About the Program

Discover the art of songwriting and popular music production in this five-day program. Learn to write a catchy melody, write a memorable lyric, build tracks on your computer, and possibly even write a hit. You’ll collaborate with other students in the 48-Hour Writing Sprint, perform your songs at the open mic and final showcase, and get real-world advice from industry professionals and up-and-coming young writers and producers in Los Angeles. In this experiential program, you’ll study in the heart of the Los Angeles arts corridor on the campus of the Colburn School.

Dates: Coming soon
Check-in / Move-in: Coming soon
Move-out: Coming soon
Tuition: $2,245
Housing: $1,500
Registration fee: $50 (nonrefundable)

How to Enroll

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.

Step 1Submit your registration
Begin by submitting your registration online. If applicable, you may need to submit additional supporting materials.
Step 2Make your tuition payment
All programs have limited capacity, so be sure to complete your full tuition payment to reserve your space in the program.
Step 3Request housing
If you will be age 15 or older by the start of your Boston-based program and require on-campus accommodations, complete the Residence Hall Agreement in the Next Steps tab of your registration portal.
Step 4Complete your next steps
Visit the Next Steps section of your program to view and complete any additional requirements. Review the checklist to make sure you are on track.

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

Check out a sample of a typical day in the program. Schedules are subject to change.

Each Day

9 AM–10 AMPractice time
10 AM–11 AMTools and Techniques
11 AM–NoonWriting Workshop
Noon–1 PMLunch (provided)
1 PM–2 PMVisiting artist presentation
2 PM–3:30 PMElective
3:30 PM–5 PMWriter camp, producer lab, one-on-one, or feedback session
5 PM–6 PMOpen mic
6 PMEnd of day

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

All students who meet the minimum age requirement and older, with six months of playing experience on electric or acoustic bass 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.
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, 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

Stay on Campus at Colburn

Participants will study on the campus of the Colburn School. This program is conveniently located in LA’s downtown arts corridor.

Students enrolled in Film Scoring in Los Angeles or Songwriting Sessions in Los Angeles have the option to live on campus at the Colburn School. Enjoy the convenience of on-campus housing, access to practice rooms, furnished suites, and a supportive residential staff. To reserve your spot, complete the Residence Hall Agreement in your Berklee application portal after registering for your program. Visit our help center to learn more about housing at Colburn.

Residential students must remain on the Colburn School campus for the entirety of the program.

Commuter students must remain on the Colburn School campus from the start to end of classes each day.

Program Director

Bonnie Hayes
“What I figured out is that every kind of music has something awesome about it. You just have to find it and embrace it.”
Read Full Bio

Once You’ve Enrolled

The Berklee Summer Programs Team is excited that you’ve taken the first step! Now that you’re enrolled, here’s what you need to know to be prepared before check-in, and what to expect afterward.

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.
On-campus housing is limited, and spaces will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis based on the completion of the following steps:
1. Read, sign, and submit the residence hall agreement on the registration portal.
2. The Summer Programs team will review your signed residence hall agreement within 3-5 business days. After review, we will send you an email inviting you to return to the registration portal to view your on-campus housing decision letter.
3. If your request has been approved, secure your spot by accepting your offer and paying the housing fee in full.
Important Considerations
- For students enrolled in multiple programs, please complete a separate residence hall agreement (along with the accompanying housing fee payment) for each program.
- To be eligible to request on-campus housing, a student must be 15 years of age before the start of their program.
- If a student is under the age of 18, the request for on-campus housing must be filled out by a parent/guardian, and both the student and parent/guardian must agree to all the terms and conditions.
- Applicants for Musical Theater Acting Intensive (MTAI) and Vocal/Choral Intensive (VCI) must first be offered admission and accept their offer before their residence hall agreement submission will be considered.
- Since space in our residence halls is limited, a spot in our residence halls will only be guaranteed once a student has fully registered for their chosen program and paid the program tuition in full. Any housing requests or payments made before the completion of both these steps do not ensure a guaranteed place in on-campus housing.
Learn more about housing and campus life by exploring the Help Center.
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.

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Songwriting Sessions in Los Angeles