Berklee College of Music Courses

Songwriting: Writing the Lyrics

24 reviews

Explore songwriting techniques to express ideas and emotions effectively. Learn about prosody, develop your message, and create engaging lyrics and melodies. Suitable for beginners and experienced songwriters.

• Coursera
• 16 hours
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course (Audit)

• Best of All Time

Guitar for Beginners

22 reviews

Learn guitar basics, including instrument parts, tuning, technique, music theory, scales, chords, and songs. Develop foundational skills for acoustic or electric guitar playing through practical lessons and exercises.

• Coursera
• 22 hours 17 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course (Audit)

Developing Your Musicianship

16 reviews

Explore harmony, ear training, scales, intervals, chords, and song forms. Learn to compose and perform contemporary music with guidance from a Berklee professor.

• Coursera
• 16 hours
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course (Audit)

Introduction to the Music Business

10 reviews

Learn the latest about the rapidly changing music industry from recording, publishing, and distribution to legal issues confronting music commerce.

• edX
• 6 weeks, 2-4 hours a week
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course (Audit)

Sound Design with Kontakt

7 reviews

Explore practical composing and producing with Kontakt sampler. Create custom instruments, use advanced techniques, and produce original compositions while mastering this industry-standard tool.

• Kadenze
• 25 hours
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course

Introduction To Music Theory

7 reviews

Learn key concepts and approaches needed to understand, create, and perform contemporary music.

• edX
• 6 weeks, 3-5 hours a week
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course (Audit)

Music Business Foundations

6 reviews

Explore the evolving music industry, from its history to current trends. Learn about recording agreements, copyright law, and key roles in artist management and representation.

• Coursera
• 11 hours 31 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course (Audit)

Jazz Improvisation

5 reviews

Explore jazz improvisation with renowned musician Gary Burton. Learn mental, melodic, and harmonic processes to create spontaneous solos. Master essential skills and develop your musical storytelling abilities.

• Coursera
• 13 hours
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course (Audit)

Vocal Recording Technology

7 ratings at edX

Explore emerging innovations in vocal production, audio engineering, recording, and mixing.

• edX
• 6 weeks, 5-6 hours a week
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course (Audit)

Creativity & Entrepreneurship

7 ratings at edX

Learn skills and listen to examples from world-renown entrepreneurs and innovators as they discuss the parallels between the creative and entrepreneurial journeys -- and why entrepreneurship, much like music or creativity, is something we all possess.

• edX
• 4 weeks, 3-5 hours a week
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course (Audit)

Introduction to Ableton Live

1104 ratings at Coursera

Explore MIDI programming, audio recording, warping, looping, mixing, and performing in Ableton Live. Master essential tools for transforming musical ideas into polished recordings and live performances.

• Coursera
• 13 hours 13 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course (Audit)

Designing Synthesizer Sounds

2 reviews

Explore practical synthesis techniques to create emotionally impactful musical compositions using industry-standard tools, with a focus on synthesizer components and peer feedback.

• Kadenze
• 40 hours
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course

The Technology of Music Production

1057 ratings at Coursera

Explore music production essentials: recording, editing, mixing. Learn DAW tools, signal flow, effects, and synthesis. Gain skills to transform creative ideas into polished tracks.

• Coursera
• 17 hours 46 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course (Audit)

The Art of Vocal Production

364 ratings at Coursera

Explore vocal production techniques, from basic placement to advanced processing. Learn compression, EQ, effects, pitch correction, and time manipulation to enhance vocal performances in modern music production.

• Coursera
• 11 hours 6 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course (Audit)

Arranging for Songwriters

77 ratings at Coursera

Learn to transform your song from a simple recording to a fully arranged piece ready for the studio. Master horizontal and vertical arrangement, instrumentation, and vocal focus to enhance emotional impact and create professional-quality demos.

• Coursera
• 8 hours 52 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course (Audit)