MUS2120 – Songwriting: Theory and Practice
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
This course presents practical and theoretical perspectives on how to create and convey a song within a wide range of popular music music genres. The course covers the entire process from composition, arrangement, and pre-production via reflections on genre, values and cultural identity, to identification of the target group and strategies for communication with the public. The course is intended to support analytical work or your own practical songwriting or production work.
This course is a practical-theoretical subject and can be chosen from several options. One such course is compulsory for bachelor students in musicology.
This course is being phased out and is only available to bachelor students in musicology with admission autumn 2022 or earlier, as well as for incoming exchange students from study programmes with music.
Learning outcome
After this course is completed, you will:
- have acquired skills and knowledge in popular music analysis and interpretation
- have acquired cultural analytical skills and knowledge of cultural identity and values linked to different genres
- have acquired skills and knowledge about practical songwriting and music communication
- have improved ability for written and oral presentation
- have received training in reflecting on your own or other's artistic work
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for?in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about?admission requirements and procedures.
The course requires admission to the bachelor's programme in musicology. For the spring 2024 semester, it is also available for incoming exchange students from?study programmes with music.
Formal prerequisite knowledge
MUS1200 – Musikkbasis (discontinued) and either MUS1255 – Komposisjon/arrangering 1 - pop/rock/jazz (notebasert) (discontinued) or MUS1280 – Komposisjon/arrangering 1 - produksjon (discontinued), or similar. Incoming exchange students from study programmes with music are exempt from these prerequisites.
Recommended previous knowledge
MUS1445 – Musikkens historie or similar
Teaching
-
7 double-hour lectures
-
4 triple-hour seminars
Compulsory activities
-
4 qualifying assignments?
Information about assignments and the deadlines are available in Canvas. Students have to hand in the assignments within the given deadline, and are responsible for familiarising themselves with the requirements for the compulsory activities.
The compulsory activities are only valid within the current semester. All compulsory activities must be approved in order to sit for the exam. Students are responsible of keeping track of registered absences and check that everything has been approved.
Read more about compulsory activities here.
Examination
- Term paper. A song and a written report of between 6 and 8 pages that discusses the process of composing and communicating the recorded song in light of the curriculum and lectures
- The song itself must be attached in the form of a demo recording (both the Department's and your own equipment can be used)
- Emphasis will be placed on the ability to analyse and interpret one's own song and reflect on its presentation, as well as the ability to apply insights from the literature
You have to fulfill the requirements of the compulsory activities to sit the exam.
Language of examination
You may submit your response in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F?is a fail. Read more about?the grading system.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.