For over a decade, course author Andrea Stolpe has written for the commercial music industry, including songs performed by Faith Hill and Josh Gracin. Her online course, Commercial Songwriting Techniques is a perfect combination of theory and concrete skill building that focuses songwriters on the key element of writing a hit song: creating patterns of content that will help to create memorable melodies and lyrics that forge an emotional connection with the listener.
In this course you'll learn a ten-step process to reproducing the time-tested traits of successful songs while still maintaining your unique voice—a practice critical to the success of any songwriter. You'll learn to control the connection to your audience through toggling—moving between detail and pulling back for a broader picture. You'll also learn to use all of your senses—touch, taste, smell, sight, sound, and movement—as springboards for creativity in a process called destination writing. These enhanced descriptive skills will give you the power to determine the intensity of the experience you create with your song lyrics. By focusing on a different song section every week you'll also learn how to streamline your writing and create more descriptive songs in less time. This course plants the seeds necessary for writing great commercial songs in an easy to understand step-by-step method, while always leaving the door open for individual artistic expression.
By the end of the course you'll have three completely written songs that are organized in a way that is accessible to the mainstream, as well as firm ideas for many future songs.
You will learn to:
- Streamline and accelerate your writing process
- Apply a 10-step songwriting strategy to any new idea
- Connect with and create a memorable experience for your audience
- Write even when you're not initially inspired
- Discover your own unique writing style
- Employ new patterns for content based on memorable songs
- Combine lyrics with music more effectively
- Continue building on your catalog of three completed songs and several developed ideas
Syllabus
Lesson 1: Great Beginnings
- Sensory Writing and Idea Generation
- Destination Writing (DW) with Where, Who, What, or When
- Productivity and Routine
- External (E) and Internal (I)
Lesson 2: Introduction to Toggling
- Using Destination Writing to Gather Lyrics
- What Is Toggling?
- Mining for Rhyme
Lesson 3: Writing Music to Lyric
- Melodic Motive, Rhythm of the Language, and Repetition
- Matching Lyric and Melodic Rhythms
- Chord Progression, Tempo, and Emotion
- Topic Movement and Musical Structure
Lesson 4: Writing the Chorus
- Destination Writing for Internal Language
- Lifting Great Titles
- Rhyme, Repetition, and Stacking Lines into Chorus Sections
- Musical Considerations for the Chorus
Lesson 5: Telling the Story
- Using 'Problem-Solution' Plot Progression
- Using 'Past-Present-Future' Plot Progression
Lesson 6: Doorways and Windows
- Starting a Song from a Concept/Potential Titles
- Starting a Song from a Title
- Starting a Song from a Chord Progression or Groove
Lesson 7: Intros, Outros, Bridges, and Prechoruses
- The Function of Song Sections
- The Prechorus
- The Bridge
- Musical and Lyrical Contrast
Lesson 8: Editing Tools for the Songwriter
- Point of View
- Connecting with Prepositions and Conjunctions
- Verbs and Tense
- Lean and Conversational
Lesson 9: Developing a Routine
- A Flexible Process
- Vetting Our Song Ideas
- Feedback Loop
Lesson 10: Finish the Song
- Idea Generation through Critical Listening
- Songs as Guides
Lesson 11: Collaborative Strategies
- Drawing Inspiration from Outside Sources
- Collaborating in the Room with Other Writers
Lesson 12: Writing for an Artist
- Pitching a Song to an Artist
- Generating Musical Ideas
Requirements
Prerequisites and Course-Specific Requirements
Prerequisite Courses, Knowledge, and/or Skills
Completion of Music Theory 101 or equivalent knowledge and experience is required. Familiarity with popular music song form, basic proficiency on a harmonic instrument and the ability to sing a melody over a harmonic progression are also necessary.
Textbook(s)
- Popular Lyric Writing: 10 Steps to Effective Storytelling by Andrea Stolpe (Berklee Press, 2007)
Recording
- Students are required to record themselves and save the recording in MP3 format. You will have a tool to use for this purpose inside the learning environment. Alternatively, you can use software such as GarageBand (Mac), Audacity (PC), or any DAW.
Hardware
- Students are required to capture their performance, as well as monitor audio output. Options include:
- Input (one required):
- XLR microphone and audio interface (recommended option)
- USB microphone
- Built-in computer/mobile device microphone
- Output (one required):
- Headphones (required if multitracking and/or input monitoring)
- Studio monitors and audio interface
- Built-in or external speakers
- Input (one required):
- Note: Depending on your setup, you may also need an XLR cable, microphone stand, and pop filter.
Student Deals
After enrolling, be sure to check out our Student Deals page for various offers on software, hardware, and more. Please contact support@online.berklee.edu with any questions.
General Course Requirements
Below are the minimum requirements to access the course environment and participate in Live Classes. Please make sure to also check the Prerequisites and Course-Specific Requirements section above, and ensure your computer meets or exceeds the minimum system requirements for all software needed for your course.
Mac Users
PC Users
All Users
- Latest version of Google Chrome
- Zoom meeting software
- Webcam
- Speakers or headphones
- External or internal microphone
- Broadband Internet connection
Instructors
Author & Instructor
Andrea Stolpe is a multiplatinum songwriter, performing artist, and educator. She has worked as a staff writer for EMI, Almo-Irving, and Universal Music Publishing. Her songs have been recorded by artists including Faith Hill, Jimmy Wayne, Julianne Hough, and others. Andrea is the author and instructor of the course Commercial Songwriting Techniques, part of Berklee Online's songwriting program.
Her books, Popular Lyric Writing: 10 Steps to Effective Storytelling, and Beginning Songwriting, describe how to apply a unique process for uniting our artistic voice with the commercial market.
Andrea lives in Los Angeles, and continues to serve as a guest clinician for music organizations around the world. Read Less
Instructor
Noah Lubert is a songwriter, keyboardist and producer based in Nashville, Tennessee. His credits and collaborators include Emily Rowed (604 Records), Nate Smith (Sony/ATV), Brooke Alexx, Chris Condon (Billy Ray Cyrus), Angie K, Lily Kincaide and Jaclyn Kenyon. Since relocating to Nashville, Noah’s songs have been included on top country Spotify playlists and tours. His continued passion for education and academia have led to teaching stints on Berklee’s Boston campus at Aspire: Five-Week Music Performance Intensive and Berklee’s Summer Songwriting Intensive, as well as continued work teaching Songwriting and Production Fundamentals for Songwriters through Berklee Online.
What's Next?
When taken for credit, Commercial Songwriting Techniques can be applied towards the completion of these related programs:
Related Certificate Programs
Related Degree Major
Questions?
Contact our Academic Advisors by phone at 1-866-BERKLEE (U.S.), 1-617-747-2146 (INT'L), or by email at advisors@online.berklee.edu.
