You may have had your lightning-in-a-bottle moments.
You were able to get your lyrics down exactly as you want them, or you were able to play the perfect guitar riff.
However, replicating that can be tough.
That’s where songwriting courses come in.
One thing I love about being a songwriter is that there’s always more to learn.
Being a consistent student to the craft keeps you from getting stuck in a musical rut.
A good songwriting course can give you the tools you didn’t know you needed to craft your next hit.
What Makes a Good Songwriting Course?
There’s plenty of great songwriting courses out there, but the key isn’t just to pick the first one you come across.
Rather, try to find a course with an instructor that not only has the qualifications to back what they’re saying but also creates music that inspires you personally.
There’s courses on everything from country music to EDM, with each genre having its own individual techniques.
Though there’s always valuable lessons we can learn from different styles, if you’re starting out as a songwriter, it’s best to stick to the fundamentals of whichever style or artist you’re trying to replicate.
It’s also crucial to look at what others thought of the course!
It might seem obvious, but reading reviews on the instructor and coursework could help steer you towards or away from a class you have your eyes on.
So, with all that in mind, let’s take a peek at some of my recommended songwriting courses!
5 Best Songwriting Courses
1. MasterClass
If you’re looking for a wide variety of songwriting courses from multiple genres, MasterClass is the place to go.
MasterClass hits both of my criteria for a good songwriting course, not only because it has that wide variety we discussed earlier but it also features some incredibly well known and respected names in the industry.
Everyone from Itzhak Perlman to St. Vincent to John Legend are featured as instructors for these courses, meaning you can find an instructor not only who you look up to as a musician but also one in your field.
Plus, even though these courses are specific genre-wise, there’s still plenty to learn from the different teachers.
So, although you might be making folk music, taking a class from Nas wouldn’t hurt.
2. Music Production in Logic Pro X: The Complete Course by Tomas George
This course is definitely my recommendation if you’re trying to get into recording and producing your own music.
Logic is one of my preferred DAWs, whether I’m in the studio or working on ideas on my laptop, simply due to how powerful it is and how many tools there are to work with in it.
However, Logic is also pretty complex, so knowing how to take full advantage of it can be a little bit tricky.
That’s where this course by producer, composer, and audio engineer Tomas George comes in.
He covers everything from the very basics of this DAW to the nuances of mastering and mixing.
It’s an excellent course for new producers, so definitely check this one out.
3. Skillshare
Skillshare is another platform like MasterClass that features a wide variety of songwriting courses from different instructors.
While MasterClass has the appeal of household names teaching each course, Skillshare still features multiple teachers with plenty of credentials to back their courses.
Plus, they have one of my favorite courses from Grammy-award winning artist Jacob Collier, Music Fundamentals: Explore & Create Your Unique Sound!
Definitely check out that course, but also take a look around their platform.
Skillshare has everything from helping you learn how to play a new instrument to writing a chorus.
4. Getting Started with Music Theory by Bruce Taggart
Though music theory isn’t by any means required reading to be a musician, it certainly doesn’t hurt to learn the basics of it.
This course by Michigan State University associate professor Bruce Taggart via Coursera covers the basics of this musical language.
If you’re new to composition, or you’re looking for a way to effectively communicate your musical ideas with those around you, this class can be super helpful.
5. Udemy
Udemy is another platform that offers a huge variety of different songwriting courses.
If you’ve looked at the other courses I’ve recommended and haven’t found anything quite to your liking, I’d recommend this place.
They’ve got some solid, affordable classes that cover everything from songwriting to producing.
So, if you’re trying to round yourself out as a musician, this is a great place to start.
The course I recommended earlier, Music Production in Logic Pro X: The Complete Course by Tomas George, actually comes from this platform!
He has a bunch of courses he teaches alongside a few other instructors, so definitely check those out.
If you’re still struggling to find a course that’s going to help you where you’re at as a songwriter, check out my post on the best songwriting blogs out there.
Songwriting blogs can be super helpful, especially because they’re to the point and feature dozens of valuable tidbits.
If you simply don’t have the time for a full songwriting course, a blog might be the next best place to go.
