Accelerator Program — Independent
We’ll help you write your best songs—and save you years learning how.
The Songwriting Accelerator—Independent is a self-paced online course for motivated songwriters wanting to write their best songs, with consistency and confidence.
Keppie and Benny have taught thousands of students and songwriters around the world at:
We’re combining our 20+ years experience as professional songwriters, with our 15+ years as professional educators to help you short-cut to the most helpful, relevant, and efficient path to writing your best songs.
When your passion for songwriting isn’t quite enough.
As songwriters, we know the value of our creative practice that we treasure, but it’s hard to keep it up, even when you love it.
Here’s what gets in the way:
It’s frustrating and isolating
It’s frustrating and isolating to work on something with no immediate pay-off. It can feel indulgent, or silly, or sometimes even shameful.
It’s hard to be consistent.
To find the time, or make the time, to work on our work.
It’s a challenge to finish the songs we start.
Inspiration often gets us going, but it’s not what’s needed to finish all those songs you start.
You don’t know if your work is any good.
It’s hard to know what to do with songs you know could be better. It’s hard to know where to go to get feedback, from a trusted source, who will hold your heart gently and give you kind, specific, and actionable guidance.
When your passion for songwriting isn’t quite enough.
As songwriters, we know the value of our creative practice that we treasure, but it’s hard to keep it up, even when you love it.
Here’s what gets in the way:
- It’s frustrating and isolating to work on something with no immediate pay-off. It can feel indulgent, or silly, or sometimes even shameful.
- It’s hard to be consistent. To find the time, or make the time, to work on our work.
- It’s a challenge to finish the songs we start. Inspiration often gets us going, but it’s not what’s needed to finish all those songs you start.
- You don’t know if your work is any good. It’s hard to know what to do with songs you know could be better. It’s hard to know where to go to get feedback, from a trusted source, who will hold your heart gently and give you kind, specific, and actionable guidance.
And the result? Letting more time pass before we commit to our creative life, which means you never share your message with the world, and are left wondering “what if?”
Sometimes a course on its own isn’t enough.
The Songwriting Accelerator — Independent isn’t just a “course”. There’s humans on the other side of it.
Here’s what you get when you enrol:
The 6-module curriculum
of the Songwriting Accelerator program, including 12 hours of Masterclasses with Keppie and Benny.
6 songwriting projects
designed to put into practice the tools, techniques, and processes for that module.
Mentor Feedback
on your song projects from the HTWS Team.
Peer-to-peer feedback
on the community platform.
We and our team want to support you in your creative life, to write songs you are proud of, have confidence in your songwriting going forward, with an actionable plan for how to write great songs again and again, so that your voice is heard.
What songwriters in our community have to say:
I am using what I learned in the Accelerator Program every single day. Since then, I have had 2 songs picked up by publishers: one in sync and one in modern country. Honestly, I didn’t even know much about the sync market until I joined the Accelerator Program but have now found a brand new outlet for my songs. I have been writing songs for almost 20 years, but what I learned in the program was an absolute game changer. My songwring went from throwing darts blindfolded to having a comprehensive set of tools and skills to carry out a vision for an art piece….so much so, I plan to take the course again just because I enjoyed it so much.
Now I know that I can write a song anytime, not just when I get an “inspiration”. I know now that I can collect song ideas in a logical way and then go to those ideas and start working on a song. I know that I can start a song AND finish it in a reasonable time frame. I now know how to use song structure and different rhyme schemes to bring my song to life, and I know how to critique and improve my own songs. I can now intentionally write music.
When you join:
Live Feedback
- You achieve your creative goals fast – not continue collecting half-finished ideas.
- You’re consistently writing songs you’re proud of, and eager to produce and release into the wider world.
- You have access to a global network of vetted professional producers, with a clear process and pathway to produce and release your songs, so that your songs can be heard by the world.
- You’re equipped with tools, techniques, and processes to reliably continue writing songs you love for years to come.
- You’re no longer at the whim of inspiration; instead, you’re confident that you could sit down on any day and write a song.
- When inspiration does strike, you know what to do with it – you can confidently take any idea to a completed song.
- You stop dreaming about the creative life you want; instead you’re living it.
Why us?
We have been teaching songwriting in world-class and globally recognized colleges and universities for over 15 years, including for The Berklee College of Music, the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, the Australian College of the Arts, and more. Teaching others is not a “plan B” for us – it’s a calling, a passion, and a privilege, which has been sought out by the world’s best institutions of higher learning in contemporary music education.
Keppie’s original and co-written songs have been streamed over 10 million times in the past 3 years alone; an album of original work was commissioned by Penguin Random House in 2022; and in 2024 she was a featured artist on a Grammy-nominated album.
Benny is a founding member of internationally touring bluegrass band The Green Mohair Suits, and has been commissioned for major projects by Adobe, Cathay Pacific and Audible.
Our popular YouTube channel, How to Write Songs, has well over 100K subscribers, and almost 5 million views of our videos. Our unique ability to turn theory into practice with passion, humour, and joy, has inspired songwriters around the world.
