RSL Music Practitioner Qualifications

Extended Certificate (Year 1/Year 2)

MUSPRA 310 Composing Lyrics
Unit Title: Understanding My Musical Self
Credit Value: 5

Context:
Lyrics often play an essential role in many compositions and they can resonate with a
listener, sometimes educating, often influencing their views, outlooks and emotions
potentially in a profound way.
When lyrics work well within a musical backdrop they can augment the composition,
eliciting a range of emotions and reactions that they music would not have achieved on its
own.

Scenario: You have been commissioned by a composer to compose lyrics for a pair of songs
in order to have them published and ultimately recorded by a successful recording artist. This
could lead to mainstream recognition and potentially lucrative revenue streams.

Learning Outcomes:

1. To demonstrate the skills to write lyrics for specific outcomes and assess own skill
development as a lyric writer.

What YOU will do:

1.1 Produce two sets of complete lyrics in response to each of the following:
a) to fit an established song framework (a whole song) in a specified style, given by the
composer;
b) around a self-defined theme or concept which has a personal resonance;
1.2 Assess the suitability of each lyric to the fulfilment of 1.1 a and b.
1.3 Analyse strengths and areas requiring further development based on feedback on the
submitted lyrics in relation to:
lyric writing technique
the use of language
writing style
and develop strategies for improvement in relation to future lyric writing projects.

When is it due?
Set date: 19th January 2017
Due date: 16th March 2017

Presentation dates: 16th & 17th March 2017

RSL Music Practitioner Qualifications
Extended Certificate (Year 1/Year 2)
MUSPRA 310 Composing Lyrics
Unit Title: Understanding My Musical Self
Credit Value: 5
Assignment Tasks:
Task 1: Create a set of lyrics for a given song.
Whilst doing so, you should log your process, successes, failures and any other
important elements involved in your lyric writing.
Task 2: Create a set of lyrics for a piece of music of your own choice, again, your
process should be documented along the way.
Task 3: Facilitate the recording of your lyrics to create a demo recording.
Task 4: Write a self-assessment of both sets of lyrics, assessing their suitability
for the purpose.
Task 5: Evaluate your lyrics based on feedback given, looking at your lyric
writing technique, the language used, the writing style as well as developing
strategies for improvement.

Research:
One of the most important resources for learning to write lyrics is to listen to
a wide ranging palate of music.

From the Golden Age of Broadway through protest songs, soul, rock, hip hop
to contemporary popular music, each style of song has its own conventions
and lyrical techniques. Listen to and learn from the masters of their craft.

Podcasts such as Song Exploder give an insight into the processes

involved in the composition of a range of popular artists work.

Isle of Noises by Daniel Rachel features conversations with a number

of British songwriters, allowing you to gain an understanding of their
processes.
RSL Music Practitioner Qualifications
Extended Certificate (Year 1/Year 2)
MUSPRA 310 Composing Lyrics
Understanding My Musical Self
Credit Value: 5
Pass
To achieve a pass, learners must:
1. Develop two sets of independent, original lyrical ideas, demonstrating limited range of
writing techniques mostly appropriate to context. The writing style and use of language
will be basic and mainly formulaic. Lyrics written for the given song will contain some
convincing moments, reflecting in part the songs musical content. The free choice
lyrics show knowledge of the subject matter.
2. Assess the suitability of each lyric set to the fulfilment of the respective brief. The
assessment should contain a justification for the suitability of the lyric to the brief in
each case.
3. Evidence skills to evaluate strengths and areas for development realistically in relation
to their lyric writing techniques, use of language and writing style and demonstrate a
basic understanding of their progress as lyricists and in target setting relative to ongoing
improvement.
Merit
To achieve a merit, learners must:
1. Develop two sets of independent, original lyrics, demonstrating range of writing
techniques appropriate to context, some degree of originality in the writing style, and
some creativity in the use of language. Lyrics written for the given song will contain
many convincing moments, reflecting well the songs musical content. The free choice
lyrics are successful stylistically, showing good knowledge of the subject matter.
2. Assess the suitability of each lyric set to the fulfilment of the respective brief. The
assessment should be thorough and contain solid justifications for the suitability of the
lyric to the brief in each case.
3. Evidence skills to evaluate strengths and areas for development realistically and
accurately in relation to their lyric writing techniques, use of language and writing style
and demonstrate a sound understanding of their progress as lyricists and in target
setting relative to ongoing improvement.
Distinction
To achieve a distinction, learners must:
1. Develop original two sets of independent lyrical ideas, which are highly creative for this
level, that show expressive content and would be highly suitable for a composed song.
They can effectively use a range of lyric writing techniques, which result in a highly
convincing lyrical content which greatly reflects the songs musical content.
2. Demonstrate how the lyrical content displays a strong relationship to the musical
backdrop and concept by providing a full detailed assessment of both lyrics. The
learner can give detailed insightful reasons for the suitability of their lyrics for the music
that is used.
3. Show excellent abilities in taking feedback on board when considering how well the
lyrics created in 1.1 reflect the subject matter. They may give a clear analysis of their
strengths and areas for development with targeted and realistic goals for development
RSL Music Practitioner Qualifications
Extended Certificate (Year 1/Year 2)
MUSPRA 310 Composing Lyrics
Understanding My Musical Self
Credit Value: 5

Internal Verification
Internal Verifier Name: MR PAUL FAITHFULL

Internal Verifier Comments This unit is fit for purpose,

containing appropriate
assignment tasks and dates
for submission.

Assignment Brief Agreed Yes

Date: September 15th 2017