Modulation can inject a song with a jolt of interest, but it takes skill to make a key change work. Be advised, songwriters: Use modulation in moderation. And learn from these Berklee Online instructors, sharing their favorite songs to feature key changes.

Learn why the Flamingos “I Only Have Eyes for You” has the best romantic song lyrics of all time, and why Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect” is, well, not perfect.

Nearly four decades after leaving Berklee College of Music’s campus, 64-year-old Paul Zarvis is pursuing his bachelor’s degree in Music Production through Berklee Online.

’Tis the season to spice up your catalog of originals with holiday songwriting tips courtesy of songwriter Brady Rymer, Berklee Online songwriting instructors Andrea Stolpe and Jimmy Kachulis, as well as Berklee’s Joe Bennett, who helped compose what is winkingly known as “the happiest Christmas song, according to science.”

Music for advertising is much like other types of custom songwriting: if you want to win the game, you must know the rules of that game. Once I figured out what game I was actually playing, I started to have success with sync licensing.

Songwriting is an art form that requires creativity, imagination, and an understanding of music theory, but if we’re being honest, there’s also a degree of “fake it ‘til you make it.” And with that approach in mind, one technique you could try is to utilize classic chord progressions to write your own.

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.

The key to a great love song is a specific yet universal message that feels like it’s about you and your special someone. This is how you achieve that.

Sparsh Shah’s cover of Eminem’s “Not Afraid” went viral when he was just 13 years old. Now at 19, Sparsh has traveled the world as a singer, songwriter, motivational speaker, philanthropist, and Guinness World Record holder. He talks about earning his bachelor’s degree at Berklee Online.