New! Masterclasses
The Songwriting and Artistry of Billie Eilish
Led by
This class will take a deep dive into the music of Billie Eilish and attempt to answer two questions: First, what makes her songs tick, and second, what are the societal and artistic factors that have made her unique brand of music catch on? You will participate in small group exercises that utilize some of the stylistic and lyrical techniques found in the songwriting of Billie Eilish and her co-writer/brother, Finneas O’Connell. You will also engage in discussions designed to help tease out the lessons found in her unique artistic identity to help you focus on your own unique, authentic, creative voice.
To set the tone for the class, we will ground our analysis of Billie Eilish’s music with new insights about music cognition and mental health. We will then discuss and establish some ground rules by which we can evaluate the quality and potential impact of any song. Then, using those principles, we will analyze, discuss, and delve into the heart of why Billie’s music resonates so strongly with many and repels others. Next, using the techniques and tools we discovered in our analysis, we will break out into small, collaborative groups and create a lyric together, incorporating some of Billie’s techniques. Lastly, we will initiate a discussion on the role of identity in artistry and its impact on one’s audience. These discussions will leave you with several personal questions to answer, designed to help you solidify your own artistic identity, ambitions, and goals using Billie’s career as a framework.
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Wednesday, January 14, 2026
(Enrollment closes 5PM ET, Wednesday, January 13.)
- 7 - 9 PM ET
$99
What You’ll Learn
- How to analyze the lyrical and harmonic structures of Billie Eilish’s music and transition that analysis into applicable songwriting techniques
- How to confidently discuss the intricacies of artistic identity and how artistic identity interfaces with society
- How to articulate at least two new philosophical principles to guide your songwriting process
- How to create a short lyrical and/or musical piece incorporating at least one tool or technique inspired by Billie
Meet Your Instructor
George Woods
George Woods has been a professor of songwriting at Berklee College of Music in Boston since 2018, and a touring/performing musical artist since 2007. During his time at Berklee, George has become a sought-after instructor because of his personalized approach to each student and his persistent sense of humor. He’s also helped to steer the college’s curriculum by introducing innovative courses and creating whole new paths of study.
Requirements
Suggested Prerequisite Knowledge and Materials
- A basic familiarity with Billie Eilish and her music
- Some knowledge of music theory may be helpful, but is not required
- Listen to the short Billie Eilish playlist provided before attending the live class
General Masterclass Requirements
Below are the minimum requirements for enrolled students to access the learning environment and participate in Masterclasses. If you opt to use any recommended software for your Masterclass, please check that your computer meets or exceeds the minimum system requirements for those as well.
Mac Users
PC Users
All Users
- Latest version of Google Chrome
- Zoom meeting software
- Webcam
- Headphones
- External or internal microphone
- Broadband internet connection
Higher Learning with Lower Stakes
A Masterclass from Berklee Online is ideal for you if you’re looking for a shorter, more free-form learning experience from Berklee—no deadlines, and no grades—just one live session with a Berklee instructor, and an award-winning curriculum to explore at your own pace.
- One session, lasts two hours
- Access remains open for 30 days after the Masterclass
- No registration fees
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.
Policies and FAQs
Masterclass Change
Students may request to transfer their enrollment/payment to an alternate Masterclass (provided there is room in the alternate Masterclass) until one week before the class. After this time, a student cannot change into an alternate Masterclass. To request a course change, students should send an email to registrar@online.berklee.edu.
Withdrawal Policies
All withdrawal requests must be sent to the Berklee Online Registrar’s Office in writing and must include the following information:
- Your full name
- The Masterclass you are enrolled in
- Reason for withdrawing
Requests to withdraw will not be accepted over the phone. Requests to withdraw must be emailed to registrar@online.berklee.edu.
All withdrawals from Masterclass must be received prior to 5 PM ET the Friday before the Masterclass opens. No withdrawals will be accepted after this date.
If a student is requesting an exception to the withdrawal policy for medical reasons, please see the Medical Withdrawal/Transfer section below for information on this process. If a student feels they have extenuating circumstances other than medical reasons and wish to request an exception to our policy, please see the appeal policy.
Please note students are expected to have reviewed the computer requirements for each Masterclass in advance of the Masterclass start. Computer or software issues are not cause for an exception to the withdrawal/refund policies. If a student is experiencing issues with their hardware or software, they can contact Berklee Online’s Student Support via telephone at 1-617-747-2146 option 3 or by email at support@online.berklee.edu.
Masterclass Transfers
Students enrolled in a Masterclass cannot request to transfer their Masterclass to a future semester. Students can opt to move their funds from a Masterclass to another Berklee Online course or program. Requests to transfer must be in writing to registrar@online.berklee.edu and received by the Friday prior to the opening of the Masterclass.
Refund Policies
- By 5 PM ET Friday prior to the opening of the Masterclass: 100% refund of tuition paid.
Refunds will be based on when the withdrawal is received in writing. No additional refunds on courses in progress will be given once the Masterclasses are opened. Students can find the withdrawal and refund dates above. Please note that all refunds will be provided in United States dollars (USD). Berklee Online cannot be held responsible for any currency rate fluctuations between the date of purchase and the date of the refund.
Students should be aware of the following details:
- If a student’s payment was made by check, the refund will be issued in the form of a check.
