Songwriting Emphasis Application

After admission as a commercial music major, students must submit songwriting materials for approval by the commercial music faculty to be accepted in the Songwriting Emphasis program.

Application Timeline

Freshmen: Incoming Freshmen students should plan to submit materials NO LATER than the first semester of their sophomore year.

Transfer students: Transfer students should plan to submit materials as soon as possible after admission is received to the School of Music.

Important: Students cannot enroll in songwriting (SNG) classes until they have been admitted to the Songwriting Emphasis program. Curb College SNG courses are available both fall and spring semesters, but AET courses are only offered in spring semesters.

What to Submit

Submit the following required materials to Assistant Professor Henry Smiley via email at henry.smiley@belmont.edu.

Required Materials

• Two solo written songs of contrasting styles and tempos in PDF and MP3 format
• Co-written songs will not be accepted
• Musical charts or scores and lyrics must be included for each song as PDF files
• Recordings of each song must be included as MP3 or similar audio files

Acceptable Written Materials

Written materials must be PDF files. Professional songwriters use written scores or charts to communicate musical information to band members in the studio and at live performances. Therefore, songwriting emphasis applications must include such written materials.

Critical: Inaccurate or sloppy, unprofessional scores or charts are unacceptable and will result in a student being declined admission to the songwriting emphasis program.

Acceptable Format Options

Score: A score shows all of the parts performed by each instrument and voice in musical notation. Scores should include lyrics under any and all vocal melody lines. Scores may be handwritten or generated by computer software, and they must be neat and easy to read. The score must be an accurate representation of the recording of the given song.

Lead Sheet: A lead sheet shows the vocal melody line notated in the treble staff, with contemporary chord symbols positioned above the staff and lyrics positioned below the staff. Lead sheets may be handwritten or generated by computer software, and they must be neat and easy to read. Chord symbols must be aligned rhythmically with the position in the measure at which the chord occurs, and lyrics must be aligned by syllable to each corresponding melody note. The lead sheet must be an accurate representation of the recording of the given song.

Chord Chart: A chord chart uses contemporary forms of musical notation like slash notation, rhythmic notation and chord symbols to convey the metric, rhythmic, formal and harmonic information of the song. Vocal melody lines are typically not included in chord charts. However, an extra staff with the vocal melody line and lyrics would be a welcome addition to a chord chart. Chord charts may be handwritten or generated by computer software, and they must be neat and easy to read. The chord chart must be an accurate representation of the recording of the given song.

Nashville Numbers Chart: A Nashville Numbers Chart is a type of chord chart that uses numeric chord symbols while also conveying metric, rhythmic and formal information like a conventional chord chart. There is a textbook called "The Nashville Numbers System" by Chas Williams, and students should consult all of the information in that text before submitting a Nashville Numbers Chart for consideration into the songwriting emphasis program. Nashville Numbers Charts can be done by hand, on an iPad or with notation software. They should be neat, in PDF format and easy to read and should accurately represent the recording of the given song.

Note: If lyrics are not included on your score, lead sheet or chart, then please provide a separate sheet with lyrics.

Unacceptable Written Materials

The following types of written materials are not acceptable because they do not convey the necessary musical information:

• Lyric sheets only
• Lyric sheets with chords above the lyrics

Acceptable Recording Materials

Audio materials must be MP3 files or similar audio format. Think easily accessible formats or links that do not require "permission" to view.

Recording Quality Standards

Your recordings should represent your absolute best work to date. Recordings may be products of professional recording sessions, home workstations or live recordings as long as the audio quality is clear. It is understandable that not all students have access to professional recording studios, so MIDI-generated tracks from a home workstation or live home recordings are acceptable, provided the audio quality is good.

One way you might create stylistic contrast between your two songs is to use different production techniques. For example, one song might be a live acoustic recording, and the other song might be MIDI-generated. Variety in the arrangements, instrumentation and production is encouraged.

Technical Requirements

Sloppy recordings will be deemed unacceptable.

It is imperative that:

• The lead vocalist sings with good intonation and the vocals are easily heard
• Instrument and track levels are mixed and balanced appropriately to complement the lead vocal melody line
• Chords played by instrumental players match the written chords in the score, lead sheet or chart
• The recordings are in the same key or tonality as the score, lead sheet or chart
• The intonation of all instruments and vocals is accurate.

Timeline for Notification of Application Results

All materials will be reviewed by commercial music faculty, and admission or denial will be communicated by email to the student by Gina Lackore, School of Music Program Assistant, approximately one week after the initial submission. If you are not approved after your initial submissions are submitted, no further submissions are possible.