Songwriting
Across Genres
Industry Experts
Program Overview
Real-World Examples
Learn from prestigious Juilliard faculty with on-demand video lessons. Develop real-world skills and original works with guidance from industry experts.
Get Started Now
100% online and on-demand course materials allow you to complete the certificate program on a schedule that works best for you.
Build Expertise
You’ll learn directly from Juilliard faculty and study legendary compositions while learning insider strategies for creative success.
Set Yourself Apart
Earn a Certificate of Completion from the world-renowned Juilliard Extension. Add it to your profile and resume to stand out in the music industry.
What You'll Be Able to Do
- Construct memorable melodies using hooks and repetition
- Support your melodies with chords and harmonic movement
- Write lyrics with a clear point of view and rhyme scheme
- Use rhythm to shape mood, groove, and genre
- Develop a repeatable songwriting process
- Understand rights, royalties, and publishing
Skills You'll Gain
Build Your Portfolio
The course is built around hands-on projects, so you leave with real, portfolio-ready work, not just a certificate.
Melody
Build catchy, memorable melodies: the DNA and spine of every great song.
Harmony
Add color and depth by supporting your melody with chords and harmonic movement.
Lyrics
Craft lyrics that people sing back to you, from point of view to rhyme to storytelling.
Rhythm
Harness rhythm, the most malleable building block, to set mood, groove, and genre.
Process
Develop a repeatable creative process and learn the business behind a songwriting career.
Make your mark as a songwriter in any genre and on any platform. On YOUR schedule.
The program includes five online modules with related skill-building activities. Each module is 3-5 hours, broken into shorter lessons for maximum flexibility. Assignments and hands-on projects reinforce key concepts and build your professional portfolio. Earn a non-credit certificate of completion from Juilliard Extension.
Melody
Unlock the “DNA” of a song, melodies you will carry for life. Learn step-by-step techniques for creating catchy, memorable melodic lines, including hooks, repetition, and tension and release. Analyze iconic melodies from artists such as Irving Berlin, Dolly Parton, Lady Gaga, and Bruno Mars.
Harmony
Add color and power to songs by building supportive harmonies and chord progressions. Explore how different chords shape emotion and complexity, with examples from Ed Sheeran, Timbaland, and The Police.
Lyrics
Iconic lyrics turn melody into magic. This module covers developing a point of view, rhyming schemes, storytelling, and workshopping lyrics with Juilliard faculty. Learn from stand-out work by Chuck Berry, Adele, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and more.
Rhythm
Explore how rhythm shapes every element of a song: beat, groove, atmosphere, and movement. Build skills for introducing rhythmic concepts to any genre, and see innovations from Stevie Wonder, George Gershwin, and Taylor Swift.
Process
There’s no single path to a hit song. Discover varied creative processes, from theme development to getting unstuck, collaborating, and navigating music business essentials like licensing and publishing.
Results, Not Just Lessons
The course helped me fine tune my understanding and also experiment with ideas that I had not previously considered.
The course has really good perspectives and helpful songwriting and music business tips, whether you're just toe-dipping with zero experience or a seasoned and experienced musician and songwriter.
What I like about this course is it's designed for a person without a music background. I went to music school and was frustrated with the outcome. Now I know how to apply what I learned and create popular contemporary music.
I learned the value of collaboration in this course. Others aren't better than me, they're just getting their ideas to completion.
Modern production tools and the knowledge learned here have allowed me to fill in the skill gaps and move forward with my songwriting interests while keeping costs reasonable and keeping the process fun and personal.
I learned a lot about the various structures involved in songwriting and the various elements one could use to make up a song.
Choose How You Pay
Same full course either way: 5 modules, real industry projects, and your Juilliard Extension Certificate of Completion.
One-Time Payment
4 Monthly Payments
12 Monthly Payments
Have a discount code? Add it at checkout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Aspiring and working musicians at any level who want to write better songs in any genre, whether they play piano, guitar, or produce on a computer.
5 self-paced modules. Most learners finish in under 30 hours on their own schedule.
Yes. The course is 100% online and on-demand, so you can study on your own schedule from anywhere.
A non-credit Certificate of Completion from Juilliard Extension that you can add to your resume and LinkedIn profile.
No. The course starts with the fundamentals and is designed for newcomers as well as those already working in the field.
Yes. Request the course catalog and a program advisor can walk you through payment options and any current offers.
Songwriting Across Genres includes five on-demand modules guiding students through the foundational elements and craft of songwriting, including melody, harmony, lyrics, rhythm, and the songwriting process, empowering students to create original music in any genre. Each course module takes 4 to 5 hours to complete and is broken into shorter lessons and activities that students work on at their own pace.
The course is taught by The Juilliard School faculty, supplemented with insights from professional songwriters.
After completing the course, students will have a significantly greater understanding of songwriting and composition. In addition, students will receive a Certificate of Completion from Juilliard Extension that they can proudly add to their LinkedIn profile and resume. This credential can help open doors to a future in music.
Students must be at least 13 years old to enroll.
Enrollment includes unlimited access to all course videos and materials for one year from your enrollment date. If you need more time after that, you can pay a monthly subscription fee to extend your access.
Most major credit and debit cards are accepted, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and JCB. If you enroll outside the United States, tuition is charged in your local currency at the prevailing exchange rate.
You can withdraw within 24 hours of enrollment for a full refund. After that, you have up to 7 days to withdraw for a full refund minus a $100 cancellation fee. No refunds are issued after 7 days. Subscription plans can be canceled before your renewal date by emailing [email protected].
Tuition is $1,499 when paid in full. Two payment plans are also available at checkout: 4 monthly payments of $399 or 12 monthly payments of $139.
