2-Week Melody Writing Intensive
Learn how to craft beautiful, engaging and memorable melodies with confidence!
Over two immersive weeks, you’ll analyse hit songs, write every day, experiment fearlessly, obsess over the details that make great melodies work, and build a practical toolkit you’ll use for the rest of your songwriting life.
Nov 8 – 22 2026
Does this sound like you?
You feel like melody is consistently the weakest part of your songwriting
You worry that your melodies are generic, boring or not interesting enough
You want to be able to write catchy, memorable melodies that connect with listeners
Yes? Then this is the course for you.
Melody Writing 2-Week Intensive
- Develop deep listening and visualisation skills
Rather than listening to songs as one big sound – with all the layers and parts mixed together – we are going to practice listening with laser-focused attention to isolate and analyze the melodic elements within a song - Learn to manipulate the ‘shape’ of melodies and find the best fit for your song
Every melody has a shape, a direction and a form that can be broken down into smaller units. By breaking longer melodies down into these units, we can then experiment by putting them back together in interesting and original ways. - Develop confidence and fill your toolbox
Confidence comes from knowing you have the right tools to tackle the job – and in this course, you will be exposed to various methods and tools that can be used to repeatedly create an abundance of new & exciting melodic material - Learn how to make melody your starting point
If you are tired of starting all your songs the same way, a melody-first approach is guaranteed to shake things up, reduce the risk of writers block and create natural variation within your song portfolio.
By the end of this course:
You’ll have an effective method for starting the songwriting process with melody and building your song around strong melodic concepts
You’ll have a set of powerful analytical tools to help identify and emulate various techniques and patterns found within your favourite songs
You’ll have a go-to list of melodic concepts, templates and patterns to experiment with and adapt to your own style and taste
You’ll have the confidence to assess the strength of your own melodies and create endless variations throughout the entire song form
You’ll have the ability to visualise any melody, deconstruct it and modify specific elements to create interesting original phrases
You’ll learn how to connect lyrics and melody more effectively so your songs land with more emotional impact
What’s Involved in this 2-Week Course
Live Class Schedule
Can’t make a masterclass? No problem!
All classes are video recorded, with replays available within 2 hours of the class. If you can’t make all 4 live sessions, you have the flexibility to catch up when you can.
Masterclasses
(3 x 2 hour sessions)
SUNDAY Nov 8 | Nov 15 | Nov 22
4 – 6 PM (New York)
1 – 3 PM (Los Angeles)
9 – 11 PM (London)
8 – 10 AM (Sydney – Monday Nov 9, 16, 23)
Accountability Sessions
(6 x 60 min sessions)
Over the 2 weeks there will be 6 accountability sessions scheduled catering to different time zones – dates and times to be confirmed.
Mentorship Group Session
(2 hour session)
THURSDAY Nov 12
4 – 6 PM (New York)
1 – 3 PM (Los Angeles)
9 – 11 PM (London)
8 – 10 AM (Sydney – Friday Nov 13)
Mentorship 1-On-1 Session w Benny
(60 min sessions)
Each Mentorship particpant will receive a 60-minute 1:1 session – dates and times to be scheduled.
Transformations from Songwriters in the HTWS Community
The step by step guided tour of songwriting was super fun and helpful. I loved being able to share with a small group. Being able to chat live with the leaders and ask questions after face to face was so very generous too!
Very clear exposition of a powerful system for turning an idea into a song
I learned that songwriting doesn’t have to be a slogging, grueling process. My biggest takeaway was the importance of getting a first draft done quickly to work with, of digging into an idea while it’s fresh.
Course Outline
Module 1: Deep Listening & Visualisation
Learning to focus our attention on melodic phrases within a song
It all starts with listening! Isolating melodic phrases within a composition allows us to target different kinds of phrases and melody-writing techniques
Identifying the elements of ‘strong’ melodies
Once we can isolate melodies whilst listening, we can then study the motion of these melodies and identify what makes a melody more effective in the context of the song
Learning to ‘visualise’ and describe the shapes of melodies
Visualisation is a game-changer for songwriters and composers – allowing us to translate sonic information into visual patterns that we can then experiment with.
Module 2: Creating and Abundance of Melodic Material
Manipulating Rhythm and Pitch
Melody is made up of two key elements – rhythm and pitch. By looking at each element seperately, we can then manipulate them indedependently and start creating subtle variations.
Creating Endless Variations
Once we get comfortable with the idea of creating multiple variations, we can then practice applying this concept to each new melody – testing and comparing them to find the ones that suit our needs and sound most pleasing.
The Power of ‘Motifs’
Learn how to build anticipation, create powerful priming for the listener, and make every section work together so that your songs feel inevitable, surprising, and deeply satisfying.
