Advanced Songwriting
Develop your sound, strengthen your songwriting, and create with more intention
Ages 10+
2-4 students
90 min
Mon 5:45-7:15 PM
About This Course
Our Advanced Songwriting program is for emerging songwriters and artists who are ready to take their writing further. You’ll work on original songs while developing stronger melodies, lyrics, structure, arrangements, and creative ideas, with guidance from experienced songwriters and producers.
This is a small-group, studio-based songwriting course where you’ll write, experiment, collaborate, and get feedback on your work. As your songs develop, you’ll also explore recording and production techniques that help you bring your ideas to life and make more intentional creative choices.
The goal isn’t to make every song sound the same. It’s to help you understand what makes your music feel like you and give you the tools to develop that further.
Ideal For
This course is designed for teens and young adults who already have some experience writing, singing, playing, or creating music and want to take their songwriting more seriously. You might already have songs of your own, lots of ideas that never quite make it to the finish line, or a growing sense of the sound you want to create.
At a Glance
What to know before enrolling
Mondays 5:45-7:15 PM
Join Advanced Songwriting at any point during the term, as long as space is available. Tuition is prorated automatically at checkout based on your enrolment date.
Prerequisites
No formal music training is required. Students should have some familiarity with songwriting or music creation and be ready to bring their own ideas, experiment, collaborate, and receive feedback.
Bring With You
- A notebook or device for writing and capturing ideas
- Any instrument you already use (optional but encouraged)
- A laptop or phone for recording demos or voice notes (if available)
- Any existing ideas, including songs, lyrics, melodies, or concepts you’ve started
OR
What You'll Learn
SAMPLE schedule · 90 Minutes per session
01
weeks 1-2
From Ideas to Songs
- Turn raw ideas into complete, structured songs
- Strengthen melodic writing and lyrical clarity
- Start shaping your sound and artistic direction
02
weeks 3-4
Writing with Intention
- Build consistency in completing songs from start to finish
- Improve structure, flow, and emotional impact
- Develop tools to move past creative blocks
03
weeks 5-6
Writing with Others
- Co-write effectively while keeping your identity intact
- Learn how to communicate ideas and give/receive feedback
- Gain confidence working with other artists and creatives
04
weeks 7-8
Developing your Sound
- Record and capture ideas using simple demo techniques
- Refine your sonic direction and artistic identity
- Build a clear, repeatable creative workflow for growth
What You'll Walk Away With
01
Finished songs you’re proud of
02
A clear artistic identity
03
Real-world songwriting & collaboration skills
04
A repeatable creative process
After this course: After completing this advanced songwriting program, students can continue their development through private or semi-private sessions, or advance into the next level of the program offered in Fall 2026 and Winter 2027.
Meet Your Instructors
Beau Cassidy
Songwriting Instructor
Beau Cassidy is a Toronto based Producer, Songwriter, DJ Mix Engineer and Composer. Beau’s approach to music production is honed by a combination of highly technical training and extensive knowledge of advanced music harmony. Beau’s sound fuses analog and in-the-box skills with a whimsical, irreverent pop attitude, embodying the genre-fluid future of music production.
He holds an Honours BFA in Electroacoustics from Concordia University and returned to Toronto in 2017 to build his career as a producer, audio engineer, and music creative. In 2022, Beau was an assistant engineer on the Juno-winning album Zhawenim by Digging Roots. Passionate, energetic, and reliable, Beau Cassidy is committed to making music that breaks rules and transcends genre, fostering an environment where artists feel empowered to express themselves freely. Currently, Beau works as a contract engineer at 80A Studios, Union Sound, and Revolution Recording and mixes in the private east end studio Raventape Music Room (where he works as writing duo RoBeau with fellow producer Robbie Grunwald).
Since 2022, Beau has been the Recording Instructor in Sheridan College’s post-graduate Music For Screen and Stage program.
Ready to start?
No experience needed. Just show up – we’ll handle the rest.