Hit Songwriting Class | Chicago
Hit Songwriting Class – Write Better. Go Further.
Hit Songwriting Program
In today’s music industry, talent alone won’t cut it. To thrive as a songwriter, you need to understand what makes a track commercially viable—from structure and lyric craft to emotional resonance and market appeal.
Songwriting Fundamentals
- →What makes a timeless melody?
- →What makes a hit a hit now?
- →A look at past famed hit makers and an up close look at today’s top music makers
- →How do you come up with a “killer line?”
- →What is alliteration, anaphora, and other “ear worm” secrets to lyric and melody writing?
- →What’s the difference between a song and a hit? A classic?
- →The beauty of a crossover
The Secret to Making a Great Demo
- →Don’t waste your money
- →The power of the remix
- →Selecting the perfect vocalist
- →Simplicity is bliss
Placement and Politics
- →What makes a songwriter “hot”?
- →What is the present state of A&R?
- →How do I get my songs cut and placed?
- →It’s more than just the music, an inside perspective on how to get your songs placed and heard
- →Dirty little secrets of song placement
The Forum is Yours
- →kd_icon icon_pack="font_awesome" fa_icon="fa-solid fa-arrow-right" size="mkd-icon-tiny" custom_size="" type="normal" border_radius="" shape_size="" icon_color="#ce1713" border_color="" border_width="" background_color="" hover_icon_color="" hover_border_color="" hover_background_color="" margin="" icon_animation="" icon_animation_delay="" link="" anchor_icon="" target="_self"] Share your songs with the class
- →Share your tips and tricks
- →What are your favorite hit songs? And why?
- →Write a song with class and instructor, maybe even a HIT!
This course is built for those ready to move beyond hobbyist writing and start creating songs that can compete in the real world—whether you're aiming for chart placements, sync licensing, or cuts with other artists.
Taught in a small-class setting by a working professional songwriter with credits and collaborations across the industry, you'll gain:
- →Detailed critique sessions to refine your current songs for the market
- →Collaborative writing opportunities that mimic real industry sessions
- →Proven commercial songwriting frameworks used by top writers
- →Real-world strategies for pitching, co-writing, and getting placements
Bring your own material, refine your sound, and learn how to position your songs for the right opportunities. You’ll leave this course not just a better writer, but a smarter, more strategic one—with the tools to pursue commercial success.
Sessions available in-person or LIVE online. Let’s turn your ideas into songs that get heard.
In Chicago, the city that gave the world house music, the Hit Songwriting Class runs the way it does everywhere we teach: small groups, hands-on, with working producers as instructors. If getting to the studio is not practical, the same sessions run live online, using our specialist music collaboration software, Muse. Discover qualities that distinguish us, here.
Hear it from our students.
“The EMP course is a good time and super informative. I've been writing and producing music for the past year in Logic. There was so much I wanted to transcribe from my mind to my DAW, I just didn't fully know how. Fortunately, the EMP course changed that in just a few short weeks. Very exciting. Not to mention the Garnish LA folks are super cool.”
Patricia Seely
Instructors
Frequently asked questions.
Yes - see Hit Songwriting Private Instruction to connect with a specialist.
In-person or Live Online.
Proven commercial songwriting frameworks, real pitching and co-writing strategies, and a sharper sense of how to position your songs.
It's built for writers ready to move past hobbyist writing and start creating commercially viable songs - so some existing writing experience helps.
36 hours, or 20 hours as 1-on-1 instruction.
$1499 + $100 Registration if booked 14 days before start or $1799 + $200 Registration
Take the first step.
InquireLogic pro 9 Environment Chord Memorizer: Musical tips
The Chord Memorizer in Logic's environment layer, and how to use it as a shortcut for writing chords.
Read →Major, minor and extended chords on the keyboard and piano
Music theory practice, part two: major, minor and extended chords on the keyboard, and how to voice them.
Read →Free Hit Songwriting Tips From A No.1 Hit Selling Songwriter
In this video, our no. 1 hit selling songwriting instructor Alex Von Soos gives us a little taster of what you can expect on our Hit Songwriting course, jam packed full of songwriting tips from a top songwriter with record sales in the millions. Songwriting Tips | Become a Songwriter Music: Mountain
Read →Songwriting Guide For Beginners
It is absolutely okay if you’re not Johnny Cash or David Bowie, you can still write a song for that guitar tune in your head or vice versa. Songwriting is a skill indeed, however, with enough practice and right use of your imagination you can master this skill and begin writing masterpieces in no ti
Read →How to Write a Song With Good Lyrics | Writing a Song
Which comes first, the lyrics or the music? Writing a song is easy but writing a great song isn't. Have you ever wondered how to write a song with good lyrics and a good melody? I've been lucky enough to work with some of the most successful songwriters in the world including Cathy Dennis, Wayne Hec
Read →Songwriting, Music Composition writing chords and bass lines
A last day with a songwriting and composition class - chord sequences, melody, structure, rhythm, lyrics, arrangement and bass lines.
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