Berklee Online presents
Two songwriters work together to write topline for a song.

What is Topline Songwriting?

Topline is a specialized niche of songwriting where the focus is on melody, lyrics, and performance over a preexisting track/beat/sonic structure. Learn a bit of history of how the craft of topline has become a significant role in the creative space of the music industry.

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A picture of a heart inside the strings of an acoustic guitar, showcasing the love that Berklee Online instructors have for guitar.

Top Guitar Songs—According to Berklee Online Faculty

We polled members of the Guitar Department at Berklee on the guitar-based songs they love the most. Some of the usual suspects are there—Hendrix and Van Halen, etc.—but you may be surprised by some of the songs that strike a chord with your instructors, including some acoustic picks!

Musician Aarya Mehta leans against her piano.

Amazing Aarya Mehta Uses Prior Learning to Finish Degree Program in a Year

Aarya Mehta gave herself the “Amazing Aarya” moniker when she was starting her YouTube music channel in ninth grade. With her achievements, she continues to live up to that name.

A kitchen timer set to 25 minutes with a backdrop of tomatoes.

Pomodoro Technique and Your Music Practice Routine

There is a very well-known technique called the “Pomodoro Technique” that can help us stay focused and beat fatigue while we practice music. “Pomodoro” is Italian for tomato. Yes, we’re going to improve our efficiency one tomato at a time. Let’s explore how you can incorporate the Pomodoro Technique into your practice routine.

A voice leading paradigm showcases how musical notes switch on a musical staff.

Voice Leading Paradigms for Harmony in Music Composition

These voice leading examples provide guidelines to help you learn how to compose so each voice moves smoothly from note to note, while you create rich harmonic changes.

3 Berklee Online students

Students You’ll Meet at Berklee Online

With a global student population, all seeking flexibility in their music studies and a desire to learn from anywhere, Berklee Online offers unique networking and collaboration you can’t find anywhere else. Learn about the kinds of students you’ll meet at Berklee Online.

A young music-lover studies music business law.

Music Business Law Facts Every Musician Needs to Know

You’re more likely to pave a successful professional career in the music industry for yourself when you understand the basics of music business and music law. In this article, we’re going to get into some music business law fundamentals you should know first.

Learning how to copyright your songs and/or lyrics is not as difficult as you might think.

How to Copyright a Song

Copyrighting a song or lyrics does not have to be a difficult process for songwriters. Follow these simple steps to make sure you legally protect your intellectual property.

Tavi Kaye is pictured at a computer, listening to music on his headphones.

From Vinyl, CDs, MP3s, to Streaming: How I Learned to Listen with Intent

Ottavio Kaye, who is studying Contemporary Writing & Production at Berklee College of Music, shares his take on his music consumption evolution.

Circle of Fifths: The Key to Unlocking Harmonic Understanding

The circle of fifths is arguably the most helpful way of visually organizing Western music theory’s 12 chromatic pitches for learning. This primer, featuring excerpts from Music Application and Theory and Music Foundations will give you several new tools to commit this concept to memory.