) practice, taking full creative ownership of your project, so you’re able to reflect on your project development critically and articulate a clear understanding of your own writing. The seminars will help you apply and contextualise your learning from other Level 6 modules to your own creative projects, enabling you to ruminate on your journey so far as an emerging professional songwriter.

This double module aims to support you in the development of your professional and academic skills; particularly in the planning, execution and evaluation of a music-related professional creative project. This will include developing your practical and conceptual understanding of the codes, conventions and issues associated with the entire project process. You’ll synthesise your experience and knowledge and employ a range of transferable skills in communication, negotiation, analysis, project planning and project management. The module is also a great opportunity to promote your professional practice through community or charitable work.

To make sure you’re on the right track, you’ll first present a project proposal – a working document you’ll continue to develop, test and revise over the course of the year. You’ll demonstrate autonomy and self-leadership in determining the detail and scope of your project, and there will be opportunities for you to link with and build upon projects in other Level 6 modules.

• Developing a project proposal 
• Presentation and communication skills 
• Project risk assessments 
• Research methods and enquiry 
• Ethics 
• Analysis and interpretation 
• Problem solving 
• Effective planning and pitching 
• Interdisciplinary practice 
• Project management best practice and methodologies  

Culminating in a real-world business pitch to a potential investor, in this module you’ll establish entrepreneurial thinking backed up by a solid understanding of business strategies. You’ll explore what it means to be ‘enterprising’ in today’s creative industries – from ideation and modelling, to securing funding and setting up a new venture. You’ll have the opportunity to research and evaluate in detail both the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors. The business proposal and plan you create in this module will carry through for use in The Enterprising Songwriter II module.

• Pitching a new venture 
• Developing a business plan 
• Entrepreneurship concepts and principles 
• Social entrepreneurship 
• Profit vs non-profit pursuits 
• Creating your value proposition (VP) 
• Developing your unique selling proposition (USP) 
• Communicating business ideas 
• Building distribution channels 
• Songwriting marketing strategies 
• Market research 
• The promotion mix in music 
• Presentation techniques 

This module helps set you up for a secure future as a self-employed songwriter by consolidating learning in entrepreneurship and business. You’ll draw on skills in marketing, project management, finance and legal, combined with creative thinking, collaborative and problem-solving, to plan a new business venture launch in the creative sector. Supported by expert tutors, this self-directed module will see you develop a range of enterprising behaviours, attributes and competencies to help you tackle the real-life challenges and opportunities of a career in the creative industries.

• Write a business plan  
• Financial planning and budgeting 
• Sources of business funding 
• Business structures – sole-trader, partnerships, not-for-profit, limited company 
• Tax and accounting 
• Budgets 
• Strategic planning 
• Project management 
• Legal considerations 
• Patents 
• Licenses 
• Copyrights 
• Trademarks 
• Launching a business 
• Crowdfunding vs venture capital