How to write your best songs in as little as 6 weeks (around the rest of your life).
Here’s what’s involved in the 6-week program and beyond:
Receive expert live tuition
Access the 6-module curriculum of the Songwriting Accelerator program, including 12 hours of Masterclasses with Keppie and Benny. These classes are loaded with actionable and repeatable processes, demonstrated with song examples, that become your tools for life.
Songwriting projects
You’ll create a new body of work, by writing a new song with each module. Each module has a specific songwriting project designed to put into practice the tools, techniques, and processes for that module. The curated projects are designed to hone your process, and give you the structure and accountability to move your creative goals forward.
Feedback on your songs
Receive feedback by our expert team of songwriting mentors by posting your module projects to the community platform. You have access to personal feedback on 3 Song Projects for a full 6 months after you enrol.
Kind Words from Community Members
What I gained from the Accelerator: the transformation to having a routine that enables me to write songs, and better songs, regularly. Not having to be afraid of not having anything to write about. Having a list of things that I can look for in my song if I am not entirely satisfied with a current version. Having had a closer look at how other people write and knowing that it is normal to write a lot more than I ever will be able to fit into a song, like knowing that my way of writing is normal.
The best songwriting teachers I have ever had. Incredibly attuned to the difficulties songwriters can experience and exceptionally good at explaining the tools that can help.
Curriculum
Generating Infinite Song Ideas
Learn how to find, generate, collect, organise, and use song ideas, and balance inspiration with organization.
Learn how to give yourself permission to walk through the world as a songwriter, and the art of noticing & collecting.
Use one (or more) of the ideas from your Song Compass to initiate the songwriting process.
Developing Ideas and Using Song Form to Shape Ideas
Learn and practice a set of ‘go-to’ tools and techniques for developing/exploring a song idea.
Understand song sections, song forms, and how to use them to give shape and momentum to an idea.
Use a song form blueprint as the basis for your songwriting project this week.
Song Mapping and Melody
Learn and practice ‘song mapping’ as a technique for developing and finishing songs.
Create CONTRAST using specific melody techniques.
Write a song using a Song Map, and create clear melodic contrast between sections.
Supercharging Your Chords
Learn the secrets of chord ‘stories’, and how to intentionally use chords to create mood, emotion, and story.
Learn and practice creating CONTRAST using specific chord strategies.
Write a song focusing on expressing mood and emotion through musical choices.
Pro Lyric Writing Strategies and Rhyme Techniques
Unwrap the secrets of rhyme scheme and rhyme type to unleash your expression.
Learn to exploit ‘power positions’ to help deliver your lyrics with more impact.
Develop a toolkit of timeless techniques through specific rhetorical devices, that will elevate your storytelling and lyric writing.
Revising, Rewriting and Song Pathways
Develop a process for reviewing your songs and re-writing them.
Look at different processes of revision.
Explore the various pathways to develop your songs, and release or distribute them through different types of projects and pathways.
You don’t have to do this alone.
With the Songwriting Accelerator—Independent, we want to give you the flexibility to learn in your own time, super-powered with access to a network of mentors & peers.
Will working with us really help you? Here’s what some of our past
Accelerator songwriters have to say:
…exploring people’s songs and music together as a community felt wonderful and supportive.
The feedback was really insightful and thorough, I got actionable suggestions every week that I was able to use on the next songs I was writing.
Okay, so working with us has clearly been beneficial to other songwriters. But is it right for me?
Well, it depends! There’s no silver bullet in songwriting. There’s no certificate to be gained. There are no ‘hacks’. No one can do the work for you.
We can help you save time and wasted energy by lending you our experience and expertise. We can give you a clear path, expert instruction, where every single thing is radically practical. Where every piece of information is only there to help you write better songs, and more often.
We will be there with you, helping wherever we can, but you have to put in the effort yourself.
Who is the HTWS Songwriting Accelerator-Independent not for?
The HTWS Songwriting Accelerator-Independent probably isn’t a good fit for you if:
- You’re not willing to put in the time and effort to commit to writing at least 6 songs in the next 12 months.
- You’re looking for the ‘secret’ magic bullet, or the ‘hit formula’, without putting in time and effort into building your craft. There’s no secret here. It’s just about putting in the work, and doing it consistently.
- You’re primarily motivated by achieving wealth and fame through songwriting. Careers are built over the long term, with talent, craft, discipline, perseverance, luck, and kindness. This is not a ‘write a hit’ course. It’s a ‘write for life’ experience.
- You’re looking for bespoke, done-for-you service, or professional co-writers who will take your ideas and turn them into finished songs. Our goal is to provide as much expertise as possible, but we can’t make or finish your songs for you.
It’s also not for:
- Those wanting a music production course. We focus on the core craft of songwriting: lyrics, melody, chords, song form. We will give you access to our curated list of vetted producers, but we will not be making tracks, or teaching you how to produce in a DAW.
If you are looking for direct mentorship from Keppie and Benny, regular intensive song feedback, a tight-knit community of songwriter peers who match your level of motivation, and ongoing premium support, please check out the full Accelerator Program.
