Songwriting and Tunewriting in Roots Styles

This course explores the deep craft and artistry of songwriting and instrumental tune composition in American and related roots music traditions, and the ways contemporary artists have drawn on and evolved these styles. Students will examine songs and tunes in diverse roots genres, analyzing them using both general songwriting tools and techniques (e.g., as introduced in Lyric Writing 1 and Songwriting 1), and structural, lyrical, and musical techniques distinctive to roots styles. While the course emphasizes critical listening, analysis, and comprehension of the historical and  cultural context of the source material, it is primarily a project-oriented songwriting course. Students work with models drawn from roots source repertoire as points of departure for new original creative work, ranging from work directly identifiable within a roots idiom, to work incorporating techniques from these styles in contemporary and students' individual creative styles. As this course brings together students from diverse backgrounds (contemporary songwriters, roots players and tune writers), there is a strong emphasis on collaborative listening and analyzing as well as co-writing in class projects.