Music

Improve Your Vocal Performance Skills

Unlock Musical Creativity & Expression

Write & Compose Music

Teaches Songwriting

John Legend

John Legend, the 12-time Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, welcomes you to his class and shares what you’ll learn: his process for writing songs that capture a moment—or speak to a movement.

1. Meet Your Instructor

Meet Your Instructor

Without a great melody, your song can fall flat. Learn how John uses mumble tracks to spark melodic ideas as he shares how he wrote “All of Me,” “Again,” and “Dope.”

2. Songwriting With Melody

Songwriting With Melody

Song structure plays a critical role in your music. John explains how you can use structure to tell a musical and lyrical story through your songs.

3. Song Structure

Song Structure

Whether you want to write soaring love ballads like “Ordinary People” or capture a moment, subject matter is a key part of your identity as a songwriter. Learn how John finds inspiration in his life and the world around him every day.

4. Choosing Subject Matter

Choosing Subject Matter

Learn how to write through a lens that reflects your unique musical point of view, and turn your experiences into songs that resonate with your audience.

5. Developing Your Musical Point of View

Developing Your Musical Point of View

John deconstructs his process for writing “Glory,” the Oscar-winning closing song for the film Selma.

6. Making a Movement: “Glory” Song Study

Making a Movement: “Glory” Song Study

Learn about John’s upbringing in gospel music and how it influences his style. Opening up about his experience covering Stevie Wonder’s “Love’s in Need of Love Today,” he demonstrates how other artists’ songs can help you find your own voice.

7. Finding Your Artistic Voice and Style

Finding Your Artistic Voice and Style

The first step to writing lyrics is knowing what you want to say. In this lesson, John walks you through how he wrote “Free” in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine.

8. Writing Lyrics: Communicating Your Message

Writing Lyrics: Communicating Your Message

John shows you how to use lyrical motifs and themes in your songwriting to make an impact on your listener.

9. Writing Lyrics: Using Themes & Motifs

Writing Lyrics: Using Themes & Motifs

Learn to use rhyme schemes, word choice, and your personal experiences to write songs that are unique to you.

10. Making Lyrics Your Own

Making Lyrics Your Own

John calls himself a “promiscuous collaborator” because he loves to write songs with other artists. Learn how to be a songwriter others want to work with.

11. Becoming “Promiscuous Collaborator”

Becoming “Promiscuous Collaborator”

John shares how blending genres can help you create your own distinct sound.

12. Blending Musical Genres

Blending Musical Genres

John takes you into the recording booth to lay down the lead vocals for “Free.” Learn his techniques and follow along by recording your own demo.

13. Recording Lead Vocals

Recording Lead Vocals

With the lead vocal tracks recorded, John turns to composing and recording the background vocals for “Free.” Learn how to create the dynamic sound of a choir as John layers his vocals.

14. Recording Background Vocals

Recording Background Vocals

Learn John’s tricks for vocal arrangement—and how chord progressions can guide your composition.

15. Deep Dive: Vocal Arrangement

Deep Dive: Vocal Arrangement

How do you make a good song great? John brings “Free” into the control room to demonstrate his process for vocal comping and other editing techniques that can elevate your songs.

16. Finishing Your Song: Editing

Finishing Your Song: Editing

John shares tips for powering up your live performances, and he welcomes a gospel choir to perform “Free” together for the first time.

17. Performing Live

Performing Live

John shares his final thoughts on being a professional singer-songwriter, and encourages you to keep writing until you discover greatness.

18. Bonus: Advice for Aspiring Songwriters

Bonus: Advice for Aspiring Songwriters

John Legend Teaches Songwriting

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From TIME ©2022 TIME USA LLC. All rights reserved. Used under license.

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