As a dancer, I’ve always been drawn to the rhythm and emotion of music. The way a song can move not just my body, but my soul, has always fascinated me. Recently, I found myself yearning to express my own stories and feelings through music, not just through movement. That’s when I decided to explore the world of songwriting.
But where to start? The journey from dancer to songwriter seemed daunting at first. I knew I had the passion and the feel for rhythm, but translating that into lyrics and melodies was a whole new challenge. That’s when I began my search for the best songwriting courses out there.
After extensive research and conversations with fellow artists, I’ve compiled a list of the 11 best songwriting courses available today. These courses cater to various skill levels and aspects of songwriting, from crafting catchy melodies to penning powerful lyrics. Whether you’re a complete beginner like me, or an experienced musician looking to refine your skills, there’s something here for everyone.
1. Songwriting and Composing Melodies (Lauren Buchter)
Lauren Buchter’s “Songwriting and Composing Melodies” course offers a concise yet comprehensive introduction to the art of songwriting. This 30-minute Skillshare class, taught by an experienced film composer, covers essential elements such as chord progressions, melodies, and lyrics. Buchter’s expertise in creating emotive scores for film and TV brings a unique perspective to the course, blending traditional orchestration with electronic elements. The class is structured into eight video lessons, making it ideal for beginners seeking a quick but productive introduction to songwriting fundamentals. While some basic music knowledge is helpful, the course provides practical exercises and examples to help students develop their melodic ideas and enhance their overall songwriting skills.
2. Jacob Carter’s Lyrics Writing Course
Jacob Carter’s Lyrics Writing Course offers a comprehensive and engaging approach to mastering the art of lyric writing. This online program is designed to cater to both beginners and experienced songwriters, providing a structured pathway to enhance creativity and technical skills in songwriting. The course is divided into six modules, covering essential aspects such as finding inspiration, understanding lyrical structure and style, effective lyric writing techniques, developing songwriting depth, genre-specific knowledge, and collaboration skills. You can read how Jacob Carter analyzes the lyrics meaning of hundreds of songs.
The Lyrics Writing Course’s key strengths is its focus on practical application. Students engage in hands-on exercises and real-life applications, allowing them to immediately put their newfound knowledge into practice. Carter, with over 10 years of experience in the music industry, brings valuable insights and insider tips to the course, giving students a glimpse into the professional world of songwriting.
The course structure is flexible and accessible, allowing students to learn at their own pace. It includes HD video lessons, printable resources, and lifetime access to all materials, ensuring that learners can revisit the content whenever needed. Additionally, the course offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, demonstrating confidence in its value and effectiveness.
Carter’s background in English Literature from the University of Oxford, combined with his experience as a lyricist and musician, provides a unique perspective on lyric writing. His passion for analyzing song meanings and dissecting contemporary poetry translates into a course that delves deep into the nuances of effective lyric writing. The course aims not only to teach technical skills but also to inspire creativity and help students develop their unique writing style.
3. Lyric Writing: Tools and Strategies – Berklee Online
Berklee Online’s “Lyric Writing: Tools and Strategies” course is a comprehensive program designed to sharpen students’ lyric writing skills. Taught by Pat Pattison, whose students have won Grammys and written number one songs, this course delves deep into the techniques of effective lyric writing. Students learn to generate better ideas, find the right words, and organize rhythms and rhymes into compelling verses, choruses, and bridges. The curriculum covers a wide range of topics, including brainstorming techniques, balancing line numbers, understanding rhyme schemes, and creating effective contrast between song sections. With its focus on both structure and creativity, this course is suitable for beginners and seasoned writers alike, offering valuable insights into crafting more vivid and impactful lyrics.
4. How to Write Lyrics – The Song Foundry
“How to Write Lyrics” by The Song Foundry is a detailed and comprehensive course that guides students through the process of lyric writing. This course is designed to help writers overcome common obstacles and develop their skills in crafting effective, memorable lyrics. It covers essential topics such as finding great song ideas, choosing compelling titles, and generating lyrics quickly and reliably. The course emphasizes practical strategies and techniques, providing students with an arsenal of tools to enhance their lyric writing. With over 5 hours of HD video lessons and a 32-page course booklet, it offers in-depth instruction on various aspects of lyric writing, including rhyme schemes, prosody, and advanced techniques like metaphor and alliteration. Suitable for both beginners and intermediate writers, this course aims to boost students’ confidence in expressing themselves and developing their unique songwriting style.
5. MasterClass: Songwriting with Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys’ MasterClass on songwriting offers an intimate look into the creative process of a multi-Grammy award-winning artist. This 3-hour and 22-minute course is a blend of practical advice and personal insights, covering topics from finding inspiration to producing finished tracks. Keys shares her approach to melody creation, lyric writing, and vocal arrangements, often using her own hit songs as examples. While the course may not be as technically focused as some others, it provides valuable perspective on creativity and artistry in songwriting. Students gain behind-the-scenes insights into Keys’ songwriting and production process, making it particularly appealing for fans and aspiring songwriters looking for inspiration. The course is part of the broader MasterClass subscription, which includes lessons from other renowned musicians and songwriters, offering a comprehensive learning experience for those interested in the music industry.
