4.5
stars
68 ratings

Sarah Brindell +1 more instructor

12,373 already enrolled

Offered By

Berklee

About this Course

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You've created a song. You wrote the lyrics, decided on the melody, and maybe even recorded a simple demo. Now what? If you have a basic knowledge of how to use a digital audio workstation (DAW) and are passionate about being a songwriter, this course will help you take your song from a simple recording on your phone to a fully arranged song ready for the recording studio.
You will be learning from two Berklee College of Music Songwriting professors, Bonnie Hayes and Sarah Brindell. They will show you how to arrange original songs in a digital audio workstation. You will learn tools to heighten the emotional response of your listeners and you'll broaden your understanding of instrumentation and how to add sounds to your song without distracting the listener from the most important aspect: the vocalist.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

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Intermediate Level

Students should have experience writing songs and be aware of popular song forms

Approx. 9 hours to complete

English

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Skills you will gain

Music
arranging
Songwriting
Writing

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

Learn more about Coursera Labs

Intermediate Level

Students should have experience writing songs and be aware of popular song forms

Approx. 9 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructors

Instructor rating

4.7/5 (18 Ratings)

Sarah Brindell

Bonnie Hayes

Offered by

Berklee

Established in 1945, Berklee is at the forefront of contemporary music education, bringing its award-winning curriculum to more than 3.5 million students around the world. Currently comprising Berklee College of Music, Berklee Online, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Berklee NYC, Berklee Summer Programs, and more, Berklee is shaping the key players of tomorrow’s music industry. With innovative programs in performance, production, business, theater, dance, and more, students come away from their Berklee experience with a professional portfolio, practical job skills, and a strong sense of community.

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating98%(1,071 ratings)

Week1

Week 1

2 hours to complete

Welcome to Arranging for Songwriters

2 hours to complete

8 readings

2 hours to complete

New Ways of Listening

In this first lesson, we'll learn how to arrange our songs horizontally (meaning the order and length of song sections) and vertically (meaning the frequency range and volume of the various instruments in your song). We'll also consider how to create and support emotional meaning through our writing and instrumentation. We'll review processes for working on arrangements, learn how to listen to arrangements critically, and discuss how arrangements change in live performances vs. recording sessions. By the end of the lesson, you will be able to create a horizontal arrangement for an original song.

2 hours to complete

2 videos (Total 8 min), 5 readings, 2 quizzes

2 videos

Arranging for Recording vs. Arranging for Live Performances4mDeciding What's Right for the Tune4m

5 readings

Critical Listening and Workflow10mHorizontal Arrangement vs. Vertical Arrangement30mExercise: Diagramming Song SectionsJoin Your Study Group10mHow To Upload an .mp3 to the Discussion Forums10m

2 practice exercises

New Ways of Listening Quiz10mSELF-ASSESSMENT: Create a Horizontal Arrangement of an Original Song

Week2

Week 2

2 hours to complete

Laying the Foundation

2 hours to complete

3 videos (Total 34 min), 5 readings, 2 quizzes

Week3

Week 3

2 hours to complete

Finding the Groove

2 hours to complete

2 videos (Total 32 min), 3 readings, 2 quizzes

Week4

Week 4

3 hours to complete

Instrumentation and Vocals

In this final lesson we will look at how to build the rest of the track around your song. Now that we have the foundation of the groove with the drums and bass, we'll take a look at how we can add other instruments to the mix. Most importantly, we will discuss how to incorporate these additions without taking focus away from the vocal part. By the end of this lesson, you will have completed a full demo of your original song.

3 hours to complete

5 videos (Total 52 min), 3 readings, 2 quizzes

Reviews

4.5

32 reviews

5 stars
73.52%
4 stars
10.29%
3 stars
8.82%
2 stars
2.94%
1 star
4.41%

TOP REVIEWS FROM ARRANGING FOR SONGWRITERS

by JCOct 12, 2020

This is an excellent course, perfectly planned, motivating and inspiring. The teachers are impressive an there is a lot to learn in this course. I highly recommended. Thanks so much for this course!

by GHMar 14, 2021

excellent course, I learned a lot more in this class than I have learned in workshops or reading.

by BMJul 10, 2022

That was a great course, especially for beginners.

by WBJun 20, 2020

The content, the invited artist and the elements are all that you need to start songwriting

View all reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

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What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

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Arranging for Songwriters

About this Course

Skills you will gain