Songwriting Sessions in Los Angeles

How to Enroll

Submit your registration by June 1.* Begin by submitting your registration online. If applicable, you may need to submit additional supporting materials.
Make your tuition payment by June 1.* All programs have limited capacity, so be sure to complete your full tuition payment to reserve your space in the program.

*Please note: This program has limited capacity. Submission of registration materials alone does not guarantee participation in the program. You will secure your spot by paying in full.

Curriculum

Each day, students will participate in three core classes: Writing Workshop, Tools and Techniques, and a visiting artist presentation. As the daily final class, students can elect to attend a collaboration session, faculty office hours, or a group feedback session.

Students will also choose several electives to attend throughout the program. The following is a list of electives previously offered that will provide a sense of what to expect:

Topline Writing
Rhyme and Beyond: Playing with Sound in Your Lyrics
Generating Inspiration: Finding Ideas for Your Songs
Intro to Production
Diving Deeper into Harmony
Production Prosody: The Hidden Secret in Front of Your Ears
Master Class with Courtney Harrell: Performance Workshop
Master Class with Adrianne Gonzalez: Songwriting for Film and TV
Master Class with Amy Allen: Live Cowriting Session with Eric Leva
Master Class with Priscilla Renea: My Journey
Master Class with Robert Kraft

Schedule

Below is a sample of a typical day in the program.

Time	Event
9 AM–10 AM	Practice time
10 AM–11 AM	Tools and Techniques
11 AM–12 PM	Writing Workshop
12 PM–1 PM	Lunch (provided)
1 PM–2 PM	Visiting artist presentation
2 PM–3:30 PM	Elective
3:30 PM–5 PM	Writer camp, producer lab, one-on-one, or feedback session
5 PM–6 PM	Open mic
6 PM	End of day

Schedule subject to change.

Performance Opportunities

The program culminates in a final showcase of student performances and a demo listening session. Students will also have the opportunity to perform in daily open mics. All performances are open to friends and family. Participation in all performance opportunities is optional.

Requirements

General Requirements

All students 14 and older with some background in songwriting or production are welcome to attend.

Participants must possess a proficient level of English to enroll in this program. We do not require proof of English language proficiency (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo) as part of the enrollment or application process; however, you are expected to have a sufficient command of the English language to understand class material and assignments.

Required Materials

One important component of this program is sharing your work as part of the masterclass experience, interacting with fellow program participants, and receiving feedback from the instructors. You can bring recordings of your songs (via tablet, computer, or another accessible format) or perform live. You’ll also want to supply your lyrics. If a song’s lyrics are not in English, an English translation will be needed.

Songwriting Sessions in Los Angeles offers a chance for songwriters who are producers—or are interested in learning more about producing—to take classes and use the open lab to build tracks and songs. Anyone can take production classes at this program, no matter how experienced or inexperienced you are as a producer; so, if you’re new to it, don’t worry!

If you’re interested in producing or making beats at the program, please read the following information.

Equipment

To use the lab, you’ll need to bring a laptop with a DAW (digital audio workstation recording software) installed. Some examples of DAWs: Logic Pro X, Ableton Live, Pro Tools, GarageBand, FL Studio, StudioOne.

If possible, please bring headphones (adaptor from an eighth-inch to a quarter-inch). We provide small MIDI keyboards, interfaces, and microphones, but you’re welcome to bring your own interface and MIDI keyboard if you prefer.

Preparation:

If you’re new to your DAW, or even if you’ve been using it for a while, please check out the applicable tutorials below before our first meeting. They’re all under 20 minutes and give a basic overview of the most commonly used DAWs.

Ableton: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLcKyoUPrZs
Logic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKWdaSf9y5U
FL Studio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDIsEZsalAo
Studio One: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIxqI5TjqWc
Garageband: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y1cEwaQK0s

With the exception of pianists and drummers, you will be expected to bring your instruments to all Summer Programs. All class and practice rooms have pianos, and guitar amps are available. Additionally, please note the following:

Contemporary vocalists: If possible, please bring your own low-impedance microphone and cord. You can review microphone recommendations on this page from the Voice Department.
Drummers should come prepared with sticks and brushes. While you are welcome to bring your own cymbals, hi-hat, and clutch, these items are also provided during the program.
Guitarists and electric bassists should bring any necessary cables and foot pedals. Amplifiers will be supplied during instruction.
Keyboardists who wish to bring a synthesizer for ensemble purposes or private practice may do so.
Electronic Digital Instrumentalists (EDI): Bring what you need to perform your songs.

Program-Specific Details

Participants will study on the campus of the Colburn School. This program is conveniently located in L.A.'s downtown arts corridor at 200 South Grand Avenue. Students are encouraged to commute to campus or stay in a local hotel with family.

Students must remain on the Colburn School campus during this program.

Program Director

Bonnie Hayes

Berklee Online Songwriting Instructor

Bonnie Hayes is chair of the Songwriting Department at Berklee College of Music.

Once You've Enrolled

The Berklee Summer Programs Team is excited that you've taken the first step! Now that you've enrolled, here's what to know, to be sure you're prepared before and after you check in for the experience of a lifetime.

What to do first?

Important: continually check the email you used to enroll

Please regularly check the email you used to enroll in your program for important updates. A detailed check-in email, containing information about your assigned arrival location, housing assignment (if applicable), and program schedule, will be sent one to two weeks before your program's start date.

Request accessibility accommodations (if needed)

Accommodations are provided for students with documented medical needs, offering services such as academic accommodations, academic coaching, special housing arrangements, dietary adjustments, and referrals to on-campus support, including adaptive technology and tutoring.

Accommodations are determined through an interactive process involving the student, faculty, the Office of Housing and Residential Education, a dietitian, and Accessibility Resources for Students staff. Requests for academic, housing, and dietary accommodations can be made by following the steps outlined in this Help Center article.

Complete These Tasks by June

Complete the items in your Magnus Health account by June 1

We require up-to-date health information, documentation for the required immunizations mandated by Massachusetts law, as well as conduct and consent forms for all students. Instructions on accessing your Magnus Health account will be sent via email to all registered students in mid-spring.

If you have more questions you can review our help center. Here are some articles that might be helpful:

Prepare to Arrive and Check In

Download the Guidebook app

A few days before your program starts, you will receive instructions to download the Guidebook app. This app enables you to access your program schedule and connect with fellow Summer Programs students.

Directions, parking, and hotels for Los Angeles Summer Programs

Parking: Parking on the Colburn campus is reserved for students, faculty, and staff. However many convenient public parking options are nearby. We recommend Athena Parking, located on 2nd Street between Olive and Hill Streets. Parking is also available in the nearby Walt Disney Concert Hall garage.

Hotels: Browse this list in our help center to find hotels in the Los Angeles—Colburn School Area.

Take the Questionnaire

In order for us to customize this program to your interests, we ask that you please fill out this questionnaire: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSceWWMqEvD5jnTuJU27tFIh2wcGDsV… The results will not be shared, but we’ll use your responses to create your teams for the Writing Sprint, a collaborative 2-day challenge in which all students will create a song to perform or play at the demo listening party on Friday.

Access the Summer Programs Help Center

Explore some of these top articles from the Summer Programs Help Center.