Professional/Short course Therapeutic Songwriting

Content

The course content typically includes:

Historical and cultural background

• Historical background to therapeutic songwriting
• The songwriting process
• Philosophy
• Psychological context
• Working in a culture-sensitive way
• Introduction to main approaches to songwriting

Musical techniques

• Basic guitar technique
• Use of keyboard
• Use of acrostic techniques
• Removing protective hurdles and blocks
• Harmonic structures
• Improvisation

Therapeutic skills

• Active listening
• Creative listening
• Staying in the music
• Suspending value judgements
• Client-led approaches to lyric creation
• Group songwriting

Recording

• Technology of recording
• Ethics of recording
• Use of recorded materials

Learning and Teaching

The teaching sessions will involve a variety of teaching and learning formats including workshops, lectures, individual and small group activities, and discussions (the teaching and learning methods will be adapted to the cohort size).

Scheduled learning - the workshops will include workshops, small group activities, and group discussions/seminars.

Independent learning includes hours engaged with practice of techniques, essential reading, further reading and self-directed study, reflective writing, preparation for lectures and in-class activities, and assignment preparation and completion.

This module generates 45 hours of scheduled study time in therapeutic songwriting lectures and workshops.

You will also be expected to spend:

• at least 12 hours applying the songwriting in practice
• approximately 60 hours engaged in independent academic study and practice of the songwriting techniques
• 25 to 30 hours completing the coursework assignment.

Study time

Preparation for and completion of the assignments will take up approximately 25 learning hours and 60 hours remain for independent study connected with this module.

Placement learning: Learning in practice will comprise a minimum of 12 hours.

Scheduled learning: will account for around 45 hours on this module and will involve lectures, seminars, demonstrations, workshops and small group work.

Independent learning: (approximately 88 hours) includes hours engaged with essential reading, reflective writing, presentation preparation and portfolio completion.
 

Assessment

Summative assessment of all learning outcomes aims to capture in the main competencies and aspects of critical understanding which are required for M-level. The assignments will involve reflective practice as well as appraisal and discussion with examiners and peers in order to demonstrate the integration of theory and practice and to allow you creative ways of integrating complex thinking and practice.

The portfolio will include:

1. Recordings of songs written on practice.
2. A written self-appraisal.
3. A written reflective piece on your development in the area of songwriting practice, referencing the recordings.
4. An in-person viva presentation of songwriting practice as a case study.

The total word count of the written parts of the portfolio (2+3) will be 3,000 (+/- 10%).