Founded by Murray Foster, Toronto Songwriting School is Canada’s first and only institute devoted
Toronto Songwriting School is Canada’s first and only institute devoted exclusively to songwriting. We believe that there are two elements involved with becoming a better songwriter: exposure to and analysis of great songs (‘learning through osmosis’) and expanding your songwriting “toolkit” through ear training, lyrical analysis, understanding melodic structure and the function of chords, and inc
08/16/2026
Write a song that begins with:
“I almost told you…”
Don’t decide what the secret is before you start. Let the song reveal it.
It could be something tender, funny, embarrassing, angry, or completely made up.
Set a timer for 15 minutes and see where it goes.
What would your second line be?
You might be ready for Songwriting for Beginners if...
You have a few lyric ideas saved in your phone.
You have written half a chorus and aren't sure what to do next.
You hear songs and think, “I could do that.”
Or you have simply been saying “I want to write a song someday” for long enough that someday could probably use a date.
Songwriting for Beginners is a six-week course for new and newer songwriters who want to learn how songs work and start writing their own.
Tuesdays, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. ET
Beginning September 22
Someday starts September 22.
https://torontosongwritingschool.com/beginner-songwriting-class/
What could you write if you gave yourself an entire weekend to begin something new?
The Fall Songwriter Getaway is not just about making time for songwriting. It is about stepping out of your usual routine and into a space where new songs can begin.
Over the course of the weekend, participants often write brand new material, follow unexpected ideas and discover songs that would not have shown up at home between errands, inboxes and everyday distractions.
Come ready to write, experiment and see what happens when songwriting gets your full attention for a few days.
Fall Songwriter Getaway
November 6–8, 2026
Prince Edward County, Ontario
Early bird pricing ends August 31, and rooms in the getaway house are limited.
Open Door bursary support is also available for an eligible participant.
Give yourself a weekend to write: https://www.songwritergetaways.com/2026-fall-songwriter-getaway/
08/12/2026
What song immediately transports you somewhere?
Maybe it puts you on a particular street, inside a childhood home, behind the wheel on a long highway or in a place that exists only in the song.
A strong setting can do a lot of work. It can reveal character, memory, and emotion without explaining everything directly.
Tell us a song with an unforgettable sense of place.
We will be digging into this in Songs About Place on September 12.
https://torontosongwritingschool.com/lyric-writing-workshop/
08/06/2026
Which of these sounds more like you?
“I have ideas, but I’m not entirely sure how a song comes together.”
That is a good place to begin Songwriting for Beginners.
Or:
“I already write songs, but I keep returning to the same structures, habits and suspiciously similar chord progressions.”
That may be a sign you are ready for the Intermediate Song Workshop.
Beginner will help you understand the building blocks. Intermediate will challenge you to use what you already know in new ways through lessons, co-writing and regular practice.
Songwriting for Beginners
Tuesdays beginning September 22
Intermediate Song Workshop
Wednesdays beginning September 23
Open Door bursary applications are available for people for whom cost would otherwise be a barrier.
Find the course that sounds most like you: www.torontosongwritingschool.com
You asked for more opportunities to learn and write together in person.
We listened.
The Doghouse Songwriters Club is a new monthly gathering at the Toronto Songwriting School studio for songwriters who want more than another evening alone with a notebook and a stubborn second verse.
Each meeting will include:
An opportunity to share a song
A focused songwriting lesson
Time to co-write with other songwriters
A chance to connect with Toronto’s songwriting community
The club will meet monthly, with individual dates announced in advance.
If you have been waiting for an opportunity to join us in person, this is your chance.
Come write with us at The Doghouse: https://torontosongwritingschool.com/doghouse-songwriters-club/
08/04/2026
If you have been to a recent Fall Songwriter Getaway, you already know how great Sue Prosser is. Super talented and one of the nicest people you will ever meet. There's a lot of buzz right now for her new single "Mistaken Identity," and she just did a great interview with CBC's Ontario Morning. Give it a listen:
https://linktr.ee/NewsLinks
08/04/2026
Talent, curiosity, and the desire to create are everywhere. Access to opportunities is not.
That is why Toronto Songwriting School is launching Open Door, a new bursary program for people who would otherwise be unable to participate in select classes, workshops, and songwriter getaways.
Open Door is designed to help more songwriters learn, write and become part of a creative community, regardless of their financial circumstances.
For songwriter getaway recipients, the bursary covers the workshop and accommodation. Travel expenses are not included.
Applications for fall classes and workshops will be reviewed in time for decisions to be shared by September 1.
Fall Songwriter Getaway decisions will be made by the end of September. Applicants who are not selected will still be offered the early bird price.
Learn more about Open Door and apply: https://torontosongwritingschool.com/tss-open-door-bursary
08/03/2026
The news is out, and we are delighted to confirm that the great Jory Nash will be a mentor at our Fall Songwriter Getaway this November.
Jory will join us during a weekend built around writing, learning, sharing, and creative community.
A good mentor does not tell you what your song should become. They listen for what is already there, ask thoughtful questions, and help you find your own way forward.
We are excited for Getaway participants to benefit from Jory’s experience and perspective.
Fall Songwriter Getaway
November 6–8, 2026
Picton, Ontario
Early bird pricing ends August 31, and rooms in the getaway house are limited.
Learn more and reserve your place: https://www.songwritergetaways.com/2026-fall-songwriter-getaway/
08/02/2026
Try this with your next song:
Choose a room you remember clearly.
Write four lines about it without naming the room or explaining why it matters.
Include:
• One sound
• One object
• One detail that has changed since you were there
The listener does not always need to be told how a place makes you feel. Sometimes the right details can carry the emotion for you.
Save this prompt for your next writing session.
Our Songs About Place lyric workshop on September 12 will explore how to create settings that listeners can see, hear, and feel.
Learn more: https://torontosongwritingschool.com/lyric-writing-workshop/
