Summer Composition &
Songwriting Workshop
Three weeks of writing, workshopping, revising, and premiering new works — for composers and songwriters of every style and level.
About the Workshop
The Summer Composition and Songwriting Workshop is an immersive three-week creative laboratory for writers of music in every genre and tradition. Whether you compose concert works, craft pop songs, score films, or produce electronic music, this program provides the structure, mentorship, and community you need to create your best work.
Over three intensive weeks, you will write new pieces from the ground up, workshop them with peers and mentors, revise based on expert feedback, and premiere your finished works in a virtual concert. The program embraces all styles equally — classical, jazz, pop, folk, film, electronic, and everything in between. What unites our participants is not genre but the shared commitment to the craft of writing music.
Daily sessions combine technique workshops, one-on-one mentoring, peer critique circles, and collaborative writing exercises. You will leave the program with a portfolio of polished new works, recordings of your virtual premieres, and a network of fellow creators who will continue to inspire and challenge you for years to come.
Two Tracks, One Community
Choose the track that fits your artistic practice — then learn from writers on both sides of the creative spectrum.
Composition Track
For writers of concert music, chamber works, and orchestral scores. This track focuses on the craft of notated composition — form, harmony, counterpoint, orchestration, and the art of writing for live performers.
- Develop new works for solo instrument, chamber ensemble, or larger forces
- Study orchestration and score preparation with working composers
- Workshop your pieces with fellow composers and receive detailed written feedback
- Explore contemporary techniques: extended techniques, graphic notation, electronics integration
- Premiere your finished works performed by professional musicians in a virtual concert
Songwriting Track
For songwriters working in pop, folk, jazz, R&B, country, musical theater, and beyond. This track emphasizes the craft of the song — lyric writing, melody, harmony, arrangement, and demo production.
- Write new songs from concept to polished demo
- Study lyric craft with published songwriters and lyricists
- Develop arrangement and production skills to bring your songs to life
- Participate in co-writing sessions and collaborative songwriting exercises
- Record and produce demos with guidance from industry professionals
Week by Week
Three weeks of structured creative work, from initial ideas to finished premieres.
Craft Intensive
The first week is devoted to sharpening your tools. Daily technique workshops cover the fundamentals of your chosen track — harmony, form, orchestration, and notation for composers; lyric craft, melody, harmonic vocabulary, and song structure for songwriters. You will begin generating material for new works and receive your first round of one-on-one feedback from a faculty mentor.
Writing Sprint
Week two shifts into high gear. This is where the writing happens in earnest. Daily feedback sessions — both one-on-one with mentors and in small peer groups — keep you accountable and push your work forward. You will draft and revise multiple works, experiment with new approaches, and begin to shape the portfolio you will present at the virtual premiere.
Revision, Production & Premiere
The final week is dedicated to finishing. Revise your strongest works based on the feedback you have received. Composers prepare scores and parts for performance; songwriters finalize demos and production. The program culminates in a virtual premiere concert — a live-streamed event where every participant's work is heard, celebrated, and recorded.
What You Will Create
Leave the workshop with tangible, portfolio-ready work.
New Works
A portfolio of three to five new compositions or songs, written, workshopped, and revised over the course of the program. These pieces represent your best work, refined through multiple rounds of expert feedback.
Professional Feedback
Detailed written and verbal feedback from your faculty mentor and peers on every piece you submit. This feedback becomes a resource you can return to long after the program ends, guiding your continued development.
Premiere Recordings
High-quality recordings of your works as performed or produced during the virtual premiere concert. These recordings are yours to use for portfolios, applications, submissions, and professional promotion.
Guest Artists & Master Composers
Our Summer 2027 guest artist lineup is being curated. Expect visits from Grammy-nominated songwriters, Pulitzer-recognized composers, film scoring professionals, and leading voices in electronic and experimental music. These special sessions offer rare, direct access to artists working at the highest levels of the craft.
Register early to be the first to receive guest artist announcements.
Who Should Apply
This workshop is for anyone who writes music — or wants to start. We welcome absolute beginners alongside advanced composers and published songwriters. Classical purists and beat-makers. Lyricists and orchestrators. Film scorers and folk singers. There is no style requirement, no audition repertoire, and no minimum level of experience.
What we do look for is curiosity, commitment, and a willingness to share your work honestly and receive feedback generously. If you have ever wanted dedicated time and expert guidance to focus on your writing, this program was designed for you.
This Workshop Is For You If You Are:
- A beginner exploring composition or songwriting for the first time
- An intermediate writer ready to push past a creative plateau
- An advanced composer or songwriter seeking focused time and expert feedback
- A performer who wants to start writing original music
- A producer looking to strengthen your compositional foundations
- A student building a portfolio for college or graduate school applications
- An adult learner returning to music after years away
Tuition & Financial Aid
Program Fee
Tuition for the Summer 2027 Composition and Songwriting Workshop has not yet been finalized. We are committed to making creative education accessible and will announce pricing in the coming months. Register early below to receive tuition details as soon as they are available.
Scholarships Available
Merit-based and need-based scholarships are available for this program. Indicate your interest in financial aid on the early registration form and we will send you the scholarship application as soon as it opens. We believe financial circumstances should never be a barrier to creative growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need prior composition or songwriting experience?
No. The workshop welcomes participants at all levels, from absolute beginners to advanced composers and published songwriters. Our faculty tailor feedback and assignments to meet you where you are, and peer groups are organized by experience level so everyone can learn at an appropriate pace.
Can I switch between the Composition and Songwriting tracks?
While we ask you to choose a primary track at registration, cross-track sessions are built into the program so every participant is exposed to both approaches. If your work naturally spans both tracks — say you write art songs or compose for singer-songwriters — your mentor will help you chart a path that honors both interests.
What software or tools do I need?
Composition track participants should have access to a notation program (such as MuseScore, which is free, or Sibelius, Dorico, or Finale). Songwriting track participants should have access to a DAW for demo recording (free options like GarageBand or Audacity work well). All participants need a computer, internet connection, and basic audio setup. Detailed tech requirements will be provided before the program begins.
How are mentors assigned?
Mentors are matched based on your chosen track, musical style, goals, and experience level. During registration, you will have the opportunity to describe your artistic interests and what you hope to achieve — this helps us pair you with the faculty member best suited to guide your work.
What genres and styles are welcome?
All of them. Classical, jazz, pop, rock, folk, R&B, country, electronic, hip-hop, film scoring, musical theater, experimental — we celebrate every tradition and encourage cross-genre exploration. Our faculty roster reflects this diversity, and the workshop community is richer for it.
Will my compositions be performed by live musicians?
Composition track participants will have their works performed by professional musicians in the virtual premiere concert. Songwriting track participants will present produced demos or live performances of their songs. All premieres are recorded and provided to participants for their portfolios.
How much time should I expect to spend each day?
Plan for approximately four to five hours of scheduled sessions daily (workshops, mentoring, peer groups, masterclasses), plus additional time for writing and revision. The program is intensive by design — the concentrated schedule is what makes it possible to produce a substantial body of work in just three weeks.
Can I attend from any time zone?
Yes. Live sessions are scheduled with global accessibility in mind, typically centered on U.S. Eastern time. We make every effort to accommodate international participants, and asynchronous materials — including recorded sessions and written feedback — ensure you never miss essential content regardless of your location.
Register Early
Secure your spot in the Summer 2027 Composition and Songwriting Workshop. Early registrants receive priority mentor matching and first access to scholarship applications.
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