The HTWS Songwriting Accelerator is for you if you want:
- High Quality Content
You want perfectly sequenced learning, from industry-leading professionals. - Flexibility
You want the flexibility to take it at your own pace. - Feedback
You understand the value of having somewhere to show your work, and getting feedback. - Growth
You are done wondering “what if?”, done with wondering how to progress, done with wasting time.
You don’t have to be the best singer or player. You don’t have to have written 100 songs. You don’t have to be under 25. You don’t have to dedicate all your time to this (you have kids, a job, other responsibilities—we get it!). It doesn’t need to be a career (though it might be!).
You simply need to be someone who wants to make songwriting a more integrated part of your life, and have confidence in yourself to write regularly, consistently, and you want the support of expert mentors.
Are you ready to join us?
Let’s break down exactly what you get when you join the HTWS Songwriting Accelerator-Independent.
Independent Pass
- Access to the full 6-module Accelerator curriculum
- 6x 2-hour live Masterclasses with Keppie and Benny (Value: $1800)
- 6 songwriting project briefs (Value: $420)
- Priority personal feedback on 3 song projects by our expert mentors any time up to 6 months after enrolment (Value: $840)
- Access to peer feedback network on our learning platform (Value: $297/yr)
- Priority support from our specialist team
Our EPIC 100%
Satisfaction Guarantee
We want the investment in this course to be an easy ‘yes!’ for you – if you’re prepared to do the work, we want to support you to write your best songs! We don’t want your money if you honestly feel this course is not for you.
If you’re not 100% satisfied, we’ll give you a full refund within 14 days of enrolling. Join us today and give yourself the gift of the program, but if it turns out that you don’t see value in it and you’ve taken 14 days to explore, then let me know and we’ll refund you in full (minus payment processing fees paid to external parties such as Stripe or PayPal).
Please remember that your progress is dependent on your willingness to do the work. With that in mind, refunds will only be issued if you have done the following: (a) completed Module 1, and (b) submitted at least Module 1 Project for feedback.
You’ve got everything to gain. And nothing to If you’ve done those things, and for whatever reason aren’t 100% happy with your experience, drop us an email (within 14 days from the date of enrolment) and we’ll happily refund your entire payment (minus payment processing fees paid to external parties such as Stripe or PayPal).
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no time limit! Once you are enrolled, you will have access to the material for as long as it exists. It is designed to be completed in 6 weeks, but you can work around your own schedule. You have access to receive feedback on your 6 Song Projects for 6 months from that date of enrolment.
Each module contains 2-2.5 hrs of video content. The week’s songwriting project is designed to be completed in 3-4 hours (although some may take longer or shorter!). There are also extra resources provided in most modules for you to dive deeper into specific topics—video tutorials, articles, etc—which are optional, and would normally take another 1-2 hours to complete.
Enrolment in the Songwriting Accelerator Independent is not based on experience, but rather on your level of motivation and your goals. It is for any songwriter who wants to more rapidly move the dial on their creative output, wants to feel more confident in their process, and wants to be writing and releasing more of their own music. With that said: it is not intended for total beginners. If you have never written a whole song, or are still in the process of learning an instrument on which to write songs, there are other workshops, courses, and groups that will help prepare you more for the Accelerator.
There is no genre restriction – the Accelerator Independent will focus on songwriting process, rather than any genre-specifics. With that said, when we talk about ‘songwriting’, we are talking about musical composition that involves lyrics, melody, chords, and song form. There may be genres where other elements are more important – but even within those genres (hip hop or heavy metal for example), if your interest is in crafting stronger lyrics, melodic sections, achieving greater contrast and dynamic interest in your songs and songwriting, that absolutely falls within the bounds of what we’ll be doing.
An instalment plan will be available when the Accelerator Independent is full price. For any promotions on the course, full payment in required.
You will have access to the course materials for as long as they exist!
The Accelerator | Independent doesn’t include any of the live components of the full Accelerator Program—the Song Workshops, the Accountability Sessions, the Pop Up Tutorials, and guest speakers. There’s no face time with Keppie and Benny (in the full Accelerator, there is a lot of organic discussion that arises after the sessions, as well as an ongoing discussion space where any and all questions are answered).
The personal song project feedback in the full Accelerator is also more extensive – each song receives a detailed review, whereas in the Accelerator | Independent, your mentor feedback will focus on the 1 or 2 most high-impact suggestions to your song.
You will share your song project by creating a post in the dedicated Song Project space on our platform, where you will upload an mp3 recording (iPhone recordings are fine) and the lyrics to your song.
You’ll get feedback within 7 days of posting from one of our mentors, who will provide written (or sometimes audio) feedback as a reply to your post. The feedback will focus on the one or two suggestions for revision or development of the song that will have the biggest impact on moving it forward. You can receive feedback on your work any time for up to 6 months from your date of enrolment.
You will always own the copyright in your own original work. Any suggestions made by the HTWS team or other participants are done so with no claim to copyright.