Summer Songwriting Programs: Boston or LA? Berklee Lets You Choose Your Coast

Just as no two songs are identical, Berklee’s two summer songwriting programs each have their own distinct—and distinctive—structures, themes, and rhythms.

The weeklong Songwriting Workshop and the Songwriting Sessions in Los Angeles are both designed to inspire and teach students to write their own original melodies and lyrics, immerse them in the creative process, and welcome them into a supportive community of songwriters. Each session offers participants a stimulating environment in which to learn from expert faculty, prominent guest artists, and other aspiring songwriters, and provides unparalleled performance opportunities.

The most obvious difference between the two programs is, of course, their locations: the Songwriting Workshop occurs on Berklee’s Boston campus, while the Songwriting Sessions in Los Angeles program takes place at the renowned Colburn School in the heart of LA’s arts corridor.

But there are other specific differences, points out Bonnie Hayes, who created the Boston summer program and later added its counterpart in LA, where she now teaches. Hayes, who chaired Berklee’s Songwriting Department from 2013 to 2022, is a songwriter, recording artist, musician, and producer with five albums, and her songs have been recorded by Bonnie Raitt (on her Grammy-winning records Nick of Time and Luck of the Draw), Robert Cray, Bette Midler, Booker T & the MG’s, Adam Ant, David Crosby, and Huey Lewis and the News. She has also toured with Billy Idol and Belinda Carlisle, and shared the stage with Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and Tower of Power, among others.

“The LA program has fewer students and tends to be more focused on project-based collaboration,” Hayes notes. “There are also more electives related to production, including a beat-making lab, an iPhone production class, a mixing class, and a mini-lab for producers.”

On the other hand, she adds, the Boston program offers a broader range of electives as well as access to both the Berklee campus and esteemed Berklee faculty.

“In the Boston program, students take part in songwriting classes, mentoring sessions, and performance opportunities, and they get feedback on their original songs to help improve their songwriting skills,” explains Valerie Orth, assistant professor of songwriting, who leads the Boston-based Songwriting Workshop. Orth, who has been performing since the age of 5, has studied songwriting with Hayes for more than 20 years and has released five albums. She has also contributed as a writer and producer for Warner Chappell Music Publishing and other music houses, and cofounded Palestine Beats, the West Bank’s first initiative blending songwriting, music production, and nonviolent communication.

Songwriting Workshop in Boston 

Songwriters ages 15 and over can take part in this immersive five-day workshop delving into melody, harmony, rhythm, and lyrical techniques. Students will receive instruction and expert feedback through a core curriculum of master classes, mentoring sessions, and guest artist presentations. In addition, they’ll select electives to enhance their educational experience. Electives include: Write a Song in 90 Minutes; Working with a Band; Introduction to Production for Songwriters; Hip-Hop Songwriting; Topline Writing for Pop, R&B, and EDM; Vocal Techniques for Songwriters; Songwriting for Film and TV; Improvisation Workshop; Intermediate/Advanced Harmony for Songwriters; Making a Living with Your Music; Marketing and Media for Songwriters; Contemporary Musical Theater Writing; and more. In addition, students can take the stage during multiple open-mic sessions throughout the program.

Songwriting Sessions in Los Angeles 

During this five-day workshop, participants ages 14-plus engage in a 48-hour writing sprint, perform their songs at open mics and a final showcase, and receive valuable input from LA-based industry professionals. Daily core curriculum courses include Writing Workshop, Tools and Techniques, and visiting artist presentations, as well as master classes during which students share their original work. The schedule also includes electives, such as: Topline Writing; Generating Inspiration: Finding Ideas for Your Songs; Rhyme and Beyond: Playing with Sound in Your Lyrics; Dive Deeper into Harmony; Intro to Production; Production Prosody: The Hidden Secret in Front of Your Ears; and more. Songwriters who are interested in producing can build tracks in an open lab as part of the Songwriting Sessions.

Sure, the programs are only a week long. But what you’ll walk away with—skills, songs, momentum—can stick with you for a lifetime. Learn more at summer.berklee.edu.