Written by Oshin Hephzibah James
When we think about the notable songwriters (Lennon/McCartney, Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, Carole King), it’s often a wonder to fathom how they crafted their songwriting skills and evoked certain emotions that rang through generations. Moreover, they were able to sing their songs the way they thought of them. The art of getting your idea out from within your head onto a paper/instrument — whatever suits you best is the stepping stone to really uncovering the real meaning of songwriting.
And in today’s world, songwriting isn’t just for the chosen few (I don’t think it ever was), today, it’s a skill that can be nurtured and honed, not just within a personal setting, but also within an academic environment.
Over the last decade, the relevance of songwriting and lyricism have become increasingly prevalent. Most of the hit songs (pop culture) we encounter often have a team of songwriters and lyricists who pool in their time and words to create a one-track wonder to catapult the success of major artists. Even your early greats such as Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Whitney Houston, etc. never wrote their own songs. For instance, one of the greatest songs, ‘I will always love you’ (made famous by Whitney) was in fact, written by Dolly Parton! Evidently, songwriters have long been working from behind the scenes and taking a backseat while performers relished in the fame.
Fast forward to today, we are surrounded by a bunch of independent musicians who are releasing incredible tracks — written, recorded, and produced by them. Songwriting isn’t in the backseat anymore; with artists like Raye, Lizzy McAlpine, and Laufey hitting the charts, songwriters are now proficient performers, with a penchant for understanding the intricacies of the music industry.
When you take a look at their success and how their songwriting fuels an entire audience, it’s imperative to understand how important songwriting is, and the power it holds over today’s listeners. This is true, especially when looking at Lizzy McAlpine’s success which was primarily defined by her covid era covers, followed by her chart-topping releases that tap into various emotions while conveying honest story-telling:
So, Who is a Songwriter and How does One become One?
Songwriting is a skill that is often very personal to an artist, and relates to the art of crafting songs and pieces — from meaningful lyrics to supportive harmonies (and so much more obviously!) that could create an impactful piece of music. Most songwriters are hoping you vibe with their songs and really find something to either relate to, or at the very least, enjoy. While it can be a solitary pursuit, oftentimes, musicians also rely on collaborations with other artists to bring a piece of music to life…. But you already knew all this, if not, at least you had an idea.
The simplest things one would need to successfully songwrite is a passion for your art, and a strong desire to create. Today, it’s as simple as grabbing an instrument, strumming some chords, and letting your words flow. It was always that simple.
However, sometimes one could often fall into what’s referred to as a ‘creative block’ or mere confusion on what would be the next likely step. Sometimes, it just helps to get a little help from the people around you. And most times, it’s easier to get that help when there are resources specifically allocated to help you figure it out.
This article will explore the intricate and detailed songwriting modules offered by universities across the globe. We will not only look at what these modules entail in general and why they might be relevant to you but also compare the accessibility to such programs in India.
Songwriting taking center stage: An Academic Approach
Over the last decade, universities worldwide have recognized the growing interest in songwriting. From the prestigious Berklee College of Music in the US to the BIMM Institute of Music in the UK, we have more access to dedicated songwriting modules. Universities ensure that their songwriting modules stay relevant by incorporating additional elements, such as music business, marketing, and audience-building (alongside the core creative skills).
If you are a musician, I am sure you are aware of the multiple hats we’ve needed to wear lately — from being your own promoter, marketer, and video editor, to writing, producing, and mixing your songs. It’s evident that technology is of high need at the moment — helping students cater to diverse musical styles while distributing industry knowledge will ensure that the next generation of songwriters are well-equipped to turn their passion into a successful musical career.
This is why the introduction of songwriting as a whole component in itself is crucial. It gives one accessibility, resources, and guidance in a credible and academic manner which will undoubtedly hone and craft your skill at a lively and indulged pace. A songwriting module can vary depending on the institution and program focus, but typically cover a core set of components targeted toward developing your songwriting skills.
Let’s take a look at some fundamental aspects that define this module:
Foundational Skills
Lyrics & Storytelling: Understanding lyricism and how to write compelling lyrics that can weave a story, evoke emotions, and connect with listeners. It often involves exploring and experimenting with different writing styles, rhyme schemes, and imagery.
Melody & Harmony: One of the more obvious ones; understanding scales, chords, and harmony to a good extent is crucial if you want to create strong melodies and progressions. This will provide a basic grounding for you to further experiment on. Writing catchy melodies and chord progressions that complement each other, involving practical exercises in composition, exploring different chord voicings, and understanding the use of chord progressions within different genres.
(Bonus: Check out ‘What is Harmony’ pt. 1 & 2 here)
Song Structure & Form
This usually relates to songwriting techniques and genre exploration. From identifying the need for a verse-chorus structure, bridge sections, hooks, and pre-choruses — you will learn how these elements work together to create a cohesive and impactful song. Many modules will often expose you to diverse and dynamic genres, from pop and rock to folk and electronic music, breaking down the conventions and techniques specific to each genre. The ultimate goal is for you to find your own identity and voice as a songwriter.
Practical Tools & Techniques
Today, the need for production softwares is at an all-time high. This is why universities encourage the learning and application of this core subject in general. With production software like DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations — Logic Pro, Pro Tools, Abelton), you will grasp the essential tools to record, edit, and arrange your songs!
Moreover, educators often stress on the importance of collaboration and feedback. As collaboration is a vital part of networking within the music industry, a core focus of these modules is to incorporate group projects or workshops where you can learn to provide and receive constructive feedback on each other’s work.
