Songwriting: Writing Hit Songs
Master songwriter Jimmy Kachulis has analyzed thousands of hits, identifying the structures and patterns that work best, and why. In this course, he’ll share the techniques successful writers use to craft vivid, memorable songs … and help you do the same. Whether you’re a relative beginner or an experienced songwriter, you’ll learn how to brainstorm ideas, overcome writer’s block, and express yourself more effectively in words and music. Combining technical principles with pure creative expression, this hands-on course will help you find your voice, sharpen your craft, and create songs listeners will appreciate and remember.
Upon completing this course, you will have learned to:
- Create memorable verses, prechoruses, choruses, and bridges
- Choose the most effective song form for every song you write
- Understand the structures behind the hits
- Generate better ideas more easily
- Use structures, harmonies, and melodies to support and enhance the emotional intent of your lyric
- Craft song sections that connect, contrast, and flow together into a unified whole
“When students finish this class, they will gain a profoundly deeper understanding of songwriting along with a more developed and refined set of skills and creative artistry allowing them to effectively communicate their ideas, emotions, and thoughts through music.” – course instructor Neil Diercks
Syllabus
Lesson 1 Writing a Chorus
Lesson 2 Common Verse Types
Lesson 3 Bridge in Verse Chorus Forms
Lesson 4 Standard Chorus Types
Lesson 5 Chorus—Variations of Standard Chorus Types
Lesson 6 Verse—Variations of Standard Types
Lesson 7 Modulation in the Verse/Chorus Song Form
Lesson 8 The Verse/Pre Chorus/Chorus Song—Type 1
Lesson 9 The Type 2 Verse/Pre Chorus/Chorus Song
Lesson 10 Verse/Refrain—Standard Types
Lesson 11 Verse/Refrain—Variations and the Complete AABA Song
Lesson 12 Combination Form: Verse/Refrain and Chorus
Requirements
Prerequisites and Course-Specific Requirements
- Familiarity with popular music song form
- Basic proficiency on a harmonic instrument
- Comfortable creating chord progressions in a variety of grooves
- Knowledge of basic harmonic theory
- Ability to create a melody over a harmonic progression
- Ability to create lyrics (optional – will be provided, if needed)
- Ability to sing melodies or have a vocalist sing them for you
Required Textbook(s)
- The Songwriter’s Workshop: Harmony by Jimmy Kachulis, Berklee Press/Hal Leonard
- The Songwriter’s Workshop: Melody by Jimmy Kachulis, Berklee Press/Hal Leonard
Software Requirements
- A basic audio recording tool that will allow you to record yourself and save the recording in MP3 format. You will have a tool to use for this purpose inside the learning environment. Alternatively, you can use software like Audacity (PC) or GarageBand (Mac)
Instructors
Author & Instructor
Jimmy Kachulis teaches songwriting and lyric writing at Berklee, conducts clinics nationwide, and has helped thousands of songwriters develop and maximize their skills. Look through the bios of some of today’s best songwriters, and his name comes up again and again; his students’ works have earned Grammy nominations, and been recorded by a vast range of artists on major and independent labels. An accomplished composer, arranger and conductor, he has worked with great artists like George Coleman, Jon Hendricks, John Lewis and Martha Reeves, and his compositions have been featured on scores from The Sopranos to Touched By An Angel. Jimmy’s songs and arrangements for “Island Breeze”, by legendary guitarist, Eric Gale, have been re-released and distributed worldwide under the Warner Brothers label.
Instructor
Neil Diercks is a Los Angeles-based songwriter, song coach, and musician. He served for many years in various capacities at Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., in Nashville, beginning as an intern and eventually becoming Manager of A&R Activities. It was within this role that he worked with hit songwriters including Gary Burr, Steve Bogard, Stephony Smith, Jeff Stevens, and Victoria Shaw, who penned hits for artists such as Tim McGraw, Garth Brooks, George Strait, Trisha Yearwood, Faith Hill, Ricky Martin, and Christina Aguilera.
Neil is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Berklee College of Music, where he studied songwriting, voice, and music business, and went on to serve on the Board of Trustees for three years. He has lectured and led songwriting workshops internationally, and has won several awards for his teaching, including the UPCEA Excellence in Teaching award (2015); the Pearson Excellence In Online Teaching award (2015); The Berklee College of Music Distinguished Faculty Award for Berklee Online (2016). He currently collaborates with songwriters and artists in Los Angeles and around the globe.
Instructor
In his 30+ year career, Rodney has become recognized as a protean polymath within the entertainment industry. In his most recent rock ‘n’ roll chapter, he was a performing member of the international pop band the Script. As the keyboardist/music director, he was responsible for arranging and weaving the group’s hit songs into an unforgettable concert experience. Before his tenure with the Script, Rodney built a career as a consummate professional behind the scenes.
Rodney’s work includes songwriting/producing chart-topping songs in the English, Latin, and Asian music markets. He has collaborated with artists such as Quincy Jones, Sting, the Temptations, and Ray Charles. Rodney has also performed with many artists from around the world including Mańa, Babyface, Sofia Carson, and Stevie Wonder among many others. His work has earned industry recognition with projects garnering Grammy and Latin Grammy nominations, winning Billboard Latin pop album of the year in 2004, and multiple gold and platinum-selling record awards. Rodney has also taken on television opportunities and was the main title composer/producer for the Golden Globe winner for best drama series The Shield, as well as the composer/music producer for the drama series Thief.
In 2006, he was honored by his alma mater Berklee College of Music as the Alumnus of the Year, and in 2011 received recognition as the Music Education Advocate of the Year from the Recording Academy Texas Chapter. Rodney is currently an associate professor at Berklee College of Music where he teaches in the Songwriting Department, sharing his knowledge and experience from his distinguished music career.
Instructor
Ben Camp teaches Songwriting at Berklee College of Music. His songs have appeared in film & TV on networks like MTV, CBS, NBC, Fox, and more. He’s written singles for Tiesto, Victoria Justice, Sam Feldt, and others. His mission as an educator is to get you to write the best versions of the songs that only you can write.
What’s Next?
When taken for credit, Songwriting: Writing Hit Songs can be applied towards these associated programs:
Associated Certificate Programs
- General Music Studies Professional Certificate
- General Music Studies Advanced Professional Certificate
- Songwriting Professional Certificate
- Songwriting Advanced Professional Certificate
- Writing and Producing Music Advanced Professional Certificate
Associated Degree Major
- Bachelor’s Degree in Songwriting
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