3 Quick Songwriting Activities

Three proven ways to get participants engaged in songwriting right away 

Songwriting and especially lyric writing can be a daunting experience especially if a participant has never done it before. The three examples below get participants writing original songs as quickly as possible using techniques used by professional songwriters. Participants will learn basic songwriting/lyric writing skills and techniques and work as a team to create original songs/lyrics and record/perform their own original songs!

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How to… 

A “blank canvas” can be intimidating for even the most experienced artist. The following examples have built-in “creative limitations” to help keep participants focused on completing the task at hand and sets them up for success. Keep your participants accountable to work within the boundaries of the writing activity or songwriting technique and watch how it helps drive participants’ creativity. 

Here are 3 examples of successful songwriting activities:

Example 1: “Just write” – Encourage participants to explore stream-of-consciousness lyric writing. 

  • Pick any topic (really ANY topic… e.g. “water bottle” was used once and worked great!)
  • For 5-10 minutes, participants write in a notebook (or on their phones) without stopping.
  • Encourage participants to go back through their notes and look for lines or words that jump out.
    • Help them look for metaphors or build a story behind the theme they chose.
  • Participants can then rewrite or continue to develop lyrics into a full song.

Example 2: “Scaffolding” – Create an original song using the song form and chord changes of another song.

  • Participants choose a song they like and are familiar with and analyze the song form and chords.
  • Participants choose a new theme/topic and write new lyrics to the verse, chorus, bridge, etc.
  • Participants then take their new lyrics and rewrite the melody of the song.
    • Optional: You can also choose a new chord progression, key, tempo, and/or whatever works
  • Record and/or perform!

Example 3: “Changing Perspective” – This activity places a participant/s in their peer’s shoes, encouraging empathy and shift in perspective and voice.

  • Divide participants into pairs.
  • Participants share a “small moment” experience from their day.
    • Optional: Pairs can pick a topic or theme so their lyrics are similar.
  • Loop a beat or chord progression (whatever feels right for the group).
  • Each individual writes lyrics about their partner’s experience (in first person).
  • Participants then add or change tempo/beat/melodies to adjust to the mood.
  • Participants can then rewrite or continue to develop lyrics into a full song.
  • Record and/or perform!
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Big Ears

Help participants develop their ear and the critical listening skills that are nearly impossible to notate

Critical listening skills like tone, intonation, and groove are universal and highly sought after by all musicians. These skills are also often overlooked or taken for granted in favor of traditional music education skills like music theory and reading skills. Help your participants become well rounded musicians by developing their ear, overall critical listening skills in their playing or music productions. Below are a few ideas on how to help your participants accurately identify and communicate music elements and use them in their own playing or songwriting.  

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How to… 

Be creative in how you communicate musical skills in instrument workshops, ensembles and/or music productions.  

Some ideas for Big Ears workshops include (but not limited to): 

Music Theory:

  • Find the Note: Play a note on piano and have other instrumentalists match the pitch on their instrument
  • Intervals: Give starting notes and find second note based on reference of sound. Limit options to Major, Minor 3rd, etc.
  • Identify Chords: Determine whether chords in root position are minor or major. Move chords around but don’t invert. Make it easy at first and build from there.
  • Transcribe: Figure out a guitar line/chords by ear.

Music Production/Engineering:

  • Listen as a Producer: Describe instrumentation and explain arrangement. How many hooks? Any interludes? Etc.
  • Mixing: Working through a mix and talking through the different instruments and how we handle certain frequency ranges
  • Physics of Sound: How does sound travel? What are frequencies, how are they measured, and what are the frequency ranges instruments play in?

Songwriting:

  • Rhyme Schemes: What type of rhyme schemes is the artist using? Slant rhymes, or perfect rhymes?
  • Lyrical Imagery: Is the artist using metaphor, simile, alliteration? What does it make you feel or visualize? 
  • Performance: What type of emotion is the artist using on the track? How does it support the lyrics? 
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Recording Studio Orientation Process

Demystify complicated studio gear and get participants making beats right away

What better way to teach all the basics of the recording studio than to have participants create a couple projects of their own?!  Engage your new or beginner participants with a real-world project while they learn the expectations for handling studio equipment and basic music production concepts and techniques.

