1. Home
  2. Academics
  3. Continuing Education and Professional Development
  4. Non-Credit Programs
  5. The Craft of Songwriting Certificate
  6. Course Details

Course Details

Who Should Take This Course

This program is designed for students at any age from high school to adult. It is never too late to begin or expand your interest in the creative songwriting process.

What You'll Learn

This course focuses on four important areas of the songwriting process:

  1. Understanding music theory: pitches, rhythm, scales, intervals, triads, seventh chords and chromatic chords.
  2. Creating and developing the song: inspiration, elements, writing and editing in tandem, composing for commissions and dealing with writer’s block.
  3. Recording your new composition: route the technology, record your song, use MIDI interfaces, arrange within your recording, and mix and master your final work.
  4. Marketing your song in today’s music industry to earn money: copyright basics, how to publish, mechanical and performance royalties, synchronization and other licenses, and streaming in the new digital marketplace.

How You'll Learn

This course is divided into four modules: Music Theory, Craft of Songwriting, Music Technology and Music Industry. Each module is self-paced with six 20-minute videos and a knowledge-review section to ensure your understanding of the material before you continue.

What You'll Earn

After successfully completing the modules, you’ll earn a digital badge from Bradley University that you can display on your résumé, social media sites and LinkedIn page.

Technical Requirements

To complete this course, you’ll need a current email account and access to a computer and the internet, preferably using Google Chrome as your internet browser.

Who You’ll Learn From

Dr. Lynnsey Lambrecht

Dr. Lynnsey Lambrecht is an Assistant Professor of music theory and composition at Bradley University. Lambrecht graduated from Michigan State University with a Doctor of Musical Arts in composition and a Master of Music in theory. She also holds a Master of Music in theory and composition from the University of Northern Colorado and graduated from Colorado Mesa University with a Bachelor of Arts in music education. Her research has been published in the Routledge Companion to Music Theory Pedagogy and the International Conference on Music Perception and Cognition proceedings.

Barry Cloyd

Barry Cloyd is a Midwestern based, touring singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist, performing over 200 shows per year, who has spent a lifetime creating a performance style that weaves the genres of Blues, Folk, Celtic, Original and Roots music into a unique blend all his own. A strong vocalist and multi-instrumentalist as well as a storyteller, theatrical performer and historian, Barry delivers his music on a multitude of guitars (6 & 12 string, Dobro, high-strung, etc.) and other stringed instruments, such as 5-string banjo, mandolin, requinto and bouzouki. Honored by Chicago’s Millennium Park with inclusion as part of their series, “Great Performers of Illinois”, Barry is also a member of the Illinois Arts Council ArtsTour Roster. .He has co-written, produced and toured more than 20 original folk musicals, written more than 350 songs, and has appeared in over 300 TV commercials and 70 industrial films, some of which have been shown internationally.

Dr. Mark De Zwaan

Dr. Mark De Zwaan is a seasoned audio engineer and musician with over 20-years experience in music technology. He has engineered sessions for a wide array of popular music, jazz, and classical artists, and his knowledge of analog and digital audio is augmented by vast expertise in computer science programming. He has been an invited lecturer in topics such as sound for film and the MIDI protocol, and he is a dedicated instructor of audio production and computer music. Dr. De Zwaan is also an acclaimed concert pianist and has been featured as an artist and educator in Europe, Asia, and the United States. He received his training from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and currently teaches at Bradley University and Eureka College.

Carl Anderson

Carl Anderson directs the Music Business and Music and Entertainment Industry programs at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois and holds a degree in Business Finance from Bradley. Mr. Anderson spent 28 years in private industry in the music products industry managing one of the largest music retailers in the country. He has recently authored a book entitled "The Music Products Industry: A Textbook for Music Business Students". His duties at Bradley include teaching the Music Licensing and Contracts course and he is an expert in the nuances of current music copyright and intellectual property law. He brings a wealth of knowledge about how to take a new song and monetize it in today’s changing marketplace.