Songwriting Summer School

A week to write, create and produce original music together with industry professionals

Saint Louis College of Music’s Songwriting Summer School is an intensive course dedicated to young people who wish to explore music writing and creative production in a professional and international environment. A week entirely devoted to ideas, arrangements, words and sounds: a living workshop in which each group develops its own original piece to a final performance on stage.

During the Summer School, students work closely with nationally and internationally renowned songwriters, composers, singers, producers and sound engineers, including Fabio Balestrieri, Roberto Giglio and Maria Grazia Fontana, Saint Louis’ tutors of excellence. A team of professionals that supports participants in all stages of the creative process, from the first inspiration to the finalization of the piece.

How the Songwriting Summer School takes place.

Over the course of the week, six creative ensembles are formed, each led by a songwriter/leader joined by singers, musicians and producers. Each team goes through a structured journey combining creative writing, arranging, music production and pre-production, until they bring their original project to the stage.

The program includes:

Creative Music Workshop – 5-Day Journey
- Day 1 – Catch the Idea: meeting with mentors, discussing themes, forming teams, initial ideas and recording initial insights
- Day 2 – Research & Analysis: listening, reflection and pre-production (pitch choice, structure, BPM, sound identity)
- Day 3 – Basements: writing, programming and recording the foundation of the song (rhythm, harmony, melody)
- Day 4 – Build: developing arrangements, building sound textures, editing and recording session
- Day 5 – Finalizing: overdub, recording lead vocals, first mix steps, and finalizing the track
Specialist masterclasses
- Music Production Essentials
- Find Your Voice – The Art of Lyric Writing
- Music Business – Copyright, Publishing & The Digital World
Live Final Performance
Each ensemble presents its original piece in front of the audience in a real live event.

To request information fill out the Form. Remember to select “English” as the language of course delivery:

Teachers

The Songwriting Summer School is led by two leading figures in music and education:

Roberto Giglio – author, songwriter, arranger and lecturer with long experience in music writing and production.
Fabio Balestrieri – composer, arranger, producer, sound engineer, and musician involved in major Italian and international recording projects.

Alongside them, the participation of Maria Grazia Fontana as an artist and vocal coach adds further value to the teaching experience.

Who can apply

Saint Louis’ Songwriting Summer School is for young musicians between the ages of 15 and 20, intermediate level, interested in developing skills in writing, arranging and producing original songs. The course welcomes songwriters, singers and instrumentalists from different musical genres in a stimulating and collaborative environment.

NB. The courses are conducted entirely in English.

LESSON CALENDAR
From July 13 to 18, 2026, 6 days full-immersion Monday to Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Evening concert open to the public on Saturday , July 18
Total amount of hours: 36 hours

PARTICIPATION FEE FOR OUTSIDERS: € 850
Early Bird By 03/30/26: 10% discount (no longer applicable for 2026)
2 Summer Weeks Special Promo: 15% discount
Bring a friend: 10% discount for both participants
NB. discounts cannot be combined

FEE FOR STUDENTS AND ALUMNI SAINT LOUIS:

€ 300 x 1 Summer School;

€ 500 x 2 Summer Schools + 5 CFAs for each Summer School attended

Why enroll in the Songwriting Summer School at Saint Louis?

Quality music training in Italy, at a landmark teaching institute in Rome, with professionals in music writing, production and sound engineering, and an approach suitable even for those who are taking their first steps in songwriting.
Experience an intensive week in Rome to take a summer songwriting course in one of Europe’s richest and most stimulating cultural settings, experiencing the Italian way of life and participating in cultural tours, walks in the historic center and musical events.
Work in creative ensembles and music production to develop listening, collaboration, artistic discussion and shared writing skills, from the first idea to the complete piece.
Networking among young talents in an international environment, thanks to the presence of musicians, songwriters and producers from different countries, in a multicultural exchange that fosters comparison, artistic growth and the birth of future collaborations.
Final performance open to the public in Rome as the concluding moment of the Songwriting Summer School and first live presentation of an original musical project.