As someone who’s been tickling the ivories for a decade now, I’ve come to realize that playing the piano is only half the battle. Sure, I can belt out a mean rendition of Beethoven’s « Moonlight Sonata, » but what about creating my own musical masterpieces? That’s where songwriting comes in, and let me tell you, it’s a whole different beast.
After years of playing other people’s music, I’ve decided it’s time to put my own thoughts and emotions into melodies and lyrics. But where to start? That’s the million-dollar question that led me down a rabbit hole of online songwriting courses. Trust me, there are plenty out there, each promising to unlock your inner Lennon-McCartney.
To save you the trouble (and potential headaches) of sifting through countless options, I’ve compiled a list of the 10 best songwriting courses available. Whether you’re a complete novice or a seasoned musician looking to sharpen your lyrical skills, there’s something here for everyone.
1. Songwriting: Lyric Writing – Elevate with ICMP
This comprehensive course offered by ICMP focuses exclusively on the art of lyric writing. Over six modules, students explore various aspects of crafting compelling lyrics, from finding inspiration to developing their unique voice. The course covers essential topics such as lyrical structure, rhyme schemes, storytelling techniques, and genre conventions. With a blend of theory and practical exercises, participants analyze influential lyrics and develop their own writing skills. The course is suitable for beginners and experienced songwriters alike, offering valuable insights and techniques to enhance lyrical prowess.
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. With over 10 years of experience in the music industry, Carter has developed a course that covers essential aspects of lyric writing, from finding inspiration to collaborating with other artists.
The course is structured into six modules, each focusing on a crucial element of lyric writing. Students learn about finding inspiration, understanding lyrical structure and style, crafting effective lyrics, developing songwriting depth, exploring genre-specific knowledge, and mastering the art of co-writing. You can read how Jacob Carter analyzes the lyrics meaning of hundreds of songs. Through HD video lessons, printable resources, and hands-on exercises, participants gain practical insights and industry knowledge that can be applied to their songwriting journey.
One of the course’s strengths is its accessibility and flexibility. Available on-demand, students can start and pause their learning at their convenience, with lifetime access to all course materials. This approach allows learners to study at their own pace and revisit lessons as needed. The course is suitable for beginners, experienced songwriters, and singer-songwriters alike, offering valuable insights and techniques to enhance lyrical prowess.
Jacob Carter, the founder of Lyrics Writing Course, brings a unique perspective to the program. With a background in English Literature from the University of Oxford and experience as a guitarist in an indie band, Carter combines academic knowledge with practical songwriting experience. His passion for analyzing song meanings and helping others understand and write lyrics forms the foundation of the course.
3. MasterClass: Songwriting with Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys, a Grammy-winning artist, shares her songwriting and producing expertise in this MasterClass course. Spanning 19 lessons over 3 hours and 22 minutes, the course offers a unique glimpse into Keys’ creative process. Students learn about melody creation, lyric writing, and song production through Keys’ personal anecdotes and examples from her hit songs. While the course is somewhat subjective, focusing heavily on Keys’ individual approach, it provides inspiring insights and practical tips for aspiring songwriters. The class covers topics such as connecting with the world through music, vocal arrangements, and Keys’ signature « retro-futuristic » sound.
4. The Basics of Pro Songwriting (Tom Worth)
Taught by industry veteran Tom Worth, this course aims to bridge the gap between amateur and professional songwriting. The 6-hour video course covers both basic and advanced songwriting techniques, with a focus on commercial songwriting. Worth shares the exact methods used by professional songwriters to create chart-topping hits. The course addresses common mistakes that can hinder a songwriter’s success and provides practical advice for crafting commercially viable songs. Topics include song structure, melody and lyric writing, rhyme schemes, and phrasing. This course is particularly valuable for those looking to break into the professional songwriting industry.
5. The Lyric Writer’s Workroom – Songcraft
Songcraft’s Lyric Writer’s Workroom offers a dynamic and collaborative approach to lyric writing. This platform is designed to foster creativity and provide real-time feedback, making it ideal for songwriters who thrive in an interactive environment. The course emphasizes experimentation with different lyrical styles and structures, allowing participants to expand their creative horizons. One of the standout features is the provision of practical tools such as rhyming dictionaries and thesauruses, which enhance the songwriter’s ability to craft compelling lyrics. This course is particularly beneficial for those who enjoy peer collaboration and want to refine their skills through immediate feedback and group discussions.
6. Songwriting: Writing the Lyrics (Berklee College of Music)
Offered by the prestigious Berklee College of Music, this course is an excellent choice for beginners looking to establish a solid foundation in lyric writing. Taught by Professor Pat Pattison, a renowned figure in the field, the course covers key concepts of songwriting with a focus on effective emotional expression through lyrics. Students learn about crucial elements such as rhyme schemes, phrasing techniques, and methods to create emotionally resonant lyrics. The course’s structure allows for a comprehensive introduction to lyric writing, combining theoretical knowledge with practical application. As part of Berklee’s curriculum, it benefits from the institution’s long-standing expertise in music education, making it a reliable choice for aspiring songwriters.
7. Toplining 101: Melody & Lyrics in Songwriting (Skillshare)
Created by songwriter Clare Dove, this Skillshare course focuses on the art of toplining – writing melodies and lyrics over existing music tracks. The course is designed to cater to songwriters of all levels, offering techniques to enhance both melodic and lyrical skills. Dove provides easy-to-implement tips and real-world examples, making the content accessible and practical. A unique aspect of this course is its project-based approach, where students work towards creating their own songs and receive personalized feedback from the instructor. This hands-on method allows for immediate application of learned concepts. Additionally, the course addresses common challenges like writer’s block, providing strategies to unlock creativity. Recommended by Skillshare as one of their top classes in the music category, this course offers a modern approach to songwriting that aligns well with current industry practices.
8. Songwriting Simplified: Music Theory, Melody & Creativity – Udemy
This comprehensive Udemy course, taught by Steve Glazer, is designed to guide students through the entire songwriting process. It covers fundamental aspects of music theory, chord progressions, melody writing, and lyric composition. The course is particularly beneficial for beginners, as it doesn’t require prior music theory knowledge or the ability to read music. By the end of the program, students will have written a complete song, including chords, melodies, and lyrics. The course provides practical tips for creating catchy melodies, transposing songs, and using popular chord progressions. With over 20 downloadable PDFs and easy-to-read charts, it offers a robust toolkit for aspiring songwriters.
9. Songwriting and Composing Melodies (Lauren Buchter)
Lauren Buchter’s Skillshare course focuses on creating memorable melodies and songs that tell compelling stories. Drawing from her experience as a film and TV composer, Buchter offers insights into crafting melodies that evoke specific emotions, such as heroism, romance, or sadness. The course is suitable for both aspiring songwriters and composers, welcoming beginners while also offering value to those with some musical knowledge. A key feature of this course is its practical project, where students create a custom piece of music based on a « creative brief, » simulating real-world composing scenarios.
10. Songwriting Hit Mastery: Lyric Writing, Music Theory (Udemy)
This Udemy course, taught by Melissa Peirce, a #1 hit songwriter, offers a comprehensive approach to songwriting. The course covers a wide range of topics including song structures, theme development, lyric writing, melody construction, and chord progressions. It also delves into music industry insights, providing tips on breaking into the business and ways to make money as a songwriter. With over 70 video lessons and attached PDF exercises for each section, the course offers a structured, step-by-step approach to learning. It’s designed to be the only course a beginner might need, while also offering valuable insights for more experienced songwriters.
