Lyric Writing: Writing Lyrics to Music: Syllabus

Lesson 1: Stress in Language

• Identifying Stressed and Unstressed Syllables in a Lyric Line
• Notating the Rhythms of Stress Patterns
• Writing Your Own Patterns to Match Existing Patterns
• Identifying Secondary Stresses

Lesson 2: Musical Stress

• Identifying Stressed and Unstressed Positions in a Musical Bar
• Notating the Rhythms of Musical Stress Patterns
• Writing Your Own Lyric Patterns to Match Musical Patterns

Lesson 3: More Musical Stress

• Stressed Positions Caused by Isolating a Note
• Stressed Positions Caused by a Rest before a Note
• Stressed Positions Caused by Lesser Note Values Preceding a Note
• Stressed Positions Caused by Anticipating a Note

Lesson 4: Melody in 3/4 Time

• Stressed and Unstressed Syllables in Our First Song Section
• Matched and Unmatched Phrases in the Song Section
• Rhyme Positions in the Song Section
• The Hook Position in the Song Section

Lesson 5: Creating the Lyric

• Brainstorming a Title, Using a Rhyming Dictionary
• Developing Ideas That Move the Song Forward
• Identifying Special Positions in the Melody
• Creating Contrasting Ideas
• Finishing the Song

Lesson 6: Melody in 4/4 Time

• Creating a Straightforward Setting in 4/4 Time
• Working with Multiple Note Values
• Identifying Cases of Stressed Notes on Weak Beats
• Identifying Anticipations
• Working in a Verse/Chorus Format

Lesson 7: Creating the Verse/Chorus Lyric

• Gaining Speed and Experience Brainstorming from a Title
• Working with Longer and Shorter Phrases
• Working More Easily with Contrasting Sections
• Constructing Effective Bridges

Lesson 8: 4/4 time; Multiple Note Values

• Working with a More Complex Setting in 4/4 Time
• Working with Multiple Note Values
• Working with Sections Whose Note Values Are Different
• Identifying Anticipations More Quickly
• Working in a Simple Verse/Chorus Format

Lesson 9: Creating the Lyric

• Gaining Speed and Experience Brainstorming from a Title
• Working with a More Complicated Arrangement of Matched Phrases
• Writing Lyrics for More Complex Structures
• Developing Your Setting Up Rhyme Schemes

Lesson 10: 4/4 Swing Time; Phrasing

• Working with a More Complex Song Form
• Working with Swing Rhythm
• Gaining Independence and Confidence in the Analysis Process
• Skipping a Few Steps

Lesson 11: Creating the Lyric; Sectional Contrasts

• Gaining Independence and Confidence in the Writing Process
• Dealing Effectively with More Complex Structure
• Working with Two Kinds of Bridges: Prechoruses (or "Transitional Bridges") and Primary Bridges

Lesson 12: The Last Mile

• Gaining Independence and Confidence in the Writing Process
• Working with Two Kinds of Bridges

• Course Outline / Syllabus
• Requirements for Lyric Writing: Writing Lyrics to Music

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