Instructor: Carl Richardson

Email: richardsoncc@lamarpa.edu

Phone: (409) 984-6353

Office Hours: MW (10-11, 12-1) T/Tr (12-3) F (12-1)

Additional Contact Information:

Introduction to the techniques of writing marketable songs including the writing of lyrics and melodies, setting lyrics to music, developing lyrical and musical hooks, analyzing the marketplace, and developing a production plan for a song demo.

The Art of Writing Great Lyrics, Pamela Phillips Oland, Allworth Press

Recommended - Webster's Thesaurus for Students, Merriam-Webster 3. Merriam, Webster's Rhyming Dictionary, Merriam-Webster

*You may use apps or websites for these as well

Textbook Purchasing Statement: A student attending Lamar State College Port Arthur is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from the college-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer.

None

Completion of or concurrent enrollment in MUSC 1213 and 1211

- Develop skills to compose marketable melodies w/ commercial music, form, & harmony

- Write lyrics and set to song

- Create lyrical, melodic, and harmonic hooks

- Develop a production plan for a song demo

PERFORMANCE

1. Applies commercial music performance techniques to professional practice.

2. Applies commercial music sound engineering technology to support performance practices.

3. Applies basic music industry principles to professional practice.

4. Demonstrates professional behavior as characterized by a commitment to the profession.

Original Song Projects:

Song 1

Song 2

Song 3

Final Project

Final Exam

See "additional information" below for details on all projects

All classes are cancelled on the following dates:

Labor Day - Monday, Sept. 7th

Thanksgiving - Thursday, Nov. 26th & Friday, Nov. 27th

Week 1: Syllabus & Introduction to Songwriting, Discussion

Week 2: Song Forms, CHARTS Intro (Traditional and Number Style Chord Charts) 

Week 3: Lyric Writing, Literary Devices, Rhyme Schemes

Week 4: Melody Study, Chord Structure and Harmony

Week 5: Chord Structure and Harmony cont., 1st SONG DUE FRI 9/25

Week 6: 'Nashville Number System' Charts (NNS)

Week 7: NNS Charts cont., Styles Study

Week 8: Lyric Study, 2nd Song work

Week 9: Intro to Jingles, 2nd SONG DUE FRI 10/23

Week 10: Jingles cont., The Art of Collaboration (Groups)

Week 11: Jingles cont., Lyric Study

Week 12: Lead Sheet Production

Week 13: Reharmonization, 3rd Song/Collaboration Work

Week 14: 3rd Song/Collaboration Work cont.

Week 15: 3rd Song/Collaboration DUE MON 11/30, Final Exam Review

Week 16: Final Exam MON 12/7, Final Project DUE MON 12/7

* Study focus dates by week may be adjusted based on class needs and rate of progress.    

* Project due dates may be pushed to a later date but never earlier.

Final Exam - Monday, December 7th, 2026

90 - 100=A 80 - 89=B 70 - 79=C 60 - 69=D 59 and Below = F

Attendance 10%

Homework 15%

Quizzes 15%

Original Song 1 10%

Original Song 2 10%

Original Song 3 20%

Final Project 10%

Final Exam 10%

To discuss grades or anything class related, schedule an office visit. Please refer to office hours listed above.

Students may email me at richardsoncc@lamarpa.edu. I will respond as soon as possible.

Research has shown a cause and effect relationship between attendance and college success.

Policies for this course are as described below: You get one 1 free absence before your lates/absences start to count against your grade in the attendance category. After that, EACH UNEXCUSED ABSENCE DEDUCTS 10% OF YOUR ATTENDANCE GRADE. Three lates = 1 absence.

Excused absences must meet the following criteria: death in the family, medical related emergency, illness with doctor's note. Any cause beyond this will be left up to instructor discretion. Excused absences will be considered on a case by case basis.

YOU MUST E-MAIL YOUR INSTRUCTOR BEFORE YOU MISS CLASS with an explanation of why you will be absent. The date and time of the e-mail will be considered. Excused absences are conditional upon this. Any deviation will be considered at the discretion of the instructor.

*Any songs or jingles additional to those required will be considered for extra credit at the discretion of the instructor.

Original Song Projects: - Students will submit 3 original songs throughout the semester. For each song, other specific materials will be required as explained below. The third song will be a collaboration between students and/or instructor. - You are encouraged to perform/present your song(s) in class. Presenting songs one on one with the instructor must be requested on a song by song basis. - You may use a chord instrument (guitar or piano) and sing or arrange to have someone else perform the song or accompany you. - You may also provide a recording of all or part of the songs. If you produce music via technology, feel free to record the full song or use recordings to accompany yourself and/or other performers. This applies to songs presented in class and on the recording project. Instructor may also help out as accompanist. CHARTS ARE REQUIRED FOR ACCOMPANIMENT!

Song 1 - Lyric Sheet, Traditional Chord Chart, Melody - DUE FRI 9/25 (Week 5)

Song 2 - Lyric Sheet, Nashville Number Chart, Melody - DUE FRI 10/23 (Week 9)

Song 3 - Lyric Sheet, Traditional Chord Chart, Nashville Number Chart (Collaboration - students will split duties up), Lead Sheet optional for extra credit - DUE MON 11/30 (Week 15)

Final Project: - DUE MON 12/7 BY END OF CLASS - Students will record a pre-production demo of one of their 3 song projects. At the least, this pre-production demo will have a vocal melody and one chord instrument. - Instrumentation may range from chord instrument and voice to as much as a full band with ensemble instrumentation. Full band instrumentation, depending on quality, will be considered for extra credit. - Any additional pre-production demo and/or full production recordings of songs or jingles written in this class will count toward extra credit on a case by case basis. - You may engineer and produce this recording yourself with your own gear or school facilities if you are a sound engineering major. If you are not a sound engineering major and are not able to produce and engineer this project yourself, please set up time with one of the engineering students to help with your project. You may also call on the instructor to help with this. *** KEEP IN MIND - YOU MUST RESERVE PERFORMERS FOR YOUR PROJECT WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME LEADING UP TO THE DUE DATE.

Be sure to check your campus email and Course Homepage using MyLSCPA campus web portal. You can also access your grades, transcripts, academic advisors, degree progress, and other services through MyLSCPA.

Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSCPA policies (Academic Dishonesty section in the Student Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Accessibility Services Coordinator, Room 119, in the Ruby Fuller Building. The phone number is (409) 984-6241.

No food or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom. Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission. Use of electronic devices is prohibited.

This syllabus is part of LSCPA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504.

As per Texas law and LSCPA policy, all LSCPA employees, including faculty, are required to report allegations or disclosures of child abuse or neglect to the designated authorities, which may include a local or state law enforcement agency or the Texas Department of Family Protective Services. For more information about mandatory reporting requirements, see LSCPA's Policy and Procedure Manual.

LSCPA is committed to establishing and maintaining an environment that is free from all forms of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual violence, and other forms of sexual misconduct. All LSCPA employees, including faculty, have the responsibility to report disclosures of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault (including rape and acquaintance rape), domestic violence, dating violence, relationship violence, or stalking, to LSCPA's Title IX Coordinator, whose role is to coordinate the college's response to sexual misconduct. For more information about Title IX protections, faculty reporting responsibilities, options for confidential reporting, and the resources available for support visit LSCPA's Title IX website.

For more information about the Clery Act and crime reporting, see the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report and the Campus Security website.

If you have a grievance, complaint, or concern about this course that has not been resolved through discussion with the Instructor, please consult the Department Chair.