The EMC Institute
Develop your craft and stay creatively connected through an online institute built for songwriters, artists, and musicians.
Join Now for Our Founders Pricing
Modern Music Education
Backed by Industry and Academic Excellence
The Emerging Musicians Coalition & Institute offers writer-centered training for songwriters, artists, and musicians ready to deeper into their craft.
Our courses combine creative development with real-world insight - delivered in a format that is flexible, affordable, and grounded in the day-to-day realities of making music.
The EMC Institute is designed to support you, whether you're building a music career or making more space to create. You'll find tools, guidance, and a community that helps you grow with intention.
Master Your Craft with Live Sessions
Join a Curated, Supportive Creative Community
Build Consistency and Momentum
Inside the Institute
Core Courses
Study Songwriting, Music Theory, Ear Training, Critical Listening, and Chord Theory — all designed for the contemporary artist, songwriter, and producer. Classes rotate monthly and are led by renowned faculty in a live, online classroom.
Assignments & Feedback
Receive regular assignments designed to integrate learning across core courses and masterclasses, with opportunities to share and offer goal-oriented feedback.
Masterclasses
Learn from industry experts across a range of skills including performance, home studio considerations, whole musician wellness, sync licensing, publishing, fan-based marketing, social media planning, and more.
Specialized Cohorts
Engage within a cohort curated specifically for you based on your musical goals, sound, and intention. Draw from the experience of the larger community designed to facilitate collaboration.
Exclusive Resource Portal
Search for collaborators in your area, hop on a gig with other students, or access our comprehensive library of teaching materials and class replays for your convenience and continual growth.
Artists in Residence
Learn and engage with working artists, songwriters, and producers in the ‘tape room’ as they share their new work and explain their processes.
Join Now for Our Founders Pricing
Hear From Our Students
Andrea is an incredibly thoughtful and wonderful human being.
She has a remarkable ability to express the human condition through song and help others do the same. I would highly recommend her mentorship program for any serious songwriters.
-Dave Ford
I had an amazing experience!
Andrea is a highly skilled teacher of the craft of songwriting. She has a very kind heart and created an amazing retreat experience for a group of songwriters of all levels of experience to learn and grow and create with each other.
-Bob
Just what the (songwriting) doctor ordered.
The classes and workshops were terrific, but connecting and collaborating with the other attendees was a highlight that will last a long time. My expectations and desire for a much needed shot in the arm (creatively) were more than met.
-Eric Stone
What to Expect
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Attend Popular Songwriting, our flagship bi-weekly class led live on Zoom by Andrea Stolpe
Access monthly rotating core courses like Music Theory, Critical Listening, Chord Theory, and more
Enjoy once-a-month Special Guest Masterclasses led by industry professionals
Learn in real time through interactive teaching, guided writing, and Q&A
All sessions are recorded — join live or watch replays on your schedule
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Join a small, thoughtfully placed peer group after completing a short post-enrollment questionnaire
Placement is based on your musical goals, creative style, and level of experience
Meet every two weeks for a facilitated session where you’ll connect with your group and share your Popular Songwriting assignment
Sessions are focused on peer feedback, reflection, and mutual support — a space to grow through shared experience
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Each month, a rotating group of working songwriters, artists, and producers shares two original pieces along with reflections on their creative process
These contributions live inside the EMC portal and are accompanied by discussion prompts for deeper engagement
You’ll listen, reflect, and ask questions directly within the community forum
This is a space to study artistic choices, explore diverse approaches to craft, and stay inspired by the work of others
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Access replays of every live session, plus assignments, exercises, and listening guides inside the EMC portal
Connect with fellow members through discussion threads, project spaces, and search tools that let you share your work, discover events, and find collaborators in your area
Most students spend 3–4 hours per week in the portal, with the option to engage more or less depending on your goals and schedule
Join The Institute
$100/month
or
$1000/year (Save $200)
Cores Courses
Specialized Cohorts
Masterclasses with Special Guests
Artists in Residence
Assignments & Feedback
Exclusive Resource Portal
Cancel anytime
Join by June 1 to attend our first live class
Upcoming Events:
The monthly curriculum is wide and varied, and designed to meet you where you are. You’re welcome to attend every session, or hand-pick the sessions you’d like to attend. Here’s what’s coming up this month:
Popular Songwriting with Andrea Stolpe
June 1, 2025: 9:30am - 11am PT
June 15, 2025: 9:30am - 11am PT
June 29, 2025: 9:30am - 11am PT
Music Theory with
Thomas Childs
June 3, 2025: 10 - 11:30am PT
June 17, 2025: 10 - 11:30am PT
July 1, 2025: 10 - 11:30am PT
Cohort Meetings
June 7, 2025: 9am - 10:30am PT
June 21, 2025: 9am - 10:30am PT
July 12, 2025: 9am - 10:30am PT
Guest Masterclass
with Pat Pattison
June 16, 2025: 3 - 4:30pm PT
June Artists-In-Residence
Gordon Kennedy & Kasia Livingston
All sessions will be recorded and available to view for the duration of your time in the EMC, with the exception of the Cohort Meetings.
