Strengthen your songwriting by learning about the major music genres across the music industry. This graduate-level course uses critical listening and production analysis to explore genre-specific songwriting and production choices, helping you apply audience-driven insights and stylistic conventions to your own songs.
Key Learning Outcomes
- Apply genre-specific melodic, harmonic, rhythmic, and textural conventions to create professionally viable songs
- Analyze major music genres through charts, markets, and production trends to understand how songs reach specific audiences
- Critically evaluate music production techniques that define contemporary genres and apply them intentionally in your own work
- Record and produce original songs using genre-informed creative and production decisions
Course Description
The goal of this course is to get a professional understanding of the music and production choices within a wide variety of genres in the music industry. You will explore and analyze typical consumption patterns within these genres, which will inform your choices so you will be able to apply them in your own personal music projects. The course will explore the creative process within genres as defined by Billboard.com, using Production Analysis and Critical Listening techniques defined by Berklee College of Music’s Music Production and Engineering Department.
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Identify how current music markets influence genre classification, chart performance, and audience expectations
- Analyze songs across multiple genres using a structured songwriting and production analysis framework
- Evaluate strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats within a target genre to inform creative direction
- Revise and refine original songs based on genre analysis, production feedback, and iterative drafts
- Integrate industry perspectives from artists, producers, and label professionals into genre-aware songwriting decisions
Syllabus
Lesson 1: Genre Classification: Billboard, the Grammys, and Other Curated Charts
- The Beginnings
- Commercial Advertising
- The Roots of American Popular Music
- Genres
- Billboard
- The Grammy Award
- Song of the Year
- Other Curated Charts
- The Songwriting Analysis Template
- Assignment 1: Classifying Genres
Lesson 2: Billboard Top Charts
- The Hot 100
- Artist 100
- Radio Songs
- Streaming Songs
- Analyzing a Hot 100 Song
- Assignment 2: No. 1 on the Hot 100 Chart
Lesson 3: R&B/Hip-Hop
- Some R&B and Hip-Hop Background
- Hot R&B Songs
- Hot Rap Songs
- Adult R&B Songs
- Analyzing an R&B/Hip-Hop Song
- Assignment 3: Production Analysis of an R&B/Hip-Hop Song
Lesson 4: Country
- Hot Country Songs
- Top Country Albums
- Bluegrass Albums
- Americana/Folk Albums
- Analyzing a Country Song
- Assignment 4: Production Analysis of a Country Song
Lesson 5: Rock
- Hot Rock and Alternative Songs
- Alternative Airplay
- Hot Hard Rock Songs
- Mainstream Rock Songs
- Analyzing a Rock Song
- Assignment 5: Production Analysis of a Rock Song
Lesson 6: Latin
- Hot Latin Songs
- Latin Pop Albums
- Analyzing a Latin Song
- Assignment 6: Production Analysis of a Latin Song
Lesson 7: Dance
- Hot Dance/Electronic Songs
- Dance/Mix Show Airplay
- Dance Club Songs
- Top Dance/Electronic Albums
- Analyzing a Dance/Electronic Song
- Assignment 7: Producing a Song in the Genre of Your Choice
Lesson 8: Completing the Analysis of Charts
- Hot Christian Songs
- Hot Gospel Songs
- Additional Charts
- International
- Assignment 8: Production Analysis of a Christian/Gospel Song
Lesson 9: Analyzing Your Target Genre and Draft 1
- Strengths of Your Target Genre
- Weaknesses of Your Target Genre
- Opportunities within Your Target Genre
- Threats within Your Target Genre
- Assignment 9: Final Project (Draft 1)
Lesson 10: A Deeper Analysis of Your Song and Draft 2
- Genre
- Lyrics/Melody
- Music/Instrumentation
- Editing/Arrangement/Mix
- Assignment 10: Rework of Final Project (Draft 2)
Lesson 11: Your Final Original Song
- Further Considerations within Genre
- Extending the Lyrics/Melody
- Strengthening the Music and Instrumentation
- Advanced Editing, Arrangement, and Mix
- Assignment 11: Final Project (Final Version)
Lesson 12: Class Overview and Final Thoughts
- Thoughts from an Industry Professional: Artist
- Thoughts from an Industry Professional: Producer
- Thoughts from an Industry Professional: Label Executive
- Thoughts from an Industry Professional: Promotions, Marketing, or Distribution Representative
Requirements
Ready to submit an unofficial copy of your transcript?
Submit TranscriptPrerequisites and Course-Specific Requirements
Prerequisite Courses, Knowledge, and/or Skills
Completion of Songwriting: Melody, Songwriting: Harmony, Arranging for Songwriters: Instrumentation and Production in Songwriting, Songwriting Tools and Techniques, Music Demo Production for Songwriters, and Topline and Vocal Production or equivalent knowledge and experience is required.
Students should be able to:
- Apply music theory concepts such as major and minor scales, chord progressions, etc., to their songwriting analysis and project completion
- Critically listen to and analyze music examples from different genres
- Manage instrument(s) that provide(s) harmony, such as guitar or piano, for songwriting purposes
- Manage a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) of their choice at an intermediate level
Textbook(s)
- No textbooks required
Media and Subscriptions
- Billboard Pro subscription (Print not required)
Recording
- Students are required to produce multitrack recordings of their songs, including vocals and instrumental accompaniment (live instruments and/or MIDI sequencing).
Software
- Full-featured Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), such as Pro Tools (Studio or Ultimate), Logic Pro, Cubase Pro, Ableton Live (Suite or Standard), Reaper, Reason, or FL Studio (Producer or Signature). Note that GarageBand is not acceptable.
Hardware
- Audio interface
- XLR microphone (large diaphragm condenser recommended) and cable
- Closed back, over-ear studio headphones
- Recommended: MIDI keyboard controller
Other
- Pop filter
- Microphone stand
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
- macOS Monterey 12.0 or later
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
Prince Charles Alexander is a sought-after music producer and audio engineer whose clients include Mary J. Blige, Destiny's Child, Faith Evans, the Notorious B.I.G., Usher, Boyz II Men, Brandy, Babyface, Sting, Aretha Franklin, Brian McKnight, Donnie McClurkin, and others.
Alexander has garnered more than 40 Platinum and Gold certifications from the RIAA and has multiple Grammy Awards and nominations. He teaches Advanced Production and Mixing at Berklee, and created the Commercial Record Production minor in that department, for which he received the Don Wilkins Excellence in Curriculum Development Award from Berklee's Professional Writing and Music Technology Division in 2013. Alexander also teaches production and engineering for Berklee Online, is co-creator of the Vocal Production course for Berklee Online, and for ten concurrent years, was also an adjunct instructor at New York University's Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music.
He has taught audio technology at the Institute of Audio Research in NYC, and is a frequent lecturer at colleges and universities around the world. From the early to mid 80s, he produced, wrote, and recorded on Virgin Records with his group, Prince Charles and the City Beat Band. Alexander was an early innovator of wind synthesis and a part of the "punk-funk" generation that incorporated many of the devices that would propel rap music to the forefront of the American music scene. Prince Charles Alexander is one of the proud founders of the annual Berklee in Atlanta Spring Break Trip. Read Less
What's Next?
When taken for credit, Genre Survey for Songwriters: Analysis and Application can be applied towards the completion of these related programs:
Related Certificate Programs
Related Degree Majors
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.
