Intensive course in music criticism, writing and essay writing

Become a music critic: analysis, writing, interviews and reporting

Saint Louis’ music writing, criticism and nonfiction course is designed for those who want to learn to write about music professionally, combining journalistic technique, critical listening and analysis of contemporary languages.
Through lectures, workshops and project work, students learn about concerts, productions, artists and trends on the national and international scene.

Through an intensive and multidisciplinary course, participants will acquire specific skills in writing critical texts-such as reviews, interviews, essays-developing an active listening and interpretation of the musical fact, to develop a conscious, incisive and stylistically coherent writing, calibrated to the different media (print media, web, radio, TV), with particular attention to the languages of pop, rock and jazz music.

Interaction with experienced lecturers and the holding of live workshops will enable students to confront real-life cases and mature their own independent and grounded critical view of the contemporary music scene.

The best work developed by the students during the course-articles, interviews, reviews and live reports-will be published on Saint Louis institutional channels and in industry magazines.

Skills you will develop during the music criticism course

Journalistic writing techniques

Structure of a musical article
Reviews, reports, interviews
Analysis of the language of music media
Digital writing for blogs, magazines and online platforms

Critical analysis of music

Guided listening and evaluation of genres and styles
Study of contemporary and traditional musical forms
Critical reading of concerts, albums, live performances

Media, scenarios and the music industry

How music journalism works today
The role of the critic in the media ecosystem
Introduction to the music business and professional relationships

Hands-on workshops and projects

During the music criticism and journalism course, students produce reviews, interviews, podcasts, articles and digital formats, with feedback from industry professionals.
A workshop is planned for active participation in Saint Louis concerts and art projects: original productions, festivals, reviews and live events.

Who is the music criticism course for?

The course is ideal for:

aspiring music critics
bloggers, journalists and content creators
Musicians who want to develop critical and narrative skills
Music enthusiasts who wish to delve deeper into conscious listening

No specific prerequisites are required: basic musical literacy and interest in writing are sufficient.

Schedule of lectures

Starting January 31, 2026, Saturday mornings (12 meetings of 4 hours each) on a weekly basis. Possibility to follow the modules also online upon request.

Total amount of hours: 50 hours

How to register for the short course: fill out the form and finalize your registration by purchasing online.

Participation fee: € 1,200 / subsidized fees for Saint Louis alumni (€ 600) and alumni (15% discount on full fee)

Teachers

Alceste Ayroldi – Course coordinator, music critic
Luigi Onori – Essayist and jazz historian
Paolo Romano – Journalist
Teresa De Santis – Expert in music communication, radio and TV.
Felice Liperi – Journalist, music critic and radio host

To participate in the course, fill out the form and complete the registration directly online:

Course program

Introduction to the functions and languages of music criticism in journalism, academia and popularization. Analysis of different modes of expression in relation to the target medium (newspapers, magazines, web). Study of sources and documentation strategies.

Guided listening exercises and tools for analyzing the constituent elements of a piece of music: timbre, form, rhythm, structure. Comparative approach between genres and styles to sharpen analytical sensitivity.

Study of the main narrative and communication techniques applied to music journalism. Differences between informative article, opinion, interview, review, and critical insight.

Participation in a live concert, followed by a collective analysis session, discussion and production of a critical text. Including direct interview activities with musicians.

Guided listening and writing of a record review, simulating the timing and dynamics of contemporary publishing production.

Structured writing of an article and/or interview, with emphasis on text organization, expressive effectiveness, and argumentative coherence.

Writing techniques for music promotion: the press release, event presentation, the logic of institutional communication. Introduction to the relationship between music, television and new media.

Analysis of the main transformations of pop and rock music from the 1950s to the present, with special attention to the social, cultural and production phenomena that have accompanied its evolution, read from a critical perspective.

Essential path through the history of jazz, highlighting key stylistic milestones, central figures and turning points. Focus on the critical reception of jazz in the European and Italian context.

How to structure and write an essay in the field of music. From the basic thesis to the construction of the argument, from the treatment of sources to the authorial voice. Academic and popular writing techniques.

Production of an essay text in short form on an assigned topic, with editorial support and collective discussion.