Module 3: Making Your Melodies Memorable Across The Form
Creating Contrast Between Sections
Learn practical techniques for transforming ordinary ideas into lyrics that feel fresh, memorable, and emotionally powerful.
Making Your Melodies Stronger
Discover how rhythm, structure, and language can create suspense, anticipation, momentum, and emotional impact.
Bringing Lyrics and Melody Together
Learn how to use power positions, sound, and rhyme to make your strongest ideas land with maximum impact.
Meet Your Instructor
Benny has been writing songs and making music since the age of 10. His endless desire for creative exploration has taken him around the world and presented him with opportunities to compose for contemporary artists, major brands and various film, TV and multimedia projects.
Benny’s love of songwriting is matched only by his ongoing passion for education. For the past 15 years he has empowered students and songwriters from around the world, helping them realise their creative potential and discover new music-making possibilities. As a head lecturer and program coordinator at the Australian Institute of Music, JMC Academy and the Australian College of the Arts, Benny designed and delivered contemporary music education to thousands of students before partnering with long-time friend and collaborator Keppie Coutts to create the popular YouTube Channel ‘How To Write Songs’ as well as a growing Online Community.
Benny remains a prolific songwriter and composer, with an ability to move effortlessly between genres, always with a focus on memorable melodies, unique chord combinations and something worth saying.
Benny is one of the founding members of Folk-Bluegrass outfit ‘The Green Mohair Suits’
Benny and Keppie write as ‘Names Of Birds’
https://www.namesofbirdsmusic.com
Benny is also the founder, lead composer and producer of ‘Silamor’ – a collaborative project that celebrates experimentation and genre-hopping!
Our popular YouTube channel, How to Write Songs, has over 187K subscribers, and more than 10 million views of our videos. Our unique ability to turn theory into practice with passion, humour, and joy, has inspired songwriters around the world.
Pick the right pass for you
Registration closes 4th November 2026
Skill-Builder Pass
STANDALONE COURSE
- 3 Live Masterclasses + Q&A
- Immediate access to Video Replays
- Guided Writing & Listening Tasks
- 2 Live Q&A Sessions
- Final Project
- Private online community
All prices USD
Membership Pass
BEST VALUE
- 3 Live Masterclasses + Q&A
- Immediate access to Video Replays
- Guided Writing & Listening Tasks
- 2 Live Q&A Sessions
- Final Project
- Private online community
- 2x Weekly Live Feedback Sessions with Keppie, Benny, and the HTWS Team all year round
- Free Live Workshops (8 per year)
- Full Workshop Library
- HTWS global songwriter community
when you join the HTWS annual membership at $297/yr + $89 = $386 total
All prices USD
Mentorship Pass
LIMITED SEATS
- EVERYTHING in Skill-Builder, plus:
- 1-on-1 (60 min) Session with Benny
- Mentorship Group Feedback Session (2 hrs)
- Detailed expert feedback on final project
- Private channel for Mentorship Cohort and HTWS team
- Limited to 6 Places only!
All prices USD
Questions? Answers!
You can see the full schedule of all live sessions on Google Calendar
No problem. Every Masterclass will be recorded, so you can catch up whenever it suits you.
Yes. Whether you’ve never written an original melody or you’ve been writing songs for years, you’ll find practical tools and creative exercises that meet you where you are. Beginners will build a strong foundation, while experienced writers will deepen and refine their craft.
Absolutely. This isn’t a “Songwriting 101” course. We’ll explore the deeper mechanics of melody writing and address some more advanced techniques for elevating your creative sensibilities, regardless of your skill level or experience.
Aside from the 2-hour Masterclasses, most daily writing and listening tasks take around 20–30 minutes. There will be optional 60-min accountability sessions that give you a container of time to do these daily exercises and connect with other participants. Of course, if inspiration strikes, you’re welcome to keep writing for as long as you’d like.
The course is designed to help you develop your own review and feedback skills through practical exercises, examples, and discussion. You’ll also have the opportunity to share your work and connect with other songwriters inside the HTWS Community. If you’d like personalised feedback, join with the Mentorship pass to get 1-on-1 Feedback from Benny.
You’ll have ongoing access to the course materials, recordings (Masterclasses only), and writing exercises, so you can revisit them whenever you need a creative reset or want to sharpen your melody-writing skills.
The course is hosted inside Circle, our private online learning community designed specifically for online courses and creative communities. It’s where you’ll access all course materials, recordings, daily writing tasks, session links, and discussions—all in one easy-to-use platform. You’ll also be able to connect with fellow songwriters, share your progress, ask questions, and be part of a supportive community throughout the course.