Songwriting
Turn ideas into finished songs. Private songwriting lessons for teens and adults with a working composer, vocalist and band leader, alongside voice, guitar or piano.
Free
First trial lesson
1-on-1
Private format
30 / 45 / 60
Minute options
Since 1965
Teaching music
5 stars on Google
Trusted by hundreds of students
Teaching since 1965
60+ years in the neighbourhood
RCM exam prep
Certified professional teachers
Voted #1 by NOW Magazine
Best music school in the GTA for private lessons
Songwriting is a skill you can learn. Depending on your goals, lessons can cover:
Songwriting lessons suit beginners with a notebook full of lyrics, players who know some chords but not how to turn them into a song, and singers who want to write their own material. You do not need to be an expert. You need an idea and a willingness to try.
Melissa Paju is a multi-instrumentalist, composer and vocalist from Toronto with extensive experience in performance, recording and band leading. A Humber College graduate, she teaches songwriting alongside vocals, guitar, bass and piano, so your songwriting lessons can grow into singing or playing lessons if you want them to.
Longer 60-minute lessons suit songwriting and recording well, because there is time to write, try ideas and play them back. When you are ready to share what you have written, ask us about the school's casual monthly recitals.
Faculty
A composer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist with performance, recording and band-leading experience.
Lessons and rates
Lessons are $40 for 30 minutes, $55 for 45 minutes and $70 for 60 minutes, billed in four-lesson cycles. There are no registration or administration fees, and music lessons are not subject to tax. Your first lesson is a free trial.
See all pricesFAQ
Have another? Reach out and we'll happily answer before you commit to anything.
Ask a questionIt helps to have one. Melissa teaches voice, guitar, bass and piano, so you can write with your voice, on guitar or at the piano. A singer can begin with just their voice.
Yes. Many first songs are written within the first few lessons. The aim is to learn a process you can repeat, not to write a masterpiece on day one.
Recording basics can be part of longer lessons. Tell your teacher what you want to do with your songs and the lessons will be built around it.
Songwriting works best from the early teens, though younger students who love writing are welcome to try a trial lesson.
Lessons are $40 for 30 minutes, $55 for 45 minutes and $70 for 60 minutes, billed in four-lesson cycles. There are no registration or administration fees, and music lessons are not subject to tax. Your first lesson is a free trial.
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Get in touch
Tell us the student's age, any experience and what you would like to learn, and we'll match you with the right teacher.
