Things to do · Arts and crafts
Take a songwriting course
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Songwriting courses teach rhyme, structure, chords and setting words to music. Some ask for music theory; others take beginners.
Moderate£100 to £500 / $130 to $650A few weeksIndoorsAlone or with othersUK and US
Check the entry requirements first
Songwriting courses vary more than most. Anne Arundel Community College in Maryland says its short course is designed for all experience levels, from beginners to seasoned musicians. City Lit's course Songwriting, form and function, by contrast, asks for a good grasp of music theory, including triads and seventh chords, and suits players and singers with a working knowledge of harmony.
Some courses are about words. Berklee Online's course in lyric writing tools and strategies has no prerequisites and covers object writing, rhyme, rhythm and line length, metaphor and song structure for verses, choruses and bridges. Others are about the music, such as chord sequences, key changes and accompaniment.
If you want company and feedback after a course, the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) says it has more than 100 chapters in the US and beyond. A chapter meeting in Cincinnati, for example, has a lesson on the craft or the music business followed by a song critique, and asks you to bring a song and lyric sheets. It says songwriters of all levels and genres are welcome.
Ways in compared
| Where | Format | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| City Lit, London | Songwriting: form and function: 11 weekly online sessions of 90 minutes; needs music theory | £229 |
| University of Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education | An introduction to songwriting: seven weeks, online, non-accredited | £545 |
| Berklee Online | Lyric Writing: Tools and Strategies: 12 weeks, online, no prerequisites | $1,575 (for credit) |
| Anne Arundel Community College, Maryland | Songwriting: Life in Lyrics: face-to-face, noncredit (October to November 2026 run, now closed) | $68, including a $20 fee |
City Lit says financial support for fees is available. Berklee Online says its credit and non-credit options give the same course experience, but the page does not list the non-credit price.
How to start
- Decide whether you want to work on lyrics, melody and chords, or both, and read the course's entry requirements before you book; some expect you to read music or know basic harmony.
- Look at adult-education colleges and university continuing-education departments, many of which teach songwriting online, or a community college near you.
- Expect homework; City Lit's course, for example, sets assignments during and after each session.
Where to go
- City Lit: Songwriting: form and function (online) UK
- University of Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education: An introduction to songwriting (online) UK
- Berklee Online: Lyric Writing: Tools and Strategies US
- Nashville Songwriters Association International: about NSAI and its chapters US
We opened these links on 11 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
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Plan it with dates
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Courses and classes have start dates and can fill up, so the plan begins with finding and booking one. Kit comes after the first session, once you know what you need.
Questions people ask
Do I need to read music to take a songwriting course?
It depends on the course. Anne Arundel Community College's class is designed for all levels, while City Lit's Songwriting form and function asks for a good grasp of music theory.
Can I learn songwriting online?
Yes. City Lit, Cambridge's Institute of Continuing Education and Berklee Online all teach songwriting online.
How long is a songwriting course?
The courses listed here run from a few weeks at a US community college to 12 weeks at Berklee Online.
Is there a songwriting group I can join after a course?
In the US, the Nashville Songwriters Association International has more than 100 chapters, and it describes its members as professional and amateur songwriters of all genres.
Where this comes from: City Lit, Songwriting form and function; University of Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education, An introduction to songwriting; Berklee Online, Lyric Writing: Tools and Strategies; Anne Arundel Community College, MUC-347 Songwriting: Life in Lyrics; Nashville Songwriters Association International, History of NSAI; Nashville Songwriters Association International, Cincinnati OH chapter. Opened 11 November 2026.
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