Songwriting Courses and Certifications

How to Write Your First Song

166 reviews

Get a practical introduction to the mechanics of songwriting and meet established songwriters with this free online course

• FutureLearn
• 3 hours a week, 6 weeks long
• Self paced
• Free Online Course (Audit)

• Best of All Time

Songwriting: Writing the Lyrics

24 reviews

Unlock your inner songwriter with Berklee College of Music. Learn an efficient process for tailoring songs to express your ideas and emotions. No musical experience required. Have fun while you learn!

• Coursera
• 5 weeks long
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course (Audit)

• Best of All Time

Songwriting: Writing the Music

Learn to construct expressive melodies and experiment with new chords in this 4-week course by Berklee College of Music. Ideal for songwriters seeking fresh inspiration.

• Coursera
• 4 weeks long
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course (Audit)

Microcredential

Songwriting: Writing, Arranging, and Producing Music

1 review

Learn songwriting strategies from Berklee College of Music in a 17-week course. Develop lyrics, music, arrangements, and produce demos using Ableton Live. 3 hours/week.

• Coursera
• 3 hours a week, 17 weeks long
• Paid Course
• 3 courses

Microcredential

The Singer Songwriter

Learn to write, perform, and record your own music with Berklee College of Music's 22-week course. Master guitar playing, singing techniques, lyric writing, and digital recording.

• Coursera
• 4 hours a week, 22 weeks long
• Paid Course
• 4 courses

University of Canberra

Open Mic Songwriting

If you have a passion for penning pop hits, dream of dabbling in dubstep, or just want to jump in and jam, this is the course for you! No matter how much experience you have, join our learning community and start writing your own songs.

• Canvas Network
• 23rd Jan, 2017
• Free Online Course

This free course from the Academy of Music & Sound aims to get you writing with a number of new techniques and perspectives which you may not have encountered before. Rather than giving you instructions on how to write a song, this course intends to get…

• Canvas Network
• 3-4 hours a week, 4 weeks long
• 5th Nov, 2018
• Free Online Course

Songwriting Techniques with Chords

Learn about writing songs with chords, and how altering chords can add depth to your music. Discover many ways to use chords from harmonizing a melody to forming an entire song.

• LinkedIn Learning
• 2 hours worth of material
• On-Demand
• Free Trial Available

Learning Songwriting: GarageBand

Learn how to write, record, and mix a song in GarageBand in 9 simple steps.

• LinkedIn Learning
• 1-2 hours worth of material
• On-Demand
• Free Trial Available

The Songwriter's Toolkit: New Perspectives

Learn songwriting techniques to look at tunes through a different lens. Discover how to play with melody, form, and chords to gain a fresh perspective when a song has you stuck.

• LinkedIn Learning
• 1-2 hours worth of material
• On-Demand
• Free Trial Available

27 Practical Tips for Songwriters

Join professional songwriter Cliff Goldmacher as he explores the craft and business of songwriting. Explore practical solutions to common problems, in short self-contained lessons.

• LinkedIn Learning
• 1-2 hours worth of material
• On-Demand
• Free Trial Available

Learning Songwriting: Ableton Live

Learn how to capture your musical ideas quickly and turn them into great songs with Ableton Live.

• LinkedIn Learning
• 1-2 hours worth of material
• On-Demand
• Free Trial Available

The Dos and Dont's of Attending a Music Conference

Professional songwriter Cliff Goldmacher explains the best practices for attending a music conference such as SXSW, ASCAP EXPO, or Midem.

• LinkedIn Learning
• Less than 1 hour of material
• On-Demand
• Free Trial Available

Introduction to Songwriting

60 ratings at LinkedIn Learning

Find out what it takes to become a successful songwriter. Learn about the skills you need and the jobs available in songwriting.

• LinkedIn Learning
• Less than 1 hour of material
• On-Demand
• Free Trial Available

The Business of Songwriting: First Steps

49 ratings at LinkedIn Learning

Get started in the business of songwriting. Learn about all of the major organizations, rights, and procedures that songwriters have to deal with in the music business.

• LinkedIn Learning
• 1-2 hours worth of material
• On-Demand
• Free Trial Available