Writing about music
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Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
- Start Date: 25 Sep 2025End Date: 04 Dec 2025Thu (Daytime): 14:00 - 16:00In PersonLocation: Keeley StreetDuration: 10 sessions (over -11 weeks)Course Code: MD504Tutors: Edward Breen, Katy HamiltonFull fee £269.00 Senior fee £215.00 Concession £188.00
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What is the course about?
Through case studies of published writing samples we will identify different styles and genres of writing about music. We will then develop our own skills through short writing tasks aiming toward developing an individual project plan for a larger writing project, be it blog, memoir or programme note. This course should help you put pen to paper with renewed energy.
What will we cover?
Topics will include:
- Introduction: analysis of writing samples (Katy)
- Getting started: writing musical memories (Ed)
- Using archives, footnotes, JSTOR, Grove, library catalogues online (Katy) *homework task 1
- Programme notes (Katy)
- Interview technique and oral history: planning your questions, transcription…Ed *homework task 2
Half term
- Blogging (Katy)
- Reviews 1: classical album (Ed)
- Reviews 2: classical concert (Katy)
- Writing about folk/pop
- Project presentations and feedback.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- write about your chosen interest with enhanced confidence and knowledge
- Identify key features of different styles of writing about music
- Plan your own musical writing project with confidence (using suggested templates)
- Carry out basic research and interviews as required for your own project
- Present your project plan to the class.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is for those with some familiarity in listening to a particular composer or opera, having taken a previous beginners course, or a willingness to undertake short reading tasks between sessions. We may look at music scores and identify key features of music notation, but this will not be the main focus of the studies.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Tutor presentation, guided listening, class discussion and debate, video and score study.
Course materials will be shared via Google Classroom: handouts, scores, links to online audio and video, recommendations to encourage and support further reading and listening outside class.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Please have a pen and notebook to make your own notes during class. You may wish to purchase some of the music books or recordings discussed in class; links to these materials will be available after each session. You may also wish to attend live performances.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
City Lit offers a wide range of Music history courses. For more information, visit our Guide to the Music history programme.
You may also be interested in our Music theory and musicianship offer, or one of our many practical music courses.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