- If payment was made by credit card, every attempt will be made to process the refund back to the card used within 30 days. In the event we are unable to do so, the refund will be issued in the form of a check.
- If payment was made using a Berklee Online eGift card, a refund will be issued back to the eGift card. eGift Cards are not redeemable or refundable for cash. Please refer to our eGift Card Terms and Conditions as well as our eGift Card FAQs for more information.
For questions regarding the payment methods we accept, please contact finance@online.berklee.edu or call 1-866-BERKLEE or 1-617-747-2146 if outside the US, Monday through Friday 9 AM–5 PM ET.
Credit Card Payments
Berklee Online accepts the following credit cards:
- American Express
- Discover
- JCB Card
- MasterCard
- Visa
If you do not wish to use the online process, please contact us directly at advisors@online.berklee.edu or our Finance department at finance@online.berklee.edu or call 1-866-BERKLEE or 1-617-747-2146 if outside the US, Monday through Friday 9 AM–5 PM ET.
PayPal
Berklee Online accepts payment via PayPal. Students can choose PayPal as an option during the checkout process.
eGift Cards
Berklee Online accepts eGift cards purchased online via GiftUp. eGift cards can only be applied towards eligible Masterclass, course, and certificate program offerings. Further information regarding the use of eGift cards can be found within our Terms and Conditions.
Wire Transfers
Berklee Online has partnered with Flywire to streamline the tuition payment process for our students. You will be able to log in to your Flywire account, at any time, to track the progress of your payment and you will also be notified via email or text when your payment is received by Berklee Online.
Before initiating your transfer, please take note of your Student ID or Order Number to help ensure your payment is posted to the correct account. Your Student ID can be found on your My Home page, and your Order Number is located in your Order History.
https://payment.flywire.com/pay/paymentHow much is a Masterclass?
Masterclassees are Berklee Online’s most budget-friendly offering at $99. There are no registration fees.
Can I reach out to the instructors for extra help or for additional questions?
No, instructors will be available to students during the 2 hour live sessions. In our 12-week courses, instructors are available to answer questions outside of live class sessions.
Will I be able to access my course after it has finished?
You will be able to access the Masterclass for 30 days after the end of the Masterclass. After that 30-day period, we are unable to allow students further access to the Masterclass. If you have any questions, please contact Student Support via email at support@online.berklee.edu.
What happens if I miss the Masterclass?
Each Masterclass is recorded, so you can always play back any portion you'd like to review up to 30 days after the Masterclass has taken place. We do recommend joining during the scheduled Masterclass time if you can, so that you can interact with your instructor and peers.
Will I receive course credit for a Masterclass?
Masterclasses are a non-credit offering.
Who are the instructors?
Our instructors are Berklee faculty and widely-recognized experts in their field. All instructors are Berklee faculty or professionals in the industry.
How long are the Masterclasses?
Each Masterclass will be one, two-hour live session.
Are textbooks, software, and hardware included in tuition costs?
No. The required/recommended materials for Masterclasses are not included in tuition.
How many Masterclasses can I take at a time?
You can choose to enroll in as many Masterclasses as you would like. You should keep in mind that some of the scheduled sessions could overlap. We recommend reviewing the days/times for each Masterclass before enrolling.
What happens if my Masterclass is canceled?
While we will make every effort to run all of our Masterclasses, sometimes it is necessary to cancel a Masterclass. If this happens, you will be sent an email letting you know your Masterclass has been canceled. You will be given the option to transfer into a different Masterclass, move your funds to another Berklee Online program, or request a refund of tuition.
Where do I go to find the Masterclass I enrolled in?
Simply log in to Berklee Online and go to your “My Home” page. Links to the Masterclasses you are enrolled in will be located under the My Courses heading.
How do I participate in the Masterclass?
Masterclasses consist primarily of live, synchronous sessions hosted via Zoom on the Berklee Online platform. These Masterclasses will be interactive and will include instruction, breakout group discussions, question and answer portions, and more. In addition to the live session, you will have access to discussions where you can interact with your peers, as well as the ability to upload projects you’re working on for feedback from your peers.
Who do I contact if I am having technical trouble with the Masterclass?
You may contact Student Support by email at support@online.berklee.edu or telephone at 1-866-BERKLEE (or 1-617-747-2146 if outside the US), Monday through Friday, 9 AM–5 PM ET. Student Support will assist you with any problems you have and will do their best to provide a response to your question or inquiry within one business day.
Are there assignments that need to be completed? Will I receive feedback on assignments?
Each Masterclass will include material for students to go through as well as suggested projects for students to complete. These are not required, will not be graded, and will not be critiqued by an instructor. Students are encouraged to provide feedback to their classmates.
Will I receive a grade and/or credit at the conclusion of the Masterclass?
Students enrolled in these Masterclasses will not receive college credit and will not be graded on their participation.
Do I get a certificate or letter of completion when I finish each Masterclass?
No, you will not be issued a certificate or letter of completion at the end of the Masterclass.
Can I request a transcript or proof of completion?
Masterclasses are not part of a student’s academic record. For this reason they will not be represented on a transcript. In addition, we cannot provide proof of completion of the Masterclass. We can, however, provide proof of enrollment in the Masterclass if that is needed. Requests of this nature can be emailed to registrar@online.berklee.edu.
