In-Depth Project: Songwriting
My chosen skill:
This year, the skill I have chosen for the in-depth project is songwriting/composing. Songwriting is a very advanced form of art where one must write sheet music for different instruments who will coordinate and play their instruments together to create music. Music is a very powerful form of art that can express the raw emotions of the creator through sound, and can be paired with poetry in the form of lyrics.
Why I have chosen this skill:
The reason I chose this skill is because I have always had a love for music, and I already know two instruments and would like to use them to gain a more advanced skill. The instruments I know how to play are the violin and drums, which means I have a percussion instrument, a significant part of any piece of music; and a musical instrument that can play a melody; another important type of instrument in a piece of music. I also have a very strong love for music, and listen to music very often – such as during car rides and while reading. Because of this, I believe my existing knowledge can blossom into a new skill that will allow my creativity to flourish.
What I will learn:
Specifically, I will learn how to use software that can write, edit, record, and compile sounds to create music. I will also learn the parts of a song, such as the chorus, verses, and pre-chorus; their purposes, their significance, how to recognize them, and how to create them effectively. Also, I will learn about the different aspects of a piece of music, such as time signature, key, and tempo, and how they will change the overall personality of a piece of music. Additionally, I will learn how to add emotion to the song. After I learn all this, I will compose my own song implementing at least two different instruments into the song, and using the knowledge I will gain from the previous months of the project.
Timetable:
| Plan: | Timetable: |
| Learn how to use different programs to write, record, and edit music. | The first week of meeting my mentor. |
| Learn the basic aspects of music composition and their purposes and begin practicing how to recognize them while listening to different pieces of music. | Second week and the third week. |
| Learn the more intricate aspects of music composition and their purposes and begin learning how to create them in my own music. | Fourth week and the fifth week. |
| Begin experimenting with different melodies using the programs I have learned to further familiarize myself with the programs and practice using the information I have learned. | Sixth week. |
| Compose the chorus for the violin. | Seventh and eighth week |
| Compose the different verses for the violin. | Ninth and tenth week |
| Compose the drum chorus to accompany the violin. | Eleventh and twelfth week |
| Compose the drum verses. | Thirteenth and fourteenth week |
| Practice playing the violin part. | Fifteenth week |
| Practice playing the drum part. | Sixteenth week |
| Record the violin part. | Seventeenth week |
| Record the drum part. | Eighteenth week |
| Edit and compile the recordings. | Nineteenth week |
| Refine the recordings and add final touches. | Twentieth week. |
My Mentor:
My mentor is Jennifer Layne, a local musician and songwriter who offers music lessons for voice on the side. I first knew about her because my little brother has received voice lessons from her, and I thought that she would be able to effectively share her knowledge of music creation. I have not met her yet, but have done a bit of online research on the parts of songs to prepare for our first meet-up.