Online Songwriting Lessons - Student Guide

Teaching Philosophy & Background

I developed my online teaching approach during my time touring with the Killers. What began as a practical solution has evolved into my preferred teaching method, particularly since remote learning became mainstream during the COVID pandemic. Online lessons offer unmatched scheduling flexibility while maintaining educational effectiveness.

My mission is to help students develop their unique songwriting voice while mastering the foundational elements that make songs resonate with listeners. This is accomplished through focused study of:

  • Lyrical craft and storytelling

  • Melodic development

  • Harmonic progression

  • Song structure and arrangement

  • Hook writing and development

Teaching Methods & Resources

Video Support

After each lesson, students receive custom instructional videos that:

  • Break down successful song examples

  • Demonstrate songwriting techniques

  • Explain theoretical concepts

  • Can be reviewed multiple times at your own pace

Core Songwriting Development

The foundation of my teaching approach centers on two key elements:

  1. Technical Craft

    • Understanding song structure and form

    • Mastering rhyme schemes and patterns

    • Developing melodic composition skills

    • Learning harmonic progression techniques

    • Building arrangement skills

  2. Creative Development

    • Finding your unique voice

    • Developing lyrical themes

    • Creating memorable hooks

    • Building emotional resonance

    • Mastering storytelling techniques

These skills lead to:

  • More engaging songs

  • Stronger emotional impact

  • Better commercial viability

  • Increased creative confidence

Progress Monitoring

Students must regularly submit:

  • Demo recordings of works in progress

  • Lyric sheets for review

  • Song analyses

  • Revised versions of previous work

This practice:

  • Enables specific feedback on songwriting

  • Creates a documented creative evolution

  • Builds a growing portfolio of work

  • Develops critical self-evaluation skills

Required Equipment & Materials

Musical Equipment

  • Recording device for capturing ideas

  • At least one accompaniment instrument:

    • Piano/keyboard

    • Guitar

    • Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)

  • Basic recording setup:

    • Microphone ($100+)

    • Audio interface ($100+)

    • Headphones ($50+)

Technology Requirements

  • Computer setup:

    • High-speed internet connection

    • Webcam

    • Quality microphone

    • Headphones

  • Recording software options:

    • PC: Audacity (free)

    • Mac: GarageBand or Logic

    • Any preferred DAW

  • Zoom account

  • Cloud storage for sharing works in progress

Learning Materials

  • Songwriting notebook/journal

  • Reference materials (provided):

    • Song structure templates

    • Rhyme dictionaries

    • Chord progression charts

    • Analysis worksheets

  • NoteFlight account (free) for musical notation

  • Voice memo app for capturing ideas

  • Recommended reading list (provided during lessons)

Creative Space Setup

Your workspace should include:

  • Quiet environment for recording

  • Organized storage for lyrics and notes

  • Easy access to your instruments

  • Recording capability always ready

  • Good acoustics for demo recording

  • Minimal background noise

Getting Started Checklist

  1. Set up your basic recording equipment

  2. Create organized storage for your song materials

  3. Install and test recording software

  4. Set up cloud storage for sharing works

  5. Create your NoteFlight account

  6. Provide your Zoom contact information

  7. Prepare your workspace with:

    • All required equipment

    • Organized writing materials

    • Ready-to-use recording setup

    • Reference materials within reach

Song Development Process

Each lesson will focus on developing songs through these stages:

  1. Concept development

  2. Initial writing (lyrics/melody)

  3. Structure refinement

  4. Harmonic development

  5. Arrangement considerations

  6. Demo recording

  7. Critical evaluation

  8. Revision and polishing

Students should be prepared to:

  • Share works in progress

  • Accept and implement constructive feedback

  • Analyze both successful and unsuccessful elements

  • Revise material multiple times

  • Study and learn from existing songs

  • Develop regular writing habits