Professional Songwriting for the Commercial Market: A Weekly Workout

This is a workshop for songwriters who are seeking to hone their craft through support and critique.

Each class is divided into two parts: the first section is devoted to critiques of songs students perform live or on a recording; the second section features lectures and discussion.

Topics include aesthetics of contemporary songwriting and song critique; song styles; defining character through language; writing for a mass audience; song ideas; writing the surprise and payoffs; collaboration; deconstruction, image-making and emotional plot points; and creating real moments in songs.