So you wanna write musical theatre songs?
This is the blueprint you need.
Learn how professional musical theatre songs are conceived and implemented so your songs don’t just sound good...
they actually drive your story.
You know, it's funny: You could take a music theory class and learn about the mechanics of music. You could take a literature class and learn about story arcs. You could take a poetry class and learn how to use language in a creative way. And that's great.
But how do you learn when a character should sing, why a song belongs here and not there, or how music functions inside a larger show? How do you connect those dots?
Because great musical theatre songs are like pieces in a big beautiful puzzle. They serve a clear purpose and behave as part of a whole.
Once you understand that, songwriting stops feeling like guesswork and starts becoming an intentional craft.
Inside this short, practical eBook, you’ll learn:
How to spot where songs belong in your story
How to define a song’s thesis so every section has purpose
How to structure your songs for maximum impact
How to approach melody and harmony from a place of story
A repeatable framework you can use again and again!
Who this is for
People who have a story to tell through music
People who may or may not have written musical theatre songs in the past
People who long to see their songs on stage
People who want a tested approach they can repeat
You don’t need to be “advanced.”
You just need to be curious about why songs work.
WHAT THIS BOOK IS (AND ISN’T)
This book is...
✔️ A thinking tool
✔️ An clear approach to dramatic songwriting
✔️ Practical and immediately applicable
This book isn't...
❌ A “how to get produced” guide
❌ A rigid formula that kills creativity
❌ About trends or gimmicks
It’s about writing songs the way the pros on Broadway have done it for years.
About the author
Hi! I’m Joanna Burns.
And boy do I love working on new musicals. You never know where life will lead you. After studying musical theatre performance in college, I toured as a singer/songwriter, producing music for myself and other indie artists, then started composing for theatre and short form media projects, all the while teaching music privately, and now I get to run Music Theatre Soundlab and sit on the steering committee of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Writing Workshop in New York.
And I'll tell you what: I wouldn't have it any other way. Because now, I get to bring all of that experience to you, my fellow theatre lover.
Ready to stop guessing and
start writing great songs with intention?
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