Singing to their own tune
A totally learner-centered experience with a just-in-time response to writing lyrics, creating and recording melodies and musical accompaniment.
Songwriting at Kōtui Ako is a totally learner-centered experience! Each learner starts where they are at and is supported to make progress in any or all of writing lyrics, creating and recording vocal melodies, chord structures and musical accompaniment. Zoom class content each week is majorly a ‘just in time’ response to what is on top for the learners.
Start where you are at, take it further and maybe apply some AI on the way!
They work individually and collaboratively as it suits them. Being respectful and proactively nurturing of each others’ musical efforts is a requirement for being part of our class. Unsurprisingly the music and lyrics produced are rich and varied. Check out the following samples of our learners’ mahi during 2024:
Rocketby Oliver - a master of production with an impressive sense of musical structure, Oliver prefers to work with instrumental music arrangements in the Soundtrap music app.
Heartsick by Sophia - here is a lyric writer extraordinaire! (Sophia also has a fabulous singing voice to bring her songs to reality). She has been in our Songwriting class for three years nurturing her own unique skillset and offering rich song/artist listening suggestions that stimulate her peers and eTeacher!
A world of worries by Kayleigh. Wouldn’t you like to be able to create and sing your lyric ideas simultaneously like Kayleigh! Audio quality is less important than grabbing a recording device when you have the inspiration inside you and it has to come out!
Lyrics on their lips
As part of our mahi, expressing personal ideas including those connecting to identity, is strongly nurtured. Our class finds lyric writing can be a valuable outlet and also be helpful for each to consider in the context of our own lives.
Girls rule the world by Hannah. The ability to write a whole song’s lyrics is quite something but sometimes it's hard to craft how it could sound. In 2024 we have turned to the AI music app Udio for a bit of initial inspiration -
Hannah’s own lyrics were inputted into Udio along with her chosen tags ‘pop, female, dance pop’ and out came multiple song versions. Hannah preferredthis version and is being encouraged to edit and sing her own take on it in the Soundtrap music app.
Highly recommended
In our last class of 2024 our Songwriters were asked what they might say about our class to others. Here are some of their replies:
‘Did you hear about the songwriting class? It is the best class ON EARTH’
‘I will do this class till I die’
‘I really enjoyed these songwriting classes’
‘You would love it if you were into music’