Meet Institute Director, Andrea Stolpe
Andrea Stolpe is a writer, speaker, and educator with over 25 years of experience in the music industry. Her songs have been recorded by artists such as Faith Hill, Julianne Hough, and Jimmy Wayne, and her songwriting expertise has been translated into multiple languages through award-winning online courses, live events, books, and articles. Recognized for her exceptional teaching, Andrea received the 2022 Exemplary Teaching Award from the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA), New England Region, and Berklee’s 2021 Exemplary Faculty Award, nominated by students for her excellence in education and student support. Her work in educational video content earned her a 2019 Gold Telly Award for Non-Broadcast Education — the premier award honoring television across all screens. Andrea’s methodology has been widely used in popular music programs around the world, including Berklee College of Music, the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, and Belmont University in Nashville.
The EMC Institute was established to responsibly adapt music education to the ever-changing and severe challenges facing career musicians today. It is Andrea’s passion to equip musicians with the skills they need to sustain a lifestyle of music-making and nurture free expression — without the strain of debt or concern for future wellbeing.
Frequently Asked Questions
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The EMC Institute is designed for songwriters and musicians who want to make music a consistent part of their life — whether you’re just getting started, returning to the craft, or deepening your creative identity.
You don’t need to play an instrument, read music, or have prior experience with music theory — just a desire to grow. Our courses and community support you at every stage.
The program also welcomes producers, engineers, instrumentalists, and other music professionals who work closely with writers and want to build stronger creative connections — or deepen their understanding of the songwriting process to better support the artists they work with.
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Our flagship course, Popular Songwriting, is led by Andrea Stolpe and runs year-round, with new sessions every two weeks. This foundational course focuses on melody, chords, rhythm, and lyric writing in contemporary styles — and is designed to support both new and experienced songwriters in strengthening their personal voice.
In addition to Popular Songwriting, we rotate monthly core courses such as:
Music Theory for Songwriters – A practical introduction to scales, keys, chord functions, and how theory applies to the songs you write.
Chords for Songwriters – Tools for expanding your harmonic vocabulary, choosing meaningful progressions, and arranging your songs.
Critical Listening (coming soon)
Each course runs for five 90-minute sessions over ten weeks, with a mix of instruction, guided application, and assignments.
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Once you choose your plan and complete payment, you’ll receive immediate access to the EMC Institute portal — look for an email with your login instructions (check spam if it doesn’t arrive within 10 minutes).
You’ll also be prompted to complete a short application to help us place you in a curated cohort group. Once submitted, you’ll be matched with your group within one week and can begin attending sessions right away.
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The EMC portal is your hub for learning, connection, and collaboration. You’ll be able to:
Customize your profile with your location, musical focus, and collaboration goals
Search for other members by location, genre, specialty, and more
Connect through direct messages, group chats, or during live sessions
Share upcoming gigs, find collaborators, and post opportunities on dedicated dashboards
Join open discussion boards to ask questions, share music, and support others
Access peer-feedback listening sessions after completing core trainings
When you join, you'll receive a guided walk-through on how to make the most of your portal experience.
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All live classes —excluding your cohort sessions — are recorded and available in the EMC portal. You can catch up or revisit any session on your own schedule.
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After you pay, you’ll be redirected to submit an application for a cohort. Andrea personally reviews all applications, and places you into a cohort. You’ll be asked to share a bit about yourself and your songwriting experience, 2 examples of original music, your involvement with them, and what you’re most interested in within the program.
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Most students spend 3–4 hours per week attending live sessions, completing assignments, and engaging in the portal. Everything is flexible and self-paced, so you can participate in a way that fits your goals and availability.
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Enrollment is open year-round, and new course sessions begin each month. You can join at any time and start participating right away.
That said, we recommend enrolling near the end or beginning of a month to align with the start of a new course and get the most out of your experience.
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Both plans include full access to all courses, cohorts, and resources. The annual plan offers a $200 discount and is perfect if you're ready to commit to your growth over the year.
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Yes. You can cancel your membership at any time, and your access will continue through the end of your current billing period — whether monthly or annual.
While we don’t offer refunds, we’re here to support you every step of the way. If you have any challenges or questions during your program, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Any Questions?
If you have any questions that you can’t find here, feel free to reach out. Just send us an email at andrea@andreastolpe.com, and we’ll be happy to help.
Pursue Your Passion in Music
Beginning and advanced concepts serving all levels of musical experience
Immediate enrollment with new courses beginning monthly
Combination of self-paced and live learning, where students can engage in courses, community, and events that serve individual needs and interests
Faculty-led networking for established writers, artists, producers, and instrumentalists geared at expanding industry potential
$100/month
or
$1000/year (Save $200)
What you’ll get:
Core Courses
Specialized Cohorts
Masterclasses with Special Guests
Artists in Residence
Assignments & Feedback
Exclusive Resource Portal
Cancel anytime
Join by June 1 to attend our first live class