WRITING COMMERCIAL HIT LYRICS, with Mark Winkler – FALL 2018
This is the class materials site for this 8-week lyric writing class with Mark Winkler. For those tuning in online, you may view immediately below. Video archives will appear here each week (scroll down). Click the link immediately below to access the class homework submissions folder and then deposit in the appropriate week’s folder.
TO SUBMIT WEEKLY HOMEWORK DO SO AT THE CLASS GOOGLE FOLDER
CLASS 1: TITLES, SONG FORM, THREE TOP TIPS
CLASS 1 HANDOUTS:
VERSE-CHORUS: What Each Section Must Accomplish
CLASS 2: WORD CLUSTERS + WRITING FROM A TITLE
HANDOUTS
If you don’t write music and need backing Tracks
- Just add Vocals—www.justaddvocals.com
- Writer Tracks- www.writertracks.com
- Karaoke-version.com
- Drumsondemand.com- go to “my co-writer”
- Jamstudio.com
- Ujam.com
HOMEWORK due for Class 3 (refer to submission folder ABOVE)
The homework for week two is to write a lyric (melody is optional) based on one of your 10 titles.
Steps to writing song:
1. Pick title
2. Come up with 2 sentence plot/concept for song
3. Pick the form (verse/chorus or AABA)
4. Write to “Dummy melody”, existing hit melody or a melody they write
Do a “Word Cluster.”
CLASS 3: RHYME, MORE TOP TEN TIPS
HANDOUTS for CLASS 3
HOMEWORK DUE CLASS 4: RE-WRITE THE BEATLES
Based on The Beatles song “Penny Lane,” do the following:
- Write a lyric based on your childhood reminiscences and put it in place of the Beatles observations in the song “Penny Lane.” Follow the melody and use the Beatles’ Rhyme scheme.
- find a 3-syllable word to replace Penny Lane like “Baldwin Hills” “Sherman Oaks”, Baton Rouge”– and go from there
“PENNY LANE” – karaoke track to write to
“PENNY LANE” – full song (for reference/educational purposes only)
CLASS 4: LAUNDRY LIST SONGS
HANDOUTS for CLASS 4:
“YOU’RE THE TOP” – LYRIC BY COLE PORTER
“YOU’RE THE TOP” – Parody Example
“YOU’RE THE MUTT” – Parody Example
HOMEWORK FOR CLASS 5:
1) The assignment is to rewrite the First A Section of Cole Porter’s “You’re the Top” following his rhyme scheme and melody.
2) The second part is to re-write Tim McGraw’s “Live Like You’re Dying.” Just the chorus is a laundry list– so rewrite it following the rhyme scheme or melody.
Submit to the homework folder as before.
CLASS 5
HANDOUTS FOR CLASS 5:
WRITING COMMERCIAL HIT LYRICS MIDTERM
NOTES ON PEOPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW
CLASS 6
HANDOUTS FOR CLASS 6:
WRITING LYRICS TO EXISTING MELODIES
CLASS 7
Note: Including the previous semester’s Class 7 where Mark covers the same concepts and assignment, but with different class members.
HANDOUTS FOR CLASS 7
CLASS 8
Thank you for taking part in this class! Interested in what might come next at The Songwriting School of Los Angeles? Below are some options for the coming season. Click on the green button to learn more. Questions about what might be right for you? E-mail info@thesongwritingschool.com or call 818-848-7664. Continued courage, joy, and success to you in song and beyond!
SOME CLASS OPTIONS FOR YOUR FUTURE!
Here’s to making 2019 a year of courage and creation and to moving meaningfully toward your goals. Just some of the classes available this season, on-campus and (in some cases) online are below. Click to read the description or to enroll.
For you ROOTS alums, you can join Songmakers (“Beyond the ROOTS”) at any point, Saturdays 10:30am-1:15pm. Need any help picking your next class? Happy to help you sort it out: 818-848-7664 or E-mail us.
Thank you for your important part in this creative community!