Discover HKBU

Discover your inner songwriter and lyricist

30 Aug 2024

In an exciting collaboration between Tai Kwun, the Bachelor of Music (Hons) in Creative Industries of the Academy of Music at HKBU, and acclaimed DJ and lyricist Oscar Lee, an exclusive summer workshop took place from 25 to 29 July, where aspiring Cantopop songwriters and lyricists got to experience first-hand the making of the perfect song. 

Titled “Soundtrack of Our Lives: Be the Songwriter & Lyricist Workshop”, a group of secondary and tertiary school students immersed themselves in the dynamic process of song composition, arrangement, and editing over the course of four sessions. Designed by Dr Edmond Tsang, Associate Professor of Practice of the Academy of Music, the workshop offered students the coveted opportunity to dive into the captivating world of Cantopop songwriting. To enhance their understanding of the rich history that shaped Hong Kong’s musical landscape, the students were also given a tour of the “Soundtrack of Our Lives: Joseph Koo x James Wong x the Rise of Cantopop” exhibition at Tai Kwun. 

When creativity meets technology 

The first two sessions were held at Tai Kwun, before moving to HKBU’s state-of-the-art recording studio for the final two sessions. Throughout the workshop, four HKBU students from the Academy of Music played an important role by facilitating creativity exercises and breakout groups. Most of all, under the tutelage of Dr Tsang and our HKBU students, the participants enjoyed the luxury of perfecting their arrangements and recording their work, using the studio’s cutting-edge equipment. 

“It never ceases to amaze me how creative and talented our youth are,” says Dr Tsang. “As music educators and creators, it is gratifying to see young people given a platform to explore their passion for songwriting and lyrical expression. True to its goal, our workshop gave the participants a chance to unleash their inner songwriter and lyricist.

The workshop was a success in no small part thanks to the whole-hearted support of the HKBU student volunteers. 

“It was an interesting exposure for us, as we don’t always have the opportunity to share our experience in this particular format. It’s extremely meaningful as I can share my own journey with the secondary students who aspire to join this profession,” says Kudos Lam, a Year 2 student.

Another Year 2 student Mo Lam, echoes the same sentiment. “This workshop is precious because it gives the students a taste of what goes into the making of a pop song.  I noticed many of them are really passionate about Cantopop and to my surprise, very keen to try writing lyrics.”

“This workshop covered music composition and production, including how to start composing and arranging music from the most basic concepts, as well as demonstrating the basic workflow for recording and mixing in the studio. I hope the workshop helped enhance the participants’ appreciation of music and the efforts that go into creating a song from scratch, and also inspired them to start creating their own music,”  remarks Year 3 student Howard Wong.

Year 3 student Mojai Lau, sums up her insights from the workshop. “I’m happy to see workshops and exhibitions promoting Hong Kong’s local music culture. I’m also thrilled to have attended and heard from lyricist Oscar Lee’s sharing. Going forward, I hope there will be more workshops that can facilitate these kinds of exchanges and promote Hong Kong’s culture.”

“Based on the level of enthusiasm inside and outside of the recording studio, everyone had a great time making music and developed a deeper appreciation of the rich cultural heritage and enduring legacy of Cantopop music,” Dr Tsang concludes.