Songwriting: Find Your Voice (Online)

Course Framework

Visual/auditory – online lecture style delivery of theoretical approaches to songwriting with contemporary examples.

Reading/Writing – Self-directed time built into each lesson to perform the different songwriting exercises given, as well as to write songs or sections of songs in their own practice.

Each class will be 2 hours long with a 30 minute lecture at the start, an hour of practical tasks, and a 30 minute reflection/song share to finish.

Week 1
Introductions – we will have a discussion session about our favourite
artists, our inspirations and our own songwriting practice. Some short
songwriting exercises will be demonstrated and completed.

Week 2
Songwriting 1 Structure: Know the rules, and then break them.

Week 3
Songwriting 2 Lyric and Melody: Know the rules and then break
them.

Week 4
Theories of creative practice (there is no ‘right way’ to write)

Weeks 5 – 9
Guided practice. After a short grounding exercise and discussion (15 mins) Participants will use the allocated time to develop their individual practice through unique briefs, and Lou will be available for 1-2-1 tutorials in these sessions to feedback and guide students

Week 10
Endings – A song share and discussion session of the work covered throughout the class with reflections and feedback. 

This course is open for applications from anyone aged 16+ with an interest in writing for the following genres: pop, singer-songwriter, alt/indie, rock.

You will need access to a device such as a desktop computer, laptop or tablet which allows you to access the internet with a screen large enough to see the group members during online sessions.

You will need internet connection which is fast enough to take part in live teaching sessions.

Audio settings must also be adjusted on Teams and Zoom applications to allow for the best quality of sound during the sessions. Instructions for how to balance this will be provided in the welcome information 2 weeks before the class start date.

You may also want to consider whether you have a space you can use where you can work without interruption. Please keep in mind that the other students taking part in the course will be able to see what is behind you when you are online.

If you have any questions in advance of booking, please contact us at shortcourses@rcs.ac.uk

Lou McLean

Lou Mclean is a singer-songwriter making sing-along indie pop in Scotland. After studying at the Songwriting Academy under the mentorship of songwriters such as Sharon Vaughn (Willie Nelson, The Wanted), Shelly Poole (Alisha’s Attic, Red Sky July) and Pamela Sheyne (Christina Aguilera, Dream), Lou went on to pursue her MA in songwriting at the University of the West of Scotland, where she was awarded the Paolo Nutini Songwriting Prize in 2023.

Her 2024 EP ‘Killjoy’ was playlisted in the USA & UK via Amazing Radio, with the lead single being selected as one of Scots Wae Hae’s singles of the year, and shortlisted for Snack Mag’s single of the year. She was a finalist for the Creative Edinburgh Student Award for the multimedia work of the EP and the themes of challenging misogyny in the music industry.

Her much anticipated forthcoming debut album will be released in 2026. The first single ‘Desire lines’ debuted on BBC Radio Scotland’s Arts Mix show, has since been played on Amazing radio UK & USA, as well as playlisted by SAMA, The Skinny and Alive & Amplified.

Praise for ‘Desire lines’ – “Glorious… an anthem if ever there was one” – Scots Whay Hae! 28 September 2025

This class takes place on online on Monday evenings from 6:30pm – 8:30pm, 19 January – 23 March 2026

The course fee is £210 and can be paid in full or in instalments before the course end date.