Singer-Songwriter Core Curriculum

In this course, students explore the business of contemporary music. Topics discussed include copyright, music supervision, how to build a team, crowdfunding, publicity (bios, branding, cyber PR and printed), touring, PRO's, publishing, establishing yourself as an artist with the IRS, good book keeping, write-offs, entertainment law, and more.

Contemporary Theory begins with a review of fundamentals including intervals, triads & seventh chords, scales, keys, and chord inversion. We will study extended chords (jazz harmonies), diatonic harmonic function, cadence, and chromatic chords, particularly secondary dominants and related ii chords. Projects include transcription and arranging for individual instruments and small groups.

This course explores use of the piano and keyboard in contemporary styles. Students will learn fundamental technique (scales, keys, triads & seventh chords, etc.) and basic chord theory. We will apply this knowledge to a variety of styles with an emphasis on rhythmic comping patterns and harmonic ear training.

While listening to vinyl recordings spanning from the 1960's to the present, students explore and examine music in the book series 33 1/3. Class discussions surround what is highlighted in the book series, examining each recording's significance, recording process, writing, performance, lyrics, arrangement, and more.

This course explores popular songs from the past in a performance-focused setting. Students are placed into bands and work together to match the tone, style, and feel of an original recording, while presenting the song as a polished performance during class time. Students learn how to hear and delegate parts, how to rehearse as a band, and how to realize a performance that is audience-focused and enjoyable to watch. This class is required of all songwriting students unless permission has been obtained from the Chair of Contemporary Music. This class serves as a pre-requisite for auditioning as an instrumentalist for the Popular Music Ensemble.

In this course, students explore the following questions: How much do you know about how you perform? Are you effective outside the technical skills of execution? What makes the audience want to keep coming back to watch you? Through self evaluation, peer feedback, and teacher guidance, students dig deeply into what challenges and strengths they have in their ability to perform. Topics include the self editor, presence, intention, the role of the audience, and how to get ready to have a healthy, positive performance experience. This course introduces positive performance practices. This class also serves as a college audition and prep course during the fall semester.

Students may audition to perform in various Popular Music Ensembles. These ensembles perform rock and roll, pop, and other contemporary styles, serving as the standing band for the Singer-Songwriter program.

The Private Lesson is individualized and tailored to the level, background, and needs of each student. It stresses a solid foundation in technical skills and covers a wide range of literature. Private study includes studio classes which provide students an opportunity to perform for their peers in an informal setting.

In this class, we learn more advanced principles and techniques for recording modern music. We analyze and discuss songs, instrumentation, sounds, effects, and other aspects of recordings to better learn how to arrange and record original material.

This course examines the relationship between music and lyrics as two intertwining pillars of a song. Students examine their ability to capture an idea, mood, setting, theme, or feeling in the appropriate form, whether it be melody, song structure, chord progression, rhyme scheme, or more. The first semester is open to all music majors, with only Singer-Songwriter majors continuing into second semester.

This course is designed to dive deeply into songwriting concepts, collaborative writing, and learning to use the DAW (digital audio workstation) Logic. The course is team taught by the songwriting faculty.

In this class, students learn foundational elements of theory in the context of modern songwriting. This includes use of triads and extended chords: major, minor, 7th, diminished, and so on. Students learn how to figure out what key a song is in, how to find the tonic, and explore inversions, relative majors and minors, and how to communicate efficiently with other musicians with the Nashville number/Roman numeral system. Students learn capo theory, instrumental proficiency including different types of scales, and fundamentals of several instruments. Essentially, students learn to communicate and play with other musicians, who may or may not have a background in traditional theory.

This course is an extension of private lessons. It addresses many of the same concepts, but in a group setting. It is designed to be flexible to meet the varying levels and needs of students.

Four-year senior students work with faculty to record an album and all the parts needed for a full album release. These parts include collaborating with film students on several different types of music videos, press release photos along with long bio, short bio, and elevator pitch. Under the direction of their faculty mentor, they will create a timeline for the release itself along with singles and other social media marketing culminating in the booking of a summer tour if the student is interested and able. Alternatively, a four-year senior student in songwriting may work with the Chair of Contemporary Music to obtain permission of an individualized capstone project with the facilitation of their songwriting studio instructor.

Semester I and II

Required Courses
Private Lesson: Singer-Songwriter / MUS048
Choir / MUS055
Music Theory / Musicianship / MUS101-502
Singer-Songwriter Workshop / MUS111

Elective Courses
Performance Lab / MUS227
Group Lesson (Piano or Guitar) / MUS199/211
Intro to Jazz Improv / MUS208

Sample Academic Courses
Algebra I; Biology; English I; French I

Semester III and IV

Required Courses
Private Lesson: Singer-Songwriter / MUS048
Singer-Songwriter Workshop / MUS111
Songwriting Foundations I and II / MUS106
Performance Lab / MUS228

Elective Courses
Jazz History / MUS210
Group Instrument Class (guitar or piano) / MUS199/21
Music Archaeology / MUS107
Keyboard Skills / MUS415
Introduction to Audio Technology and Production / PROD092

Sample Academic Courses 
Geometry; World History; English II; French II

Semester V and VI

Required Courses
Private Lesson: Singer-Songwriter / MUS048
Popular Music Ensemble / MUS313
Songwriter Theory / MUS219
Recording Techniques / PROD112
Performance Shangri-La / MUS105

Elective Courses
Space at the Table / MUS113
Jazz Improv I / MUS208
Group Instrumental Class (Guitar or Piano) / MUS199/21
Group Vocal Class / MUS115
Composition / MUS213

Sample Academic Courses
Algebra II; U.S. History; English III; Chemistry

Semester VII and VIII

Required Courses
Private Lesson: Singer-Songwriter / MUS047
Music Business / MUS109
Space at the Table / MUS113
Popular Music Ensemble / MUS313-314
Senior Capstone (3 or 4 year students only)

Elective Courses
Jazz Improv II / MUS307
Intro to Audio / MUS090
Musicianship Skills/Theory / MUS215
Group Instrumental Class (Guitar or Piano) / MUS199/21
Vocal Coaching / MUSXXX
Recording for Film/TV / MUSXXX
Performance Shangri-La / MUS105

Sample Academic Courses
Precalculus; Ecology; English IV