So You Want to Be a Songwriter?

Learn to write, co-write and pitch songs in Nashville. 15 weeks, 375 hours, with working songwriters. Now enrolling for the next session.

  • Write and co-write with instructors who have 150+ label cuts and 1,000+ TV placements between them
  • Record your demos at Dark Horse Recording, where Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood and Tim McGraw have recorded
  • Write, record and pitch songs for sync placement in TV, film and video games
Commercial Songwriting students in a recording session at Dark Horse Institute

Get Program Details

Program details and start dates, and an admissions advisor will follow up.

Commercial Songwriting Program

A 15-week, 375-hour exploration of the art of songwriting, with an emphasis on writing hit songs. You learn from the ground up, then write, record and pitch real songs before you finish.

What You Learn

Music theory, MIDI production and beat making, song structure, rhyme schemes, writing powerful lyrics, hit-song writing and production trends, writing and producing sync music for TV and film, and writing for and with other artists.

Real-World Projects

You write, record and pitch songs for sync placement in TV, film and video games, and build a portfolio of songs you wrote or co-wrote in class, recorded at Dark Horse Recording and Dark Horse Institute.

Writing Camp

Your final project is a co-write with an outside artist in a Writing Camp, the way many of the songs on the radio are written. You learn to write with intention and for a wide audience.

At a Glance

Length
15 weeks, 375 hours
Format
Full-time, Monday through Friday, on campus
Where
Franklin, TN, just outside Nashville
Credential
Certificate program
Class size
Small classes, and sessions fill in advance
Enrollment
Now enrolling for the next session
A Commercial Songwriting student recording a vocal at Dark Horse Institute

Watch: the Commercial Songwriting Program at Dark Horse Institute

Areas of Focus

  • Music theory: rhythm, harmony and melody
  • Song structure
  • Critical listening
  • Lyrical phrasing
  • Rhyme structures
  • Songwriting strategy
  • Creativity techniques
  • Constructing a full-length song
  • Creating a fan base
  • Co-writing
  • Writing for sync
  • Writer's Camp: writing with an artist
  • Pitching your music
  • Marketing techniques

Whether you want to be an artist, a songwriter or a producer, the collaboration between Songwriting, Audio Engineering and Music Business students, and our location in Music City, gives you a network from day one.

“Taking the Audio Engineering course has provided me with real life experience and hands on learning that has made me confident as an engineer. Staff and instructors are extremely well-versed in the music industry and are unbelievably kind and helpful.”

Anthony Maisano
Anthony Maisano
Board Operator, Beasley Media, Augusta, GA

“After taking all three programs I truly appreciate my experience at Dark Horse Institute. The Music Business, Audio Engineering and Songwriting classes gave me the confidence to pursue my artistry. They taught me how music industry really works. My teachers were amazing.”

Emma Greene
Emma Greene
Rehearsal Tech, Clair Global, Nashville, TN

“I've gone through all three programs at Dark Horse and made some great connections along the way! The atmosphere is inspiring, and they allow you to come in and use their studios at the school for free. It's incredible!”

Ryan Alexander
Ryan Alexander
Board Operator, WKQR Radio, Portland, TN

You'll find our GRADUATES working with some of the most celebrated artists in the world.

artist-word-collage-dark-2-1

Who Teaches the Program

All of our instructors are working professionals in the field. The Commercial Songwriting Program is taught by:

P.G. Banker
With over 1,000 placements on more than 100 different TV shows, P.G.'s compositions have been licensed on networks such as Fox Sports, CBS, NFL Network, CNBC, MTV, VH1 and Bravo.

Jay Brunswick
A singer, songwriter and producer with over 150 accredited major and independent label cuts. His songs can be found on albums from Scotty McCreery, Parmalee, Chris Janson and Brantley Gilbert.

What You Leave With

  • Completion of a 15-week, 375-hour certificate program
  • A portfolio of songs you wrote or co-wrote in class, recorded at Dark Horse Recording and Dark Horse Institute
  • A Writing Camp co-write with an outside artist, the way many hit songs are written
  • Songs written, recorded and pitched for sync placement in TV, film and video games
  • A network of Audio Engineering and Music Business students and working professionals in Music City

Request Information

Dark Horse Institute is authorized for operation as a postsecondary education institution by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. In order to view detailed job placement and graduation information on the programs offered by Dark Horse Institute, please visit http://tn.gov/thec/topic/authorized-institutions-data and click on the Authorized Institutions Data.