Welcome!

Welcome to Contemporary Songwriting!

Block V, 2012-13 -- June 17th through July 25th

This site will serve as a log of class reading, select notes, assignments, dates, and a hodge-podge of other important information. Each class period and major assignments will be documented here.

October 9th, 2012

10/9/12

In Class:
Guided writing exercise: write a piece describing 'rain' without using the word 'rain.' You must use at least one instance of alliteration and one instance of end-rhyme.

Discussed plans for Thursday. If we have adequate attendance, we will have the much-awaited dubstep debate!

Work period for final project. Distributed checklists for summative assessment completion:

 
Homework:
Keep working on composition (a.k.a., Summative Assessment Part Two), due Friday at 3:00! 
Consider your opinion on the dubstep genre as music.

October 4th, 2012

10/4/12

In Class:
Guided writing exercise using news clippings.
Work period for final project:
  - Finish and submit first draft.
  - Revise, edit, and proofread your first draft. 
  - Compile sources for your Works Cited page.
  - Begin your final draft. 
  - Work on the composition of Part Two.

Homework:
Complete final draft of research paper (a.k.a., Summative Assessment Part One) by Tuesday at 12:10!
Keep working on composition (a.k.a., Summative Assessment Part Two), due Friday at 3:00!

October 2nd, 2012

10/2/2012

In Class:
Checked homework for completion.
Instruction in constructing a thesis statement: T3 method and variation.
Work period:
  - Finish homework if you didn't have it done for class.
  - Complete first draft with a strong thesis statement and MLA formatting.

  - Continue researching for essay.

        *Make sure you are keeping track of where your information comes from!

  - Edit, revise, and proofread first draft.

  - Work on part two of final project.

        Before you leave class, you must submit your first draft.

Homework:

Work on your final project! The research paper final draft is due on Tuesday, October 8th; the composition is due Friday, October 11th.

September 27th, 2012

9/27/12

In Class:
Pop quiz: 1) Define 'genre.' 2) Define 'melody.' XC: Draw a treble clef staff.
Collaborative guided writing exercise using syllabic count and end-rhyme.
Instruction and discussion on the nature of performance, performance techniques, and the nature of a 'performer.' Focus on: talent, stage presence, confidence, energy, and notability/memorability, amongst other characteristics.
Research paper outline completion confirmed for credit. First drafts are due Tuesday, October 2nd!

Homework:
Find a video of a LIVE performance (you may use YouTube or another resource). Take notes of characteristics the performer exemplifies or misses.
Complete a first draft of your research paper by Tuesday!

September 25th, 2012

9/25/12

In Class:
Checked for homework completion.
Pop quiz: define 'genre.' For extra credit, discuss the concept of 'generic imperative.'
Practiced lyrical and melodic composition through guided writing exercises.

Instruction in MLA Format, which will be applied to Part One of each student's final project. Note on the Summative Assessment Rubric that there will be no exceptions for mistakes in format, as instruction was provided in class. This is a common standard for college-level writing. Students are encouraged to ask the instructor to review format before officially submitting the paper; I am happy to help students earn these points toward their respective grades. The Purdue University Online Writing Lab is also a fantastic resource for answering MLA questions.

Sample MLA-formatted essay:

 











































Sample quotation format: 

Homework:
If you didn't do the homework for today, do it for Thursday for partial credit.
Outlines for essays due on Thursday! You MUST write an outline, but you can use whatever format you want.

September 20th, 2012

9/20/12

In Class:
Checked for homework completion. Returned pocket notebooks.

Pop quiz: describe "Generic Imperative." For extra credit, discuss the early Baroque notion of categorizing music by emotion rather than style.

Constructed a lyrical line of seven syllables, emphasizing the second and sixth syllable, to correspond to a given melody.

Guided Work Period for final project:
  - Complete homework, if not yet finished.
  - Identify three genres you'd potentially like to study.
  - Look up each of those three genres on Wikipedia. Skim the articles and decide which you would like to learn more about.
  - Copy down the 'external links' / 'references' from the Wikipedia page; these may be valuable resources for your research.
  - Identify three artists that exemplify your chosen genre.
  - Identify three songs that exemplify your chosen genre.
  - When the term or label for your genre arise? What does it mean?
  - What subgenres or offshoots exist for your genre?
  - What musical characteristics (instrumentation, sound, song structure, tempo, etc.) typically represent your genre? What variations/exceptions are notable?
  - What lyrical characteristics (stylistic, song structure, word choice, figurative language) typically represent your genre? What variations/exceptions are notable?
  - What affective characteristics (tone, emotional moment) typically represent your genre? What variations/exceptions are notable?
Submit the genre you are studying by the end of the class period.

Homework:
Continue research for final project.
Find and copy/print a definition of "perform."
If you end up on Pearl Street this weekend, make note of street performers' styles and techniques.