Songwriting: Writing the Lyrics from Coursera

There’s a songwriter lurking somewhere inside you, peeking around corners, wondering if it’s safe to come out. Now it is. This course is an invitation to let your inner songwriter step into the sunlight. All it takes is a simple “yes” and you’ll be climbing that windy hill, marveling at the view.

If you haven’t written any or many songs, this course will show you an efficient, effective process for tailoring songs to express your ideas and emotions. If you have, you’ll look at your process differently, taking control of aspects of the process you may have not noticed.

The course will start by examining the tools available to you, all revolving around the essential concept of prosody. You’ll learn to use your tools to enhance your message—to work compositionally at the same time you’re developing your ideas.

You’ll be working both lyrically and musically, though musically it’s not necessary that you either read music or play an instrument. If you play, great, and you’ll be encouraged to play and record your musical responses to the assignments. If you don’t play, the course offers you a number of musical loops to work with. All you’ll have to do is sing your melodies over the loops.

Assignments will ask you to post something for peer review—sometimes lyric lines or sections, sometimes melodies, sometimes both. None of it has to be polished. The course is about writing, not performing.

Most important, you’ll have a lot of fun.

What's inside

Syllabus

Welcome to Songwriting: Writing the Lyrics

Welcome to the course! Here we will cover all the details about the course and what you'll need to know to get the most out of your experience.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Provides a step-by-step songwriting process for both beginners and experienced songwriters

Encourages learners to explore their creativity and develop their songwriting skills

Provides opportunities for peer feedback through assignments

Teaches the importance of prosody and how to use it effectively in songwriting

Taught by experienced instructors with a proven track record in songwriting

Requires no prior musical knowledge or instrument playing ability

Reviews summary

Songwriting fundamentals and lyrical techniques

According to learners, this course provides a strong foundation in songwriting fundamentals, particularly focusing on lyrics. Many find the instructor's approach clear and engaging, explaining concepts like prosody, rhyme schemes, and rhythm effectively. The practical assignments are highlighted as particularly helpful for applying learned techniques. While the course is widely praised for its usefulness for beginners, some more experienced writers feel the content is too introductory. The peer review process receives mixed feedback, with some finding it beneficial and others noting inconsistencies or lack of participation. Overall, students report gaining valuable tools and confidence in their songwriting process.

Course is well-organized and paced.

"The weekly modules built nicely upon each other."

"The pace was just right, not too fast or too slow."

"Liked how the course was broken down week by week."

Excellent starting point for new writers.

"As a complete beginner, this course was exactly what I needed to get started."

"Perfect if you're just starting out and need structure."

"If you have some experience, you might find it a bit too basic."

"I was hoping for more advanced techniques, but it's solid for fundamentals."

Assignments are helpful for practice.

"The assignments pushed me to actually write and apply what I was learning."

"I found the weekly writing prompts and exercises very useful."

"The assignments were challenging but rewarding."

"Applying the concepts through the exercises was the best part."

Core songwriting concepts explained well.

"I finally understand prosody! The way it was explained here just clicked for me."

"The lessons on rhyme schemes and internal rhythm were eye-opening."

"Great explanations of the technical aspects like line length and stress."

"The course breaks down complex ideas into manageable pieces."

Instructor is engaging and clearly explains.

"His insights into songwriting are profound and actionable."

"The instructor is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate, making complex ideas easy to grasp."

"The instructor explained everything so clearly and had great examples."

"Professor Pat Pattison is a fantastic teacher."

Peer feedback quality varies greatly.

"Peer review was sometimes helpful, but often minimal feedback."

"The peer assessment part was a bit hit or miss, depending on who reviewed your work."

"I didn't get much constructive criticism from peers."

"Some peers gave excellent feedback, others just superficial comments."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Songwriting: Writing the Lyrics with these activities:

Organize your course materials

Show steps

Organization is key for improving learning outcomes.

Show steps

Take clear notes during the course.
Keep all of your assignments organized in one place.

Review common musical symbols and terms

Show steps

Starting with a good grasp of music fundamentals will help you pick up the concepts in this course more easily.

Browse courses on Music Theory

Show steps

Review a quick guide to basic music symbols and terms.

Read Bob Dylan's Chronicles Volume 1

Show steps

Learning from the insights of one of the greatest songwriters will inspire your own songwriting.

Show steps

Obtain a copy of Bob Dylan's Chronicles, Volume 1.
Read the book slowly and thoughtfully.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Compose melodies using prosody

Show steps

Writing your own melodies will help you internalize the ideas we cover in this course.

Browse courses on Prosody

Show steps

Analyze the prosody of a simple song you like.
Compose a new melody for the song using the same prosody.

Experiment with different songwriting styles

Show steps

Exploring different styles will allow you to discover your unique voice as a songwriter.