6. The Art of Songwriting (Belmont University)
Belmont University’s “The Art of Songwriting” course is a comprehensive program designed to elevate songwriting skills under the guidance of industry professionals. Led by Emily Falvey and featuring guest appearances from Hall of Fame songwriters and Grammy winners, this course offers a blend of technical knowledge and creative inspiration. Students learn essential skills such as finding inspiration, applying technical aspects of songwriting (including rhyme, song structure, and commercial melodic structure), and telling effective stories through song. The course also covers important industry topics like collaboration, maintaining integrity in a secular industry, and building a sustainable career. With its focus on both craft and career development, this program is suitable for songwriters at various levels, from beginners to more experienced writers looking to refine their skills.
7. Songwriting: Create Lyric Writing Approaches (Academy of Music and Sound Online)
The Academy of Music and Sound Online offers a free four-week course titled “Songwriting: Creative Lyric Writing Approaches.” This course is designed to invigorate the lyrical output of both beginners and experienced songwriters. Each week focuses on different aspects of lyric writing, providing practical, creative conversations and activities to help students grow as songwriters and communicators. The curriculum covers topics such as journaling and sensory writing, finding inspiration, storytelling techniques, and prosody. With no prior knowledge required, the course aims to equip students with various writing techniques and creative tools to inspire and commit to their writing aspirations. The flexible, self-paced format includes helpful resources like interviews and podcasts, encouraging student participation in group forums for sharing work and receiving feedback.
8. Toplining 101: Melody & Lyrics in Songwriting (Skillshare)
Toplining 101: Melody & Lyrics in Songwriting is a practical and engaging course offered on Skillshare. This course focuses on the art of toplining, which involves creating melodies and lyrics over existing instrumental tracks. It provides students with techniques for crafting memorable, meaningful melodies and lyrics that connect with listeners. Suitable for both beginners and experienced songwriters, the course offers usable steps and creative inspiration to help students develop their unique writing style. One of the course’s strengths is its hands-on approach, with the instructor offering feedback on songs created during the class. Students only need basic tools like a way to write and record ideas, making it accessible to a wide range of aspiring songwriters. Notably, this course is recommended by Skillshare as one of their top music classes, attesting to its quality and effectiveness.
9. The Fine Art of Songwriting (Steve Leslie)
The Fine Art of Songwriting, taught by Grammy-winning songwriter Steve Leslie, is a comprehensive course that delves deep into the nuances of songwriting. Offered through the Indie Music Academy, this five-week program covers a wide range of topics, including various song structures, lyrical techniques, and melody writing methods. Leslie’s extensive experience in the industry provides students with valuable insights into professional songwriting practices. The course is structured to provide an immersive experience, with daily training sessions that allow students to consistently refine their craft. Emphasis is placed on connecting with listeners on a deeper level, a crucial skill for any songwriter. Through practical exercises and detailed lessons, students learn to apply professional techniques to their own work, making this course ideal for those serious about advancing their songwriting abilities.
10. Songwriting: Writing the Lyrics (Berklee College of Music)
Songwriting: Writing the Lyrics is a specialized course offered by the prestigious Berklee College of Music. This course focuses exclusively on the craft of lyric writing, providing students with a deep dive into the techniques that make lyrics effective and emotionally resonant. The curriculum covers a range of essential topics, including the use of rhyme schemes, phrasing, and emotional expression in lyrics. Students learn to identify stable and unstable lyrics, utilize different rhyming techniques, and clarify their ideas through effective phrasing. One of the course’s strengths is its applicability to songwriters at various levels; it’s designed to benefit both beginners and experienced songwriters looking to hone their lyrical skills. By focusing solely on lyrics, this course allows students to develop a crucial aspect of songwriting that can significantly enhance the overall quality of their compositions.
11. The Basics of Pro Songwriting (Tom Worth)
The Basics of Pro Songwriting, taught by industry veteran Tom Worth, is a comprehensive video course designed to dramatically improve songwriting skills. With over 6 hours of content, this course covers both the fundamentals and advanced techniques used by professional songwriters. Worth, drawing from his decade-long experience in the industry, shares the exact methods used to write commercial songs that have topped the charts. The course is structured to guide students step-by-step through the songwriting process, addressing common mistakes that can hinder success along the way. It’s particularly valuable for those aspiring to write commercially successful songs, as it provides insider knowledge on what makes a song marketable. The course is designed for beginners but offers enough depth to benefit more experienced songwriters as well. With its focus on practical, industry-tested techniques, this course aims to bridge the gap between amateur and professional songwriting.
