Write, arrange and record an original song, from first idea through to a finished studio take.
A great record starts as a great song. We break down how songs are written — structure, melody, lyrics, the reason a chorus hits — and then how that song is brought to life in the studio, taking a raw performance and turning it into something finished, polished and worth playing to people.
Students write and arrange their own material, then track, process and mix it to a finished master. Every class is taught in Ableton Live 12 Suite, the same software used on records, with Splice Education included. Singing is optional; this is not a singing class, and students who prefer to write, produce or engineer can take the course without ever stepping up to the mic.
We pull apart records students already know and find the decisions behind them, then use the same moves on their own material. Writing is a craft with a method, not a mood you wait around for.
Songs start from a hook, a chord loop, a title or a single line. Students learn where to look and how to catch an idea before it disappears.
Verse, pre-chorus, chorus, bridge — and why the biggest moment lands where it does. Building tension so the payoff is earned.
Writing lines worth singing: imagery over cliché, rhyme and phrasing, and fitting a melody to words so the two carry each other.
Chords, arrangement and production. Turning a voice memo into a finished record, and knowing what to cut so the song stays the point.
From a first take at the microphone to a mixed, finished record: writing, recording and producing in one course.
Mic selection, placement and the recording techniques behind a clean take.
Breathing and vocal technique that makes a take worth keeping.
Advanced EQ, compression, pitch correction and alignment.
Vocal effects, harmonies, and mixing vocals with the instrumental.
Session prep, professional workflow, etiquette and home studio setup.
Demo reels, producer collaboration, marketing and industry networking.
Every student finishes the course having written, recorded and mixed a song of their own.
Mic technique, session setup, comping and the workflow of a real recording session.
Students take all three roles: the full path from blank page to finished master.
Every option includes the studio gear, Ableton Live 12 Suite and Splice Education access. Nothing to buy or bring.
8 sessions · Los Gatos & Saratoga
Open to any student in the area
On campus, straight after the bell
Students of that school only
Youth and adults, any level
In person or online
More classes and locations coming soon.
Every Songwriting & Studio Recording student receives access to Splice Education, the industry's leading platform for music production samples, loops, and exclusive educational content.
No. Singing is optional and this is not a singing class. Students can write, produce and engineer without ever recording their own voice.
No. Microphones, interfaces, MacBooks and headphones are all provided in class.
None. The class starts from the basics and runs at a 14:1 ratio.
Saratoga runs 8 weeks for ages 10–17. Fisher Middle School runs 12 weeks on campus for grades 6–8.