PREMIUM COURSE

The New Songwriter's Workshop

Go from performing other people's music to writing your own by exploring the fundamentals of creating great songs.

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Are you a musician who has just started writing your own music? Jumpstart your creative process with this course full of universal tips, strategies, and sources of inspiration to help you craft your own sound.

In this course, acclaimed songwriter Oli Rockberger lays out some of the approaches he uses when choosing harmonic progressions, composing memorable melodies, finding effective writing strategies, and more. Plus, you'll get weekly personalized feedback on your songs from an expert Soundfly Mentor. Sign up now and write your next great song!


Oli Rockberger

Songwriter, Pianist, Producer

Oli Rockberger is a singer/songwriter, solo artist, producer/arranger, studio keys sideman, and one-third of the acclaimed electro-soul act Mister Barrington, based between New York and his native London. Currently working on his fourth studio album, his music has won critical acclaim for its blending of pop, soul, and jazz, while his musical breadth and versatility has led to collaborations with the likes of Levon Helm, Laura Mvula, Carly Simon, Gloria Gaynor, John Mayer, Jesse Harris, Judy Collins, Les McCann, Chris Dave, John Forte, and Randy Brecker, amongst numerous others. Oli performs, records, and presents workshops internationally, and brings the richness of his musical experiences to his insightful and engaging course for new songwriters.

Visit http://www.olirockberger.com for more info.

More About Oli
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songwriting
oli rockberger
melody
structure
form
composition
theory
chords
harmony
the new songwriter's workshop
seventh chords
guitar
piano
singing
inspiration and creativity
song analysis

Subscribe Now for Unlimited Access

Take this course for as low as $12/month with a Soundfly subscription, and get access to all the creative courses we offer, and much more. Cancel anytime.

Want to work on this course with 1-on-1 support from an expert mentor? Request a mentor through our
custom mentorship program here.

Give yourself the tools to write great songs

By the end of this course, you’ll understand the various elements of a great song and how to piece them together to create something original.

Listen Differently to Your Favorite Songs

We show you how to listen to and analyze your favorite songs in new ways.

Expand Your Harmonic Palette

We explore how to build common chord progressions using triads and seventh chords.

Craft Memorable Melodies & Hooks

We explore some key factors that can contribute to really great melody writing.

Overcome Writer's Block & Practice Writing

This course includes strategies for starting out and writing prompts for practice.

SUPER-CHARGE YOUR LEARNING WITH SUPPORT FROM AN EXPERT

Add a custom mentorship session on top of your course subscription to work through the material one-on-one with an expert mentor. Get a more personalized experience featuring weekly calls, feedback, additional resources, and more. Tell us about your goals below to learn more.

Joseph Capalbo

Songwriter, Producer, Guitarist
  • Music placed on several global TV networks
  • Songwriting degree from Berklee College of Music
  • Award-winning music educator

Sırma Munyar

Singer, Songwriter, Producer
  • Artist with over a million listens on Spotify
  • Recorded with Illenium, Keri Hilson, Akon, etc.
  • Singer for major TV ads

Raven Katz

Singer, Songwriter, Educator
  • Nashville-based songwriter and solo artist
  • Highly-experienced in musical collaboration
  • Studied songwriting at Berklee College of Music

WHAT STUDENTS SAY

Course Outline

  1. Section 1

    Introduction

  2. Preview
    Section 2

    Building Blocks

  3. Preview
    Section 3

    Active Listening

  4. Section 4

    Major Key Triads

  5. Section 5

    Major Key 7th Chords

  6. Section 6

    Writing Melodies

  7. Section 7

    Starting to Write

  8. Section 8

    Other Approaches

  9. Section 9

    Conclusion

MORE INFORMATION

Who is this course for?

This course is for beginner songwriters who are looking to learn how to write songs from scratch. It focuses specifically on the building blocks of songwriting, including structure, harmony, and melody.

What will I learn?

You'll learn about common song structures, common harmonic devices, how to craft memorable melodies, tricks for overcoming writer's block, and more. You'll analyze other people's music, develop tools to think about your own music in new ways, and write a few songs of your own.

Are there any pre-reqs?

There are no pre-requirements for this course, although it's targeted specifically at people who know some piano or guitar. The course touches on chords, intervals, and other elements of composition. You will need some way to make music — whether that's a piano, a keyboard, a guitar, a DAW or MIDI-programmable device, etc.

How long does this course take?

This course was designed to be completed in roughly six weeks, assuming students would have a few hours a week to spend on it. Each "week" includes a certain section and challenge activity for you to take on. That said, that timeline is just a casual recommendation — you can choose to blow through it all in one sitting or take a year with it, if you'd like.

Is there a specific start date?

You can start the course anytime. If you'd like more accountability and guided feedback from a professional, you can request to work through the course and your own goals with a Soundfly Mentor for four or six weeks, and get a more personalized experience for a specific period of time.  

Learn more about custom mentorship here.

How many lessons are there?

This course includes 38 lessons, including videos, graphics, text, activities, demos, downloadable resources, and much more. 

What do I get if I enroll as a subscriber?

As a subscriber, you'll get unlimited access to all courses on Soundfly.com, including this and all our other premium courses, to go through at your own pace. This includes all the videos, tutorials, demos, quizzes, activities, downloads, and other materials within our full suite of courses.

You're also entitled to a 25% discount on our custom mentorship program, you will be invited to join our exclusive community Discord group, you'll be able join subscriber-only Study Groups, artist Q&As and workshops, annual contests and giveaways, and you'll have access to a growing list of exclusive discount perks courtesy of our partner brands. Cancel anytime.

You can find out more about subscribing here.

Can I take this course with a mentor?

Yes, absolutely. If you would like to go through the course with support, accountability, feedback, and guidance from an expert, you can request a mentor by filling out this form. A Soundfly staffperson will reach out within 48 hours to learn more about your goals, your music, and your skills level, and pair you with a mentor who can help you achieve your next musical milestone. Our mentorship program is our science-backed learning model designed to help you learn more efficiently and effectively. Your mentor will tailor the course to your experience and interests, offer detailed weekly feedback on your work, answer any questions you have, help you blow past obstacles, and keep you on track to accomplish your goals.

You can find out more about mentorship and our expert mentors here.