Boostweek workshop English - music

• Engels
• MBO
• Studiejaar 1,2

Boostweek workshop English - music

During this workshop, you will...

... learn how to produce your own melody. 

... write your own lyrics that fit this melody. 

... learn more about the meaning and structure

of lyrics. 

Producing your own melody

You're going to produce your own song using Google Song Maker. This is an easy and accessible way to learn how to produce a song. 

The next slide will show you an instruction video on how to use Google Song Maker. The slide after that will redirect you to the song maker website. Open this link and keep it open while looking at this LessonUp!

musiclab.chromeexperiments.com

How to produce a melody

Step 1:

Decide what kind of song you want to write: a happy song? a sad song? Based on what kind of song you want, it'll either be a fast-paced song or a slow-paced melody. If you want a happy, fast song, you choose a higher tempo. If you want a sad, slow song, you choose a slower tempo. Slide the "tempo" bar either up or down and see what it does to the tempo of the song. 

Music fact: the tempo of a song is also known as BPM or "beats per minute". Most songs have a BPM anywhere between 100–140.

 

How to produce a melody

Step 2: 

You work from the bottom up, meaning you'll start with the beat. Create a beat using the lower part of the Song Maker screen. You can change the sound of the

beat by clicking on the button below

the red arrow. 

Producing your own melody

Step 3: 

Now that you've decided on a tempo and beat, you're ready to create your own melody using the top part of the Song Maker screen. You can change the sound of the melody by clicking on the button below the blue arrow. 

Play around with the sounds and options and 

create a melody that you like! 

Producing your own melody

If you want to create a longer song, change the "bars" in the settings. You can also change the "octave" (scale of sounds - you can add more higher notes) in the settings.

Change the settings and see

what happens! 

Your melody is now finished!

Now it's time for the hardest part of producing your own song... writing lyrics

Writing lyrics

Step 1: Decide the title and topic of your song. 

Decide what you want your song to be about. Songs can be about anything. Most singers try to write songs about topics that their listeners will resonate with. A LOT of songs are about love - ... or breakups - because many people experience this and thus will recognize themselves (or their stiuation) in the lyrics (...often making the songs very popular). 

However, not every song has to be incredibly deep. Sometimes people just write about something that happened to them (or someone they know), that they saw or that they are interested in. Songs can also be educational, like songs about history or math. 

Songs can literally be about anything: it's a way of expressing yourself. It's an art form!

Writing lyrics

Step 2: Decide the structure of your song

Songs have a certain structure. Songs usually have: 

• Multiple verses (coupletten).
• A pre-chorus (voorrefrein - stuk dat het refrein "introduceert" - repeated multiple times throughout the song).
• A chorus (refrein - repeated multiple times throughout the song).
• A bridge (a musical 'passage' that connects two parts of a song). 

Writing lyrics

An example of the structure of a song could be:

• Verse 1: Introduces the setting and characters and establishes the mood or theme of the song
• Chorus: The most memorable and catchy part of the song, often repeated several times
• Verse 2: Continues the story or develops the theme further
• Chorus: Repeated
• Bridge: A change in melody and the introduction of a new idea or emotion
• Chorus: Repeated as the finale

Writing lyrics

Some songs will have a pre-chorus, some won't. An example of a song that doesn't have a pre-chorus is "invisible string" by Taylor Swift. You're free to decide the structure of your own song. 

Click the links on the following slides: look at the structure of the song and listen to the song.

genius.com

Writing your own lyrics

Step 3: writing your lyrics

Your song now has a title and an empty structure. 

Now it's time to write the actual lyrics. Song lyrics don't necessarily have to rhyme, but they can! This is totally up to you and your preferences.

Make sure your lyrics fit with your melody!

Good luck & have fun :) 

Really stuck? Write a parody!

A parody: you change the lyrics of an existing song. Watch the video on the next slide to see an example of a parody. Choose a song and change the lyrics.