Songwriting in Memphis will offer students an opportunity to study theories and best practices of songwriting (broadly defined). Over the course of the semester, students will write a variety of pieces utilizing different methods and will workshop their pieces with each other in a cohort model. National and local songwriters will visit the class to discuss their own creative processes, and the course will culminate in the recording of the students’ original works at 1034 Audubon Drive as a part of the Audubon Sessions (produced by the Mike Curb Institute for Music).
Memphis has had more songs written about it than any other city in the world, but it has also served as a creative catalyst for countless generations of songwriters, composers, and producers. From the earliest days of recorded blues and jazz to the advent of R&B, soul, and rock n’ roll to southern hip-hop and the highest levels of pop music, Memphians have been at the creative center of music for the last century and students will also work to understand that tradition and their place within it. The class is open to aspiring songwriters, producers, and music content creators with the permission of the instructor.
Prerequisite: Approval of Professor