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.

The Journey of the Song

By the end of this lesson, you will see how to develop your song idea so it creates an interesting journey from start to finish. You’ll understand your options developing the point of view of your song and will be introduced to the songwriter’s six best friends.

Stopping and Going

By the end of this lesson, you will understand the concept of prosody as it relates to the number of lines/musical phrases in a section and to line lengths/musical phrases. You’ll create both stable and unstable line/musical groupings, using an odd or even number of lines and musical phrases. Using these tools, you’ll write a verse and chorus.

Sonic GPS—Mapping Your Song with Rhyme

By the end of this lesson, you will understand the relationship of rhyme schemes to prosody. You’ll create both stable and unstable sections, using various rhyme schemes to show your ear the way to go home. Using these tools, you’ll write a new verse and chorus.

Making It Move

By the end of this lesson, you will understand language rhythms—the difference between stressed and unstressed syllables and how to put rhythm in your lines, preparing them to join into the dance with musical rhythm. Using these tools, you’ll put last week’s verse and chorus to music.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, 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: the lyrics that stick

learners say that this course will teach engaging assignments and difficult exams to develop a well received understanding of the mechanics of writing lyrics for songs. Largely positive reviews indicate that Professor Pattison, the course's engaging instructor, provides a great foundation for students to learn the engaging assignments of lyric writing with detailed lectures on concepts like prosody. Reviews mention that the well received course helps students produce their own songs using a great teacher's sharp insights into the proper structuring and delivery of song lyrics. However, learners should note that the course may be difficult for beginners who are new to music theory and song structure.

Finally, after the completion I have wrote two songs.

"Finally, after the completion I have wrote two songs."

"Thanks for coursera team and my course instructor Mr Pat Pattison."

"I highly recommend this course."

I learned all the things that contribute to a verse or chorus being stable and unstable

"I learned all the things that contribute to a verse or chorus being stable and unstable"

"the role of line lengths, number, and rhyme types."

"I got to peer review others' work"

Weeks 1 through 4 went fine and got a little more complex every time.

"Weeks 1 through 4 went fine and got a little more complex every time."

"Week 5 kicked my butt and took 3 weeks for me to finish."

"I took 7 weeks to complete the course and was glad I did."

Utilizing different songwriting tools.

"Utilizing different songwriting tools."

"really helpful loved it !"

"It was amazing! Now I know a lot of techniques of composing lyrics, thanks to everyone involved!"

Awesome, freaking awesome!

"You need to take this class!"

"Amazing teacher. amazing course !"

"Great teacher! Thanks"

It is more challenging than it looks!

"It is more challenging than it looks!"

"Minus 1 star for the outdated and clumsy user experience from Coursera: impractical, difficult to navigate and confusing."

I kind of wish perhaps people who actually know what they are doing would review our assignments.

"I kind of wish perhaps people who actually know what they are doing would review our assignments."

"I don't really feel qualified to review other people's hard or not so hard work."

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

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Organization is key for improving learning outcomes.

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

Review common musical symbols and terms

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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

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Review a quick guide to basic music symbols and terms.

Read Bob Dylan's Chronicles Volume 1

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

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

Four other activities

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Show all seven activities

Compose melodies using prosody

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

Browse courses on Prosody

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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

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

Browse courses on Musical Styles

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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

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Constructive criticism is essential for growth as a songwriter.

Browse courses on Peer Feedback

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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

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

Browse courses on Songwriting

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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 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

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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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