Curriculum

In Steinhardt’s unparalleled facilities, you’ll explore diverse musical traditions and work closely with our faculty of internationally recognized composers. You'll receive training and instruction in the art, craft, and commerce of the music industry to prepare for a career in songwriting. Through core composition courses, private one-on-one lessons with our faculty, and coursework in industry-standard music technology, you’ll develop the skills necessary to build a career in the evolving songwriting industry.

Core Course Sequence 

In your coursework, you’ll explore songwriting history, analysis, and criticism, studio production and technology, and the music industry's business structure. You'll also engage in the Songwriters’ Forum, a seminar focused on enhancing your skills in writing popular songs. Through a series of master classes, you will write and refine your songs, receive feedback from industry professionals, and collaborate with fellow lyricists and composers. You’ll acquire a set of compositional tools covering melody, harmony, structure, rhyme scheme, scan, and rhythmic concepts. You will be exposed to cultural context and history through analysis and research, while gaining essential knowledge in audio production, promotion, and marketing.

Sample Elective Courses

By advisement, students select elective courses in areas that correspond to their individual interests and research such as in the Psychology of Music, historical composition approaches, music theory, music editing, and music technology. Students can also take a variety of classes throughout the Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions, collaborating with the programs in Music Business, Music Technology, Screen Scoring and Songwriting, and Instrumental and Vocal Performance. 

Culminating Experience 

The terminal experience course for this degree is MPATC-GE 2026: Colloquy in Music Composition. Students work with a faculty mentor to coordinate and develop all aspects of the concert experience, including production, marketing, and programming. The realization of their composition culminates in a final public performance.