11 Songwriting Courses to Boost Your Skills
As a DJ who’s spent years mixing tracks and reading crowds, I’ve always been in awe of the artists whose songs I spin. There’s something magical about how they can capture emotions and experiences in just a few minutes of music. Recently, I’ve felt the itch to create my own tracks – not just remixes, but original songs that could move people the way my favorite artists do.
But here’s the thing: while I know my way around a turntable, the thought of writing a song from scratch is pretty intimidating. Where do you even start? How do you craft lyrics that resonate? And how do you marry words with melody to create something truly special?
That’s why I’ve been on the hunt for the best songwriting courses out there. I figure, if I can learn to DJ, I can learn to write songs too – with the right guidance. After scouring the internet, trying out a few courses myself, and chatting with fellow music makers, I’ve put together this list of the 11 best songwriting courses.
Whether you’re a complete beginner like me or a seasoned musician looking to sharpen your skills, there’s something here for everyone. So let’s dive in and discover how we can transform our musical ideas into full-fledged songs that might just rock the dance floor!
1. Songwriting and Composing Melodies (Lauren Buchter)
This concise 30-minute course on Skillshare is taught by film composer Lauren Buchter. It consists of 8 video lessons covering chord progressions, melodies, and lyrics. As a professional film and TV composer, Buchter brings her expertise in creating emotive scores that blend traditional orchestration with electronics. This beginner-level course is ideal for those wanting a quick but productive introduction to songwriting fundamentals. Some basic music knowledge and ability to record is helpful for the final project.
2. Lyrics Writing Course by Jacob Carter
Jacob Carter’s Lyrics Writing Course offers a comprehensive online program designed to help aspiring lyricists and songwriters enhance their skills and creativity. The course, priced at $997, is led by Carter himself, a seasoned lyricist with over 10 years of experience in the music industry. This program aims to teach students how to analyze and understand songwriting, ultimately unleashing their creative potential.
The course is structured into six modules, covering essential topics such as finding inspiration, understanding lyrical structure and style, crafting impactful lyrics, developing songwriting depth, understanding genre conventions, and learning how to co-write. Each module is packed with HD video lessons, suggested tasks, and industry insider hints to help students write compelling songs.
One of the course’s strengths is its focus on practical application. Students are encouraged to engage in hands-on exercises and real-life applications to hone their lyric writing skills. The course also provides insights into the music industry, drawing from Carter’s extensive experience.
Carter’s background as an English Literature graduate from the University of Oxford, with a focus on contemporary poetry and song lyrics, adds depth to the course content. His experience playing guitar in an indie band during his university days also provides a practical perspective on how music is composed and lyrics are crafted.
The Lyrics Writing Course is designed to be accessible to a wide range of students, from complete beginners to experienced songwriters looking to refine their skills. It offers lifetime access to all course materials, allowing students to learn at their own pace. Upon completion, students receive a certificate, and there’s an option for one-on-one mentoring for those seeking additional guidance.
3. The New Songwriter’s Workshop (Oli Rockberger)
Available on Soundfly, The New Songwriter’s Workshop is a comprehensive course created by professional pianist and producer Oli Rockberger. The course is structured into 9 sections, each containing multiple lessons. It covers a broad range of songwriting topics, with a strong emphasis on melody creation. Rockberger shares his methods for choosing harmonic progressions and composing memorable melodies. The course is designed to be flexible, allowing students to learn at their own pace with the option of personalized mentorship. It’s particularly well-suited for piano songwriters and musicians looking to explore various songwriting approaches and strategies.
4. How to Write Lyrics – The Song Foundry
This course, offered by The Song Foundry, is described as “the ultimate course on how to write great-sounding song lyrics”. It consists of seven modules with over five hours of HD video lessons and a 32-page course booklet. The curriculum covers essential topics such as using rhyme, structuring lyrics, writing singable lyrics, and prosody – the art of fitting lyrics seamlessly to a melody. Created by Ed Bell, a songwriter and author with over a decade of teaching experience, this course is suitable for beginners to intermediate-level songwriters. It aims to provide students with a deeper understanding of how lyrics work and equip them with effective strategies for writing polished, impactful lyrics in any genre.
5. The Fine Art of Songwriting (Steve Leslie)
Grammy-winning songwriter Steve Leslie offers an in-depth course on the craft of songwriting in “The Fine Art of Songwriting.” This 5-week program provides daily training that transforms how students approach song structure and turn ideas into fully-written songs. Leslie draws on his 25+ year career writing for artists like Kenny Rogers, George Strait, and Darius Rucker to provide expert guidance. The course covers essential topics like chorus writing, melody crafting, and determining if a bridge is needed.