Browse courses on Musical Styles

Show steps

Listen to songs from a variety of genres and styles.
Write short songs in different styles to experiment with.

Get feedback on your songwriting from peers

Show steps

Constructive criticism is essential for growth as a songwriter.

Browse courses on Peer Feedback

Show steps

Share your songs with trusted peers or join a songwriting group.
Be open to their feedback and suggestions.

Create a song for a specific genre or theme

Show steps

Writing songs to fit specific genres or themes will broaden your songwriting abilities.

Browse courses on Songwriting

Show steps

Choose a musical genre or theme that you want to explore.
Compose a song that fits the chosen genre or theme.

Career center

Learners who complete Songwriting: Writing the Lyrics will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Songwriter

Songwriters write songs, which are musical compositions that typically include lyrics, music, and vocals. This course would be a great fit for aspiring songwriters as it would teach them how to write effective lyrics, which is a key component of a successful song.

See salaries and explore the career path for Songwriter

Lyricist

Lyricists are responsible for writing the lyrics to songs. They often collaborate with musicians to create complete songs. This course would be useful for aspiring lyricists as it would teach them the essential concepts of prosody, how to use rhyme schemes, and how to put rhythm in their lines.

See salaries and explore the career path for Lyricist

Poet

Poets write poems, which are works of literature that use language in a creative and often beautiful way. This course would be useful for aspiring poets as it would teach them the essential concepts of prosody, how to use rhyme schemes, and how to put rhythm in their lines.

See salaries and explore the career path for Poet

Music Producer

Music producers oversee the recording, mixing, and mastering of music. They work with musicians and engineers to create a finished product that is ready for release. This course may be useful for aspiring music producers as it would teach them about the essential concepts of prosody, which is important for understanding how to put rhythm in music.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Producer

Music Director

Music directors lead and conduct orchestras, choirs, and other musical ensembles. They are responsible for interpreting musical scores and guiding the musicians in their performance. This course may be useful for aspiring music directors as it would teach them about the essential concepts of prosody, which is important for understanding how to interpret musical scores.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Director

Music Arranger

Music arrangers create arrangements of music for different instruments or ensembles. They may work with composers, musicians, and producers to create new or adapted versions of musical pieces. This course may be useful for aspiring music arrangers as it would teach them about the essential concepts of prosody, which is important for understanding how to put rhythm in music.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Arranger

Music Therapist

Music therapists use music to help people improve their physical, emotional, and mental health. They may work with a variety of clients, including children, adults, and seniors. This course may be useful for aspiring music therapists as it would teach them about the essential concepts of prosody, which is important for understanding how to use music to help people.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Therapist

Music Journalist

Music journalists write about music for a variety of publications, including newspapers, magazines, and websites. They may interview musicians, review concerts, and write feature articles about music-related topics. This course may be useful for aspiring music journalists as it would teach them about the essential concepts of prosody, which is important for understanding how to write about music.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Journalist

Music Librarian

Music librarians manage and catalog music collections in libraries, archives, and other institutions. They may also provide reference and research services to patrons. This course may be useful for aspiring music librarians as it would teach them about the essential concepts of prosody, which is important for understanding how to organize and catalog music.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Librarian

Music Critic

Music critics evaluate and write about music performances, recordings, and compositions. They may work for a variety of publications, including newspapers, magazines, and websites. This course may be useful for aspiring music critics as it would teach them about the essential concepts of prosody, which is important for understanding how to evaluate music.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Critic

Music Publisher

Music publishers acquire, edit, and publish musical works. They may work with composers, songwriters, and other music creators to bring their music to the public. This course may be useful for aspiring music publishers as it would teach them about the essential concepts of prosody, which is important for understanding how to edit and publish music.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Publisher

Music Promoter

Music promoters promote and organize music events, such as concerts, festivals, and tours. They may work with artists, venues, and other stakeholders to create successful events. This course may be useful for aspiring music promoters as it would teach them about the essential concepts of prosody, which is important for understanding how to write effective promotional materials.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Promoter

Music Educator

Music educators teach music to students of all ages, from young children to adults. They may teach a variety of subjects, including music theory, history, and performance. This course may be useful for aspiring music educators as it would teach them about the essential concepts of prosody, which is important for understanding how to teach music.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Educator

Musician

Musicians perform music, either as soloists or as part of a group. They may play a variety of instruments, including guitars, drums, keyboards, and vocals. This course may be useful for aspiring musicians as it would teach them about the essential concepts of prosody, which is important for understanding how to put rhythm in their music.

See salaries and explore the career path for Musician

Music Teacher

Music teachers teach music to students of all ages, from young children to adults. They may teach a variety of subjects, including music theory, history, and performance. This course may be useful for aspiring music teachers as it would teach them about the essential concepts of prosody, which is important for understanding how to teach music.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Teacher