Lyric Writing: Tools and Strategies
Lesson 1: Brainstorming: Object Writing
- Object Writing
- Object Writing Samples
- Daily Object Writing Activities
- Write a Lyric
Lesson 2: Balancing: Number of Lines
- Daily Object Writing Activities
- Daily Balanced Section Writing Activities
Lesson 3: Unbalancing: Number of Lines; Fundamentals of Rhyme
- Daily Object Writing Activities
- Daily Unbalanced Section Writing Activities
Lesson 4: Brainstorming: Worksheets
- Balancing and Unbalancing with Number of Lines: Moving One Section into Another
- Daily Object Writing Activities
- Write Two Sections--Balanced to Balanced
Lesson 5: Line Length; Family Rhyme
- Stressed Syllables
- Family Rhyme
- Daily Object Writing Activities
- Complete a Worksheet and Write a Lyric
Lesson 6: Balancing and Unbalancing with Line Length; Additive and Subtractive Rhyme
- Balancing and Unbalancing with Line Length
- Playing with Line Lengths
- Additive and Subtractive Rhyme
- Daily Object Writing Activities
- Daily Section Writing Activities
- Write a Lyric
Lesson 7: Contrasting Sections Using Line Lengths; Assonance Rhyme
- Contrasting Sections
- Assonance Rhyme
- Prosody of Rhyme
- Daily Object Writing Activities
- Write a Section with Assonance Rhyme
- Write a Contrasting Section
Lesson 8: Line Lengths and Rhythm; Consonance Rhyme
- Match Words to da DUM Patterns
- Match the Rhythm of a Line
- Create a Verse
- Lines of Different Length
- Consonance Rhyme
- Daily Object Writing Activities
- Find Uses of Consonance Rhyme
- Write a Lyric
Lesson 9: Rhythm and Variation; Metaphor
- Rhythm and Variation
- Use Rhythmic Variation
- Match the Rhythm
- Metaphor
- Daily Object Writing Activities
- Daily Metaphor Writing Activities
- Complete Writing Better Lyrics Exercise
- Create Accidental Collisions
Lesson 10: Creating Sections with Rhythm; More on Metaphor
- Couplets
- Create a Section with Couplets
- Varying Line Length--Common Meter and Beyond
- Create a Section of Common Meter
- Finish a Section
- Find Metaphors
- Daily Object Writing Activities
- Revise Two Sections Using Common Meter and Couplets
- Create Metaphors
Lesson 11: Rhyme Structure
- Rhyme Structure
- Notating Rhyme Schemes
- Creating Forward Motion with Rhyme
- Balancing (Resolving) with Rhyme
- Accelerating and Slowing Down with Rhyme
- Controlling Flow with Rhyme
- Defining the End of Sections with Rhyme
- Write a Section
- Types of Closure
- Using Basic Rhyme Paradigms
- Daily Object Writing Activities
- Write a Lyric
Lesson 12: The Grand Finale
- Putting the Pieces Together
- Recap
- What Lies Ahead?
- Object Writing Activity
Ready to Enroll? |
Online Summer Term Starts July 1st
Course Info
| For-credit tuition: $1,400 |
|
Non-credit tuition: $1,200 Add 6 CEUs: $25.00 |
| Credits: 3 |
| Duration: 12 weeks |
| Catalog #: BMW-120 |
Course Faculty 
| Pat Pattison Author, clinician and Berklee Professor of Lyric Writing and Poetry. | |
| Shane Adams Creative Director / Catalog Manager for Sea Gayle Music in Nashville. | |
| Keppie Coutts Keppie Coutts is a performing singer-songwriter and passionate educator. | |
| ↓ Show More Course Faculty ↓ | |
Course Preview
The tools Berklee Songwriting professor Pat Pattison presents in his 12-week course are intended to help songwriters come up with new, creative, and meaningful ideas—helping songwriters avoid writer’s block, remain productive and fresh through daily writing exercises, and take their songwriting up a notch. “There’s no substitute for doing a little bit of something every day,” says Pattison. “And that’s what my course asks students to do.” Read more
Student Comments
“I loved this course. I learned countless new skills and concepts that are going to serve me for the rest of my songwriting life.” - R. Varze
©2001-2013 Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
