Original Music Composition and Songwriting Training

Learning Outcomes

• Apply fundamental music theory concepts (scales, chords, rhythm) to compose original melodies and chord progressions.
• Analyze existing songs to identify structural elements, lyrical devices, and harmonic patterns.
• Design original song structures (verse-chorus, AABA, etc.) with cohesive lyrical and musical content.
• Demonstrate techniques for generating melodic and lyrical ideas through brainstorming, improvisation, and thematic development.
• Evaluate and revise compositions for emotional impact, coherence, and technical accuracy.
• Implement recording or notation methods to document and present original compositions.

Target Audience

Aspiring songwriters, musicians, music producers, and creative professionals seeking to develop or refine their skills in original music composition and songwriting. Suitable for individuals with basic musical knowledge who wish to formalize their creative process.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment. A basic familiarity with an instrument or voice is beneficial but not required.

Course Outline

Practicals

Overview

Practical sessions allow learners to apply theoretical knowledge through hands-on composition exercises, instrument practice, and collaborative songwriting. These supervised sessions build confidence in creating original music and receiving real-time feedback.

Practical Activities

• Melody and Chord Progression Creation — Learners use keyboards or digital audio workstations to create a short melody and accompanying chord progression based on given parameters. (3h)
• Lyric Writing and Song Structure — Learners write lyrics for a verse and chorus, then set them to a chord progression, focusing on rhyme and meter. (3h)
• Arrangement and Instrumentation Exercise — Using a provided song skeleton, learners create a full arrangement by selecting instruments, adding layers, and planning dynamics. (3h)
• Genre-Specific Composition — Learners compose a short piece in a chosen genre, applying genre-specific harmonic, rhythmic, and production techniques. (3h)
• Final Project Development and Presentation — Learners work on their final composition with instructor guidance, then present their work to the class for feedback. (3h)

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course via daily exercises, scored practical assignments, and a final summative test at the end.

Practical Assignments — 30%

Practical assignments are observed and scored against a rubric during the practical sessions. Each delegate's practical mark is averaged into a single 100% score and contributes 30% to the final total.

Daily Exercises — 20%

Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 20% to the final total.

Final Test — 50%

On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 50% to the overall mark.

Final Total

Component	Out of	Weight
Practical Assignments (rubric-scored)	100%	30%
Daily Average (multiple choice)	100%	20%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice)	100%	50%
Final Total	—	100%

All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.

Certificate

How it works

• Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
• Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
• You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
• If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.

Where to find it

Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.

Training Discounts

Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.

Delegates	Discount
5	3% off
10	6% off
15	9% off
20	12% off
25	15% off
30	18% off
50	30% off
75	35% off
100	40% off

3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.