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 . 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.