With 33 video lessons, this comprehensive course delves into every element of the songwriting process under the guidance of a proven master. It’s particularly well-suited for intermediate songwriters looking to elevate their skills and write more polished, professional-level songs. While not ideal for complete beginners, it’s an excellent option for those who want to step up their game and finally write songs they’re proud of.
6. The Basics of Pro Songwriting (Tom Worth)
“The Basics of Pro Songwriting” is a video course that offers a step-by-step guide to drastically improve songwriting skills. Taught by Tom Worth, an instructor with over 10 years of industry experience, this course covers both the basics and advanced techniques used by professional songwriters.
The 6-hour course is designed to teach students the exact method used to write commercial songs that have topped the charts. It addresses common mistakes made by songwriters that can hinder success and provides expert advice and tips to help students write songs like professionals. The curriculum is divided into modules covering commercial songwriting fundamentals, the craft of songwriting, and even includes a section where the instructor demonstrates the process of writing a song.
7. The Singer-Songwriter Specialization (Berklee College of Music)
Offered by the prestigious Berklee College of Music through Coursera, the Singer-Songwriter Specialization is a comprehensive program designed to equip aspiring musicians with all the skills needed to create, perform, record, and produce original music. This specialization consists of four courses that cover different aspects of the singer-songwriter’s craft.
The program begins with “Guitar for Beginners,” teaching fundamental skills like chords, scales, strumming, and picking patterns. “Singing Popular Music” follows, focusing on vocal techniques, proper breathing, and developing a unique style. The “Songwriting: Writing the Lyrics” course, taught by renowned instructor Pat Pattison, delves into lyric writing, exploring topics like stress and unstressed syllables and rhyme schemes.
Lastly, the specialization includes a course on music production, teaching students how to record, edit, and mix their own music to create professional-sounding recordings. With an estimated duration of 5 months at 4 hours per week, this specialization offers a well-rounded education for those looking to develop their skills as singer-songwriters.
8. Songwriting: Writing the Lyrics (Berklee College of Music)
This course, offered by Berklee College of Music through Coursera, is part of their Singer-Songwriter Specialization. Taught by renowned instructor Pat Pattison, it focuses specifically on the art of lyric writing. The course delves deep into the technical aspects of lyric composition, covering topics such as stress and unstressed syllables, rhyme schemes, and the relationship between words and music. Students learn how to craft lyrics that not only convey meaning but also fit seamlessly with melodies. This course is ideal for those who want to develop a strong foundation in lyric writing and understand the mechanics behind effective songwriting.
9. Songwriting Simplified: Music Theory, Melody & Creativity – Udemy
Available on Udemy, this course offers a comprehensive approach to songwriting, combining music theory, melody writing, and creative techniques. It’s designed to help students understand the fundamental building blocks of music and how to apply them in songwriting. The curriculum covers topics such as chord progressions, scales, and song structure, as well as techniques for generating creative ideas and overcoming writer’s block. This course is particularly suitable for beginners and intermediate songwriters who want to strengthen their theoretical knowledge while developing their creative skills.
10. Songwriting: Writing, Arranging, and Producing Music (Berklee College of Music)
Another offering from Berklee College of Music, this course takes a holistic approach to songwriting. It covers not just the writing process, but also arranging and producing music. Students learn how to develop song ideas, create compelling melodies and chord progressions, and structure their songs effectively. The course also delves into the basics of music production, teaching students how to arrange their songs and use digital audio workstations (DAWs) to bring their ideas to life. This comprehensive approach makes it an excellent choice for songwriters who want to take their skills to the next level and learn about the entire process of creating a finished song.
11. Writing Song Lyrics: Create and Combine with Melody – City Lit
Offered by City Lit, this online course is designed for songwriters and instrumentalists who find creating melodies easy but struggle with lyrics. The six-week program, taught by multi-instrumentalist and composer Polly Hewett, focuses on generating original ideas, understanding melody structure, and mastering lyric-writing techniques. Students learn about themes, subjects, and perspective in songwriting, and analyze works from various genres spanning from the 1930s to the present day. The course emphasizes practical work and collaboration, culminating in students recording their own songs. It’s particularly well-suited for those looking to improve their lyric-writing skills and integrate them seamlessly with melodies.
