This course provides an overview of the essentials of songwriting and record production, with a focus on contemporary popular genres. Through the study of the fundamentals of critical listening, functional harmony, songwriting methods, song structure, and production technology, such as digital audio workstations (DAWS), drum machines, and synthesizers, students will build the foundational knowledge necessary to pursue a concentration in songwriting and production. Through weekly listening to both historical and contemporary popular songs and records, students will develop a familiarity with and an understanding of the tools employed in the repertoire of a broad set of genres.