Songwriting 101

An Introduction to Words & Music

  • Program Length

    60 minutes

  • grade levels

    1-12

  • group size

    10-120

  • curricular connections

    Language Arts, Music, SEL

  • select standards

    CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5 CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.W.4, National Association for Music Education Standards 6-9

Songwriting 101: Introduction to Words & Music teaches students the basics of songwriting, including song structure and vocabulary, and establishes songwriting as a creative outlet to explore and process emotions, capture experiences, share stories, and express individuality. The program can be used to strengthen skills learned in traditional language arts units, as well as provide an interactive and collaborative writing experience with a professional songwriter. Songwriting 101 requires teaching one or two lessons in your classroom to generate a song outline. Song outlines are due to the Museum at least two weeks in advance of the scheduled co-write. See specific information on the lesson and curriculum standards according to grade level on the PDFs below.

To schedule this program, please fill out our program request form foundĀ here. For information about program fees, or for any other questions, please contact us atĀ schools@countrymusichalloffame.org.

Teacher Resources

  • Roy Rogers - "Home On the Range"
  • Dolly Parton - "I Will Always Love You"
  • The Carter Family - "Keep On the Sunny Side"
  • Charley Pride - "I'm Just Me"
  • Little Big Town - "Happy People"
  • The Highwomen - "Crowded Table"
  • Taylor Swift - "White Horse"
  • Kane Brown - "Worldwide Beautiful"
  • Tenille Townes - "Somebody's Daughter"

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