Module Information

Module Identifier
WR32620
Module Title
Writing Music
Academic Year
2025/2026
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 1
Reading List
Other Staff

Course Delivery

 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Portfolio  3000 words/10 pages of poetry (or a combination of both) and 1000 words Critical Commentary. Creative submissions can be supplemented with audio recordings. 4000 Words  100%
Supplementary Assessment Portfolio  3000 words/10 pages of poetry (or a combination of both) and 1000 words Critical Commentary. Creative submissions can be supplemented with audio recordings. 4000 Words  100%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

Developed awareness of a range of formal techniques available for writing poetry, songs, fiction and nonfiction.

Make constructive critical responses to their own writing, and engage in appropriate revisions of their own work;

Integrate their understanding of the similarities and differences between literary and musical forms into their writing practice;

Demonstrate confident critical reflection on the historical development of poetic and musical forms, especially as they relate to their own creative practice.

Brief description

Designed to be of particular interest to students (both poetry and prose writers) who have interests in music as well as literature – and who might have ambitions to combine the two. The module will also be of especial interest to students who might want to go into music journalism. The first half of this module focuses on three closely related musical and literary forms: lyric poetry and popular song, the literary ballad and folk ballad, slam poetry and rap. The seminars will examine the similarities and differences between these forms and genres, and students will experiment with writing in each. The second half of the module will be focused on writing about music in fiction and nonfiction.

Content

Session 1. Lyric
This seminar will explore the origin of the lyric, examining examples from Ancient Greece, alongside more recent lyric poems. Students will compare and contrast these with a selection of contemporary song lyrics. Followed by writing exercises.
Session 2. Workshop

Session 3. Ballad
This seminar will look at the historical development of the ballad (broadside, literary, folk and blues), as well as how the form has been used by 20th and 21st century poets and songwriters. Followed by writing exercises.
Session 4. Workshop

Session 5. Slam Poetry and Rap
This seminar will explore the close relationship between spoken word, slam poetry and rap. Students will compare and contrast a selection of these. Followed by writing exercises.
Session 6: Workshop

Session 7. Fiction about Music
Looking at a range of examples, this seminar will examine the different ways in which music – its creation and performance – can be represented in fiction. Followed by writing exercises.
Session 8: Workshop

Session 9. Writing Reviews, Blogs and Music Memoir
This seminar explores different approaches to writing about music in nonfiction. A selection of music journalism and memoir will be discussed. Followed by writing exercises
Session 10: Workshop

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Co-ordinating with others Play an active part in group activities in the seminar
Creative Problem Solving Through dealing with problems of writing and research
Professional communication Through seminar discussion, and though writing the assignments.
Reflection Through independent reading and research

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6