Hit Songs Deconstructed

Today’s hitmakers understand that
great music is made where art and science meet.

That’s why they combine their unique creativity with tried and true techniques for arranging their songs, composing earworm melodies, and writing lyrics that connect with widespread audiences.

If you want to compete at the highest levels, you need start using them too.

Sometimes you just can’t get a song out of your head…
want to know why?

Join us for this workshop where we pull back the curtain on the patterns behind today’s hit vocal melodies and the delivery techniques that make them shine!

Using the Hit Songs Deconstructed Five Pillars of a Hit Vocal, this interactive, hands-on online workshop will provide you with unique insight and proven vocal melody and delivery techniques that you can immediately start using to channel your creativity into songs that can compete on the hit song stage.

How will you benefit from this workshop?

We asked past participants what some of their biggest takeaways were. Here are a few:

"I loved the visualizations you guys have created - I’m sure those will come readily to mind when I’m in my next songwriting session." - DD

"My biggest takeaway was probably the strategic melodic structure (in particular the various in-section orderings). They really helped and I'm excited to implement them in my songs!" - JB

"Prosody and coherence of an artist image and a song. And a new insight on concept of nanohooks." - DM

"My biggest take away is the alternating melodic pattern and the subtlety of how to use it in different ways." - PG

"I liked the charts. They made it obvious how everything is interconnected like a matrix." - CO

"My biggest takeaway was the conscious and strategic approach to crafting melodies. EOLAs, limited concentration of tones in melodic sub-parts, repeat motifs - to name a few examples." - OL

"The Melodic Table and our first class session was a game changer. Melodic part structure supports not only the theme but the song itself. Herein lies the mojo of the song." - DJ

By applying the techniques you learn during this masterclass to your music, you will take your writing and producing skills to the next level, regardless of the genre you’re working in.

Your Host

David Penn, Co-Founder, Hit Songs Deconstructed

David is a recognized expert in the craft and trends behind hit songs and has been featured by Billboard, Variety, Music Week, Canadian Musician Radio, BMI, Financial Times, and the Economist, to name a few. He also regularly guest lectures at top universities such as Berklee College of Music, NYU, and Frost School of Music, as well as at industry events such as Music Biz, DIY Musician Conference and others.

A music connoisseur of all time periods and genres, he is a “go-to” consultant for songwriters, producers, publishers and labels.

Your Registration Includes:

• The live, online workshop with Q&A throughout
• A copy of the presentation deck
• Proprietary Hit Songs Deconstructed materials to assess your songs and optimize them for commercial success
• A video of the class will also be made available to participants following the workshop.

"Amazing workshop, I wish this type of class was taught in my undergraduate or even graduate school curriculum. Spot on with the analysis and relevant to any music theory, composer, songwriter, or producer in the game now. Bravo!”

- Dr. O, producer, Young M.A., Chris Brown, Lil Wayne

“This was one of the most thorough, well-presented and thought out master classes on pop writing I have ever experienced. It was also made user friendly by David Penn’s deep understanding of the music he was teaching.”

- Jay Rodriguez , Grammy nominated saxophonist, flautist, clarinetist, film composer, producer and arranger

“Very thorough, fun and insightful. Kind of a moneyball for songwriting, which is an interesting and original way of analyzing the creative process. As a pro I recommend this workshop to songwriters of any level.”

- Asier Cazalis, Grammy nominated songwriter and artist

“For those of you concerned about producing and writing hits songs while staying current, this masterclass is for you. Wonderful insight into what makes these current hit songs appeal so well to the artists audience.”

- Atom Troy, Professor/Artist

“I've been searching for ways to set my lyrics in more purposeful ways than just humming and trying endless variations on my keyboard. This workshop teaches you how to create memorable and impressive vocal lines while still preserving your unique voice and artistry.”

- Artur Brisita

“The masterclass was so informative! seeing what I usually hear in a visual form really solidifies things. I love the multiple visual explanations!”

- Carrie Cunnignham, singer, songwriter, live sound engineer, auctioneer, CEO of Sound Barn Publishing

“Insight like no other into vocal melodic patterns of pop hit songs.”

- Pablo Arango

Inside the Hit Song Matrix is for you if:

• You want to compete at the highest levels and attain continued commercial success
• You want new tools to evaluate your songs' strengths and weaknesses and help prime them for maximum impact
• You are ready to take the leap and combine your unique creativity with a little bit of science

Limited Seats Available

Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Classes are between 2 - 3 hours long and take place online on Saturdays at 11AM EST on March 14, March 28, April 11, April 25, May 9, and May 23.

In between classes you will be asked to apply the techniques you learned to optimize the impact of one of your original songs.

Videos of each class will be made available to participants following each masterclass segment.

Your registration includes the live, online workshop, Q&A throughout the workshop, the presentation deck, and exclusive Hit Songs Deconstructed materials to assess your songs and optimize them for commercial success. A video of the class will also be made available to participants following the workshop.

To attain the knowledge and skill required for continued commercial success, you have to treat your writing and producing like a business.

This means that you need to put in the time. You need to be disciplined. You need to continuously hone your craft, whether you feel inspired to or not. You need to stay in tune with how today’s music scene is evolving. And, most importantly, you need to understand how your music connects with your listeners.

By attending this masterclass, you'll come away with new insights, tools, and techniques that you can immediately apply to your own songwriting and producing.

Videos of the class will be made available to participants following each masterclass segment.

This means that you need to put in the time. You need to be disciplined. You need to continuously hone your craft, whether you feel inspired to or not. You need to stay in tune with how today’s music scene is evolving. And, most importantly, you need to understand how your music connects with your listeners.

Inside the Hit Song Matrix is for you if:
• You want to compete at the highest levels and attain continued commercial success
• You want new tools to evaluate your songs' strengths and weaknesses and help prime them for maximum impact
• You are ready to take the leap and combine your unique creativity with a little bit of science
• You are willing to devote time to virtually collaborate with other participants in between classes to apply the techniques covered

There are no shortcuts. But if you put the time into applying what you learn during this masterclass, you will take your writing and producing skills to the next level, regardless of the genre you’re working in.

"It has really helped with our writing and arranging. The leap we have taken has led our music to be playlisted at the Yankees, Islanders and also MSG! Crazy for an unsigned Irish band!"

Through an array of current Hot 100 Top 10 hit case studies, we will examine some of the most effective techniques that have been making hits so successful, independent of genre or the artist employing them.

Maximize Your Creativity with Tools and Techniques
from Today’s Hits that Have Stood the Test of Time!

Ever get that song stuck in your head and you don’t know why? Well, there's a very good reason. The human brain is conditioned to react in a certain way to certain things, and today's hitmakers know that. During this workshop, we are going to pull back the curtain on tried and true techniques for connecting with wide-spread audiences and keep them coming back for more.

Critical listening exercises are at the core of this workshop. Together, we will listen to examples from recent and past hits, deconstruct the techniques being utilized, and analyze why they are so effective.

You'll come away with new insights, tools, and techniques that you can immediately apply to your own songwriting and producing.

At the conclusion of each segment, there will be ample time for your questions.

Videos of all workshop segments will be made available following the workshop.

Join us for this masterclass where we pull back the curtain on the patterns behind today’s hits and the techniques being used by today's hitmakers.

Tyson Harding - Songwriter/Guitarist for Skyfever

Learn how to combine your unique creativity with the proven techniques today’s hitmakers are using to connect with wide-spread audiences and keep them coming back for more!

This live, online masterclass takes place over a 5-month period on Saturdays at 11AM EST.