The Discover Music songwriting program consists of 12 modular sessions. Each session covers an important aspect of the songwriting process, and can be delivered over varied lengths of time to suit the needs of the partner organization and their students/clients. A program may be completed in 12 sessions or can be extended to span an entire academic year. If the course is taught in a school during the day for credit, it follows a curriculum built around the state standards framework.

Session 1: Basic Music Theory - notes, rhythms, counting, scales, musical terminology
Session 2: Song Structure - function of sections, popular formulas, building energy, identification
Session 3: Chordal harmony - Roman numeral analysis, chord progressions, 4 part writing
Session 4: Storytelling - Structure, methods, making meaning, perspective, audience, sequence
Session 5: Writing with Purpose - harnessing inspiration, writing for self and others
Session 6: Poetic Devices - rhythm, rhyme, meter, descriptive writing, purposeful rule breaking
Session 7: Critique - sharing, lyrical effectiveness, giving and receiving criticism, audience perception
Session 8: Production - putting it all together, adding instruments, musical feeling
Session 9: Recording - How to sing, how to record with available tech, basic audio engineering
Session 10: Music Business - interview professionals, articulate purpose and artistic intent
Session 11: Final Project - overcoming fear, performing in front of others, career exploration
Session 12: Writing for Wellness - writing as daily practice, exercises, affirmation, expression

Throughout the program students are asked to analyze current and historically significant works, make connections to their own lives, and are challenged to see the impact of songs from several perspectives. One of the most important elements is the learning environment itself. The program encourages risk taking and provides a safe space to practice failure. Students learn to build on what’s working, let go what doesn’t serve them well, and to look at their work objectively without getting defensive. They are taught that not every idea is a good one, not every feeling is worth dwelling on, and they need to choose which are worthy of their effort. The environment is often different from what we typically imagine “school learning” to be. It’s best described as a managed chaos. This is by design. Students work on their own pieces at their own pace and engage in the meaningful work of making connections between theory and reality, between one another, and between disparate parts of themselves. It’s messy but essential work for allowing them to personalize this tool and integrate it into their personality and practice. At the culmination of the program students will have each written at least one song, and those songs are either performed in a live concert or recorded in a studio. The final project is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many of the students; backed up by a band of professionals and producing their track in a real studio brings their songs to life in a way they’ll never forget.

“Seriously writing all started in your class and you gave me the tools to better myself as a human and I thank you for it.”
Middle School Student, 4 years after participating in the program

Discover Music instructors are working music professionals, bringing their experience, personality, knowledge and compassion into the classroom. They are clear on their role, which is less about dispensing information and more about guiding growth. They are trained to listen to the to the students and help them work through the musical concepts as well as their personal struggles. Before working with students, instructors are given a background check, observed in the classroom by the Executive Director, and given training techniques to work with adolescents and deliver the Discover Music content faithfully. Discover music either provides instructors with tested curriculum or helps them create their own. Mentoring and classroom support are offered to instructors for the duration of the course.

Each session of the program has a core lesson plan and several extensions. The more time spent with students, the deeper into the material they are able to go. Extensions include small projects, field trips, assignments and assessments, as well as up to 12 extra lessons on each session. The program was designed this way to meet the needs of varying schools. Each school has a different timeframe in which to offer the program, and integrate the program to varying degrees into their core offerings.