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How to…

  • Participants complete a Recording Studio Orientation to learn:
    • Studio Rules and Expectations (see following “Sample Recording Studio Contract”)
    • How to use and take care of all studio equipment
    • Basics of studio equipment and their functions
    • How to properly turn on and shut down studio equipment
    • How to set up a basic Logic Pro X project (i.e. new tracks, check levels, and record enable)
  • Conduct a simple verbal quiz to make sure participants have learned the names of all studio equipment
  • Have participants produce two basic “demo” Music Production projects using iPad Workstations or computer workstations following this process:
    • GarageBand project at least 32 bars long
    • Distinct “A” and “B” sections
    • Minimum of 5 tracks
    • At least one track performed live by the participant then quantized (others can be Apple loops)

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Dub Club

Two sound design projects that will build your participants’ critical listening skills and creativity

From TikTok to YouTube, everyone is making video content these days. But, the best video productions also have excellent audio quality and sound design.  Help your participants tap into their inner voice actor or foley artist by encouraging them to rebuild the audio for short video clips.

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How to…

  • Voice Acting (Check out TikTok #voiceover for inspiration) 
    • Teens choose a scene from their favorite movie (https://www.scriptslug.com/) or other viral video
    • Find a Video Clip of the scene and strip the audio 
    • Each participant records their voice recreating the scene 
  • Art of Foley (Check out “The Magic of Making Sound” for inspiration) 
    • Teens choose a commercial, funny YouTube video, movie, show or cartoon 
    • Pick a short clip and remove all of the audio 
    • Set up microphone and record voiceovers 
    • Edit voice overs showing participants how to “punch-in” audio 
    • Add additional audio tracks and have participants recreate sound effects using everyday items
    • Drag and drop other sound effects that are harder to recreate
  • Additional ideas: 
    • Host a viewing session to watch all Dub Club videos 
    • Discuss what they like about each project and what can be improved, etc.  
    • Create an organization-wide Dub Club challenge 
    • Show off their creations on your organizations’ social media pages 

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The Remix Contest

Each participant creates their REMIX version of the song of the week – then pick a winner!

Use the isolated stems and samples from popular artists to unleash your participant’s creativity. At the start of each week provide your participants a Remix template file (in Logic or Ableton) preloaded with with the hook of a popular song. Throughout the week participants work on creating their unique version of the song by adding their own drum beat, chords, bass lines and custom mix. At the end of the week, host a voting session on Friday to determine the winner. 

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How to… 

The Remix Contest takes some weekly preparation from music program staff: 

  • Select the “Remix Song of the Week” (e.g. a popular Top 40 Song) 
    • Search for a popular song with an isolated vocal track
    • Tip – have participants create a playlist of songs they’d like to remix 
  • Create a Remix Template to be used by all participants 
    • Trim to only include about 30 sec (e.g. bridge and final chorus)
    • Edit for beat-matching using the metronome
    • Program/sequence basic chords or significant lead/bass lines 
  • Each participant or groups of participants starts the week’s contest with the same Remix Template

Throughout the week/s:

  • Participants work in groups or on their own 
  • Participants create their own original drum beat including:
    • Choose kit sound/s
    • Snare, kick, and hi-hat patterns
  • Help participants experiment by adjusting the patterns around 
  • Help participants experiment with other sounds, percussion and effects
  • Participants can also edit the basic template chords and bass lines that were pre-programmed 
  • Adjust sound libraries and instruments
  • Add parts/harmonies 
  • Adjust to fit their customized drum pattern
  • Add effects, plugins, and adjust mix
  • Voting session: Host a listening and “Voting Session” at the end of the week
  • Anonymously play each 30 second Remix 
  • After all remixes are played, participants vote by raise of hands
  • Announce and recognize the winner!
  • Highlight/showcase weekly winner on a bulletin board 
  • Optional end of session “Remix Champion” event 
    • Weekly Remix Contest winners go head to head at the end of the semester to crown the ultimate “Remix Champion” (complete with trophy/prize
    • Winner chosen by audience favorite 
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