Check out some world-famous international schools that offer songwriting modules and are GMI’s notable university partnerships that enable GMI students to gain their undergraduate degree from music universities abroad:
- Berklee College of Music (Boston, USA)
Berklee College of Music is one of the most renowned institutions offering contemporary music education. They offer a Bachelor of Music in songwriting. The course is geared toward mastering melody, harmony, arranging, and lyric writing.
Songwriting at Berklee College of Music
Moreover, for GMI students, there’s an exciting opportunity! GMI offers a formal Credit Transfer Agreement with Berklee College. This distinct partnership allows current GMI students enrolled in the GMI-Berklee Track to transfer credits for select songwriting and music courses completed at GMI and gain an undergraduate degree in music from Berklee. Not only does this effectively reduce tuition fees considerably, you can also transfer credits to focus on advanced songwriting and major courses!
BIMM boasts state-of-the-art facilities and a creative atmosphere with abundant live rooms, recording suites, and seminar-based classrooms. In their innovative BMUS (HONS) Songwriting, the core subjects explore styles and genres, songwriting techniques, musicianship, music publishing, events, releases, and DAWs.
Take a look at this video of a workshop surrounding songwriting and live performance at BIMM:
If you are studying at GMI, BIMM is one among three incredible university choices — especially if you are looking to perform and thrive in the vibrant heart of the UK, London. With GMI x BIMM Degree Pathway, this partnership ‘allows GMI students to join the second year of their degree courses in performance, production and songwriting, enabling them to continue their studies to earn an internationally recognised British degree from BIMM University whilst gaining valuable networking and internship opportunities.’
3. JMC Academy (Australia)
Australia’s leading creative industries Institution, JMC offers multiple degrees and diplomas in Songwriting, Contemporary Music Performance, and Audio Engineering, among others. Being the first private college in Australia to qualify for accreditation in the fields of Audio Engineering, this institute drives its focus on enabling musicians by giving them the opportunity to write, perform, record, and produce their own music.
Additionally, the GMI x JMC Degree Pathway allows GMI students pursuing an Artist Diploma to progress directly to Trimester 4 of the JMC BAchelor of Music with a specialization in Performance.
Of course, there are tons of other international universities but wait…
Is a Songwriting Major even an Option in India?
India undeniably boasts a rich musical heritage and the songwriting talent pool is just undeniable. While a dedicated ‘songwriting major’ might be less common in India (compared to western institutions), there are educational opportunities that touch base and allow you to develop your songwriting journey.
There are independent music schools and institutes that offer songwriting workshops as well as certificate programs. This is ideal if you want focused learning while not committing to a full degree. Though there are no direct degrees for songwriting, one can gain a degree in related fields. However, the discussion of songwriting within contemporary music still looms large as there are yet to be structured programs that focus on songwriting as a specific core subject while educating aspiring artists to be industry-savvy. This is exactly what GMI hopes to tackle with their innovative initiative — the GMI Songwriting Module.
GMI Songwriting Module?!
With exciting times ahead and a new addition to their curriculum, GMI is introducing a new songwriting module in August 2024! Their songwriting module aims to offer a two year artist diploma specifically focused on songwriting with intensive practical training in songwriting, including lyric writing, composition, and music production software. This will be a significant step as it will allow younger and upcoming artists to rely on this new course if they are keen on songwriting. With more details incoming in the coming months, this module is one to look out for!
Further GMI Initiatives to Support Upcoming Songwriters
Songweavers 2024
Global Music Institute has consistently provided platforms for songwriters to showcase their full potential. If you are an aspiring songwriter, it will interest you to know about Songweavers 2024 — the upcoming GMI Pan-India Songwriting Competition; a curated contest for emerging singer-songwriters. With two successful past editions, this competition will allow songwriters to ‘bring their composition and lyrics to one of the most sought-after venues in Delhi NCR — The Piano Man, Eldeco Centre.
GMI is partnering with numerous renowned music organizations, including The Indian Music Diaries (Media Partner), Music Gets Me High (Education Partner), Madverse (Distribution Partner), Pro Musicals (Equipment Partner), and Neon Culture (Music Business Partner) to award winners with several prizes, including social features and Scarlett audio interfaces!
When: Saturday, 4th May 2024
Time: 12 PM Onwards
Recall Songweavers ’23 here!
The deadline to register for this competition is 22nd April — if you have a story to tell and music to sing, register here now!
GMI Summer Camp
GMI is also hosting an intensive summer camp focusing on three core components: Performance, Production, and Songwriting. With successful summer camps hosted by GMI in the past, this program focuses on creating a tailored and practical experience that will involve integral aspects relating to each component:
‘Refine your skills, explore sounds, and jam with like-minded peers under the best guidance from our talented, experienced, and passionate facilitators!’
Take a look-back at Performance Summer Camp ’23 here!
Take a look-back at Songwriting Summer Camp ’23 here!
Register for the summer camp of your choice and find more information regarding it here!
Ramble On
With strong initiatives like the GMI programs, it is evident that the landscape for aspiring Indian songwriters is gaining major momentum and universities, diploma programs, and workshops further offer a wide range of songwriting skills to master. However, the key takeaway is that the songwriting journey isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Whether you choose the formal program, summer camp workshops, or self-directed learning, the most important factor is your own dedication and will to learn.
So, go grab your instrument, direct your creativity, and start writing your next hit!