There’s a songwriter lurking somewhere inside you, peeking around corners, wondering if it’s safe to come out. Now it is. This course is an invitation to let your inner songwriter step into the sunlight. All it takes is a simple “yes” and you’ll be climbing that windy hill, marveling at the view.
Offered By
Berklee College of MusicAbout this Course
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Learner Career Outcomes
27%
got a tangible career benefit from this course
17%
got a pay increase or promotion
Shareable Certificate
Earn a Certificate upon completion
100% online
Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.
Flexible deadlines
Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.
Beginner Level
There is no prior experience or knowledge required to enroll in this course.
Approx. 23 hours to complete
English
Subtitles: French, Portuguese (European), Russian, English, Spanish
What you will learn
Define and identify the point of view, form, and the "who, what, where, when, and how" in a song
Identify whether a lyric is stable or unstable through the use of line lengths, number of lines, stressed and unstressed syllables, and melody
Utilize the various rhyming techniques to evoke specific emotions in a song and define the difference between Assonance and Consonance rhyme
Use phrasing to clarify your ideas
Skills you will gain
MusicMusic recordingPoetrySongwriting
Learner Career Outcomes
27%
got a tangible career benefit from this course
17%
got a pay increase or promotion
Shareable Certificate
Earn a Certificate upon completion
100% online
Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.
Flexible deadlines
Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.
Beginner Level
There is no prior experience or knowledge required to enroll in this course.
Approx. 23 hours to complete
English
Subtitles: French, Portuguese (European), Russian, English, Spanish
Offered by
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music was founded on the revolutionary principle that the best way to prepare students for careers in music is through the study and practice of contemporary music. For more than half a century, the college has evolved to reflect the state of the art of music and the music business. Berklee serves distance learners worldwide through its award-winning online extension school, Berklee Online.
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
2 hours to complete
Welcome to Songwriting: Writing the Lyrics
Welcome to the course! Here we will cover all the details about the course and what you'll need to know to get the most out of your experience.
2 hours to complete
6 readings
6 readings
A Note From Pat10m
A Note From Your Course Assistant10m
Connect with Your Classmates10m
Course Resources10m
Earn A Course Certificate10m
Join the Discussion!10m
1 practice exercise
What Are Your Goals?30m
5 hours to complete
The Journey of the Song
By the end of this lesson, you will see how to develop your song idea so it creates an interesting journey from start to finish. You’ll understand your options developing the point of view of your song and will be introduced to the songwriter’s six best friends.
5 hours to complete
4 videos (Total 34 min), 5 readings, 2 quizzes
5 readings
Lesson 1 Suggested Reading2h 10m
Lesson 1 Song List10m
Developing an Idea from the Title10m
"Fool's Gold" Development Example10m
Join Your Study Group10m
2 practice exercises
Point of View and The Development Engine30m
Reflection: Developing an Idea from the Title30m
3 hours to complete
Stopping and Going
By the end of this lesson, you will understand the concept of prosody as it relates to the number of lines/musical phrases in a section and to line lengths/musical phrases. You’ll create both stable and unstable line/musical groupings, using an odd or even number of lines and musical phrases. Using these tools, you’ll write a verse and chorus.
3 hours to complete
6 videos (Total 45 min), 3 readings, 2 quizzes
6 videos
Prosody8m
Practice: Stable or Unstable?2m
Five Compositional Elements1m
Effects of Number of Lines8m
Length of Lines9m
Effects of Length of Lines14m
3 readings
Lesson 2 Suggested Reading10m
Lesson 2 Song List10m
Join Your Study Group10m
1 practice exercise
Stopping and Going30m
3 hours to complete
Sonic GPS—Mapping Your Song with Rhyme
By the end of this lesson, you will understand the relationship of rhyme schemes to prosody. You’ll create both stable and unstable sections, using various rhyme schemes to show your ear the way to go home. Using these tools, you’ll write a new verse and chorus.
3 hours to complete
8 videos (Total 80 min), 3 readings, 2 quizzes
8 videos
Rhyme Scheme, Part 214m
Perfect Rhyme6m
Family Rhyme18m
Finding Family Rhymes2m
Additive and Subtractive Rhyme10m
Assonance Rhyme5m
Consonance Rhyme12m
3 readings
Lesson 3 Suggested Reading10m
Lesson 3 Song List10m
Join Your Study Group10m
1 practice exercise
Sonic GPS—Mapping Your Song with Rhyme30m
3 hours to complete
Making It Move
By the end of this lesson, you will understand language rhythms—the difference between stressed and unstressed syllables and how to put rhythm in your lines, preparing them to join into the dance with musical rhythm. Using these tools, you’ll put last week’s verse and chorus to music.
3 hours to complete
9 videos (Total 71 min), 2 readings, 2 quizzes
9 videos
One-Syllable Words9m
Stressed vs. Unstressed Syllables9m
Rhythm13m
Phrasing8m
Master Class: Melodic Rhythm and Lyric Rhythm, Part 14m
Master Class: Melodic Rhythm and Lyric Rhythm, Part 24m
Master Class: Melodic Rhythm and Lyric Rhythm, Part 34m
Master Class: Melodic Rhythm and Lyric Rhythm, Part 46m
2 readings
Lesson 4 Suggested Reading10m
Join Your Study Group10m
1 practice exercise
Making It Move30m
Reviews
TOP REVIEWS FROM SONGWRITING: WRITING THE LYRICS
by SJAug 30, 2016
If i could give this course more than 5 stars I would. It has revolutionized my approach to writing lyrics and given me tools and techniques that really blow my mind. Definitely recommend!
by SVMay 5, 2020
There was a lot of good information contained in the course, even though a lot of it seems subjective. Some of the course content examples are inappropriate though which was off putting.
by MBDec 10, 2016
A great course, learned a lot but due to not being in a position to purchase the certificate OI could not submit quizzes or assignments, such a shame as I could not get feedback
by CTJan 22, 2017
Pat presents with a great demeanour and covers a lot of ground in this course. I'm definitely a better songwriter for it. This includes the secret to removing writer's block.
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