anyone can
WRITE music
PRODUCE music
BUILD a career in music
anyone can
WRITE music
PRODUCE music
BUILD a career in music
5-Week Songwriting Class
Registration OPENING SOON
5-Week Songwriting Class
Registration Opening SOON
Hi there, I'm Anthony
I'm the founder of The Melody Shop. I love making music-creation more accessible, approachable, and joyful. There are so many parts of the music-making process that are mystified, which makes it feel impossible to be a beginner. That question "where do I start" held me back for years, before I started writing music 15 years ago after getting a bit of guidance from a piano teacher.
Now I'm grateful to say I've released music with millions of streams, written with Grammy Award-winning artists, and taught songwriting, production/arranging, and music business to students at a range of levels. Click below to see what we're currently offering!
Anthony Cubbage, founder of The Melody Shop
Hi there, I'm Anthony
I'm the founder of The Melody Shop. My goal is to make music-creation more accessible, approachable, and joyful. There are so many parts of the music-making process that are mystified, which makes it feel impossible to be a beginner. That question "where do I start" held me back for years before I started writing music 15 years ago after getting a bit of guidance from a piano teacher.
Now I'm grateful to say I've released music with millions of streams, written with Grammy Award-winning artists, and taught songwriting, production/arranging, and music business to students at a range of levels. Click below to see what we're currently offering!
What I teach
Write songs whether you play an instrument or not, and learn to do it freely and efficiently
Finding my way in the industry
You know how school teaches you that there's always a "right way" to do things? That everything has to follow rules and prerequisites? That mentality followed me straight into music, and honestly, it took me years to shake it.
When I first started writing songs, I was convinced that for something to be officially "written," it had to be actual notes on a staff. I spent countless hours hunched over notation software like Finale, transcribing every musical idea, when really - someone should have just told me that hitting record on a video camera was just as legit. But breaking through that mindset? Way harder than it should have been.
That "right way" thinking shaped everything about my early career too. In my mind, being a professional musician meant one thing: getting signed by a label. So off I went to Nashville, full of hope. But what I found instead was a city full of broken hearts in an oversaturated market.
The wake-up call came from the most unexpected place - back home in Pennsylvania. I met this friend who was a parent of triplets, making a solid living as a performer. No record deal, no Nashville dreams, just someone who figured out their own path. That's when it hit me: there wasn't just one "right way" to make money as a musician.
But here's the thing - even after that realization, I still kept falling into the same trap. I'd see other artists building their following through bands and festival circuits, so naturally, I thought that was my blueprint too. I started writing music just to please fans and my bandmates. The authenticity? It was slowly draining out of everything I created.
The real turning point came when I finally got honest with myself: my career in music didn't have to look like anyone else's. That changed everything.
I started teaching songwriting and production, and something amazing happened. Watching other artists discover they had control over how music fit into their lives - whether as a career path or just as a way to process what they're going through - that filled me with more joy than I'd felt in years.
That's exactly why The Melody Shop exists. Whether you're 15 or 75, whether music becomes your career or just your creative outlet, whether you've got all the gear or you're starting with nothing - you deserve to feel in control of the part music plays in your life. No prerequisites, no "right way," no barriers.
Because here's what I learned: creativity should be joyful. And there's always plenty of time at any stage of life to learn, grow, and discover what's right for you.
Finding my way in the industry
You know how school teaches you there's always a "right way" to do things? That mentality followed me straight into music, and it took years to shake it.
When I started writing songs, I was convinced that for something to be officially "written," it had to be actual notes on a staff. I spent countless hours in notation software when really - someone should have just told me that hitting record was just as legit.
That "right way" thinking shaped my early career too. Being a professional musician meant one thing: getting signed by a label. So off I went to Nashville, full of hope. What I found was a city full of broken hearts in an oversaturated market.
The wake-up call came from an unexpected place - back home in Pennsylvania. I met a friend who was a parent of triplets, making a solid living as a performer. No record deal, no Nashville dreams, just someone who figured out their own path. That's when it hit me: there wasn't just one "right way" to make money as a musician.
But I still kept falling into the same trap. I'd see other artists building their following through bands and festivals, so naturally, I thought that was my blueprint too. I started writing music just to please fans and bandmates. The authenticity slowly drained out of everything I created.
The real turning point came when I finally got honest: my career didn't have to look like anyone else's. I started teaching songwriting and production, and watching other artists discover they had control over how music fit into their lives filled me with more joy than I'd felt in years.
That's exactly why The Melody Shop exists. Whether you're 15 or 75, whether music becomes your career or just your creative outlet - you deserve to feel in control of the part music plays in your life. No prerequisites, no "right way," no barriers.
Because here's what I learned: creativity should be joyful. And there's always time to discover what's right for you.
10+
Years as a pro musician
5M+
Streams across platforms
700+
Performances
10+
Years as a pro musician
5M+
Streams across platforms
700+
Performances
Ways to grow
Live Classes and Online Courses
Whether you prefer learning alone or with peers,
there's an option for you.
Private Lessons
Lessons are taught in monthly periods.
Click below to learn more about enrollment!
5-Week Songwriting Class
Registration OPENING SOON
Ways to grow
Online Courses and Live Classes
Whether you prefer learning alone or with peers,
there's an option for you.
Private Lessons
Lessons are taught in monthly periods.
Click below to learn more about enrollment!
FAQs
Do you offer in-person lessons and classes?
While I'd love to offer in-person lessons and classes everywhere, currently I'm a single-person company without any in-person locations.
It's a dream to open studios for The Melody Shop, and I hope to in the future. For now, there's still a lot that can be shared via the internet through video instruction and online tools/resources.
How expensive are live classes and courses?
The first round of live classes starts at $120 for a 5-week class. That comes to about $24/class. The class is limited to 10 people and each class lasts about 60-90 minutes. Learn more here.
"Songwriting Unlocked," my comprehensive songwriting course is currently under construction. Intro pricing for the first ones to walk through the course will be announced at release. Click here to get notified on the release of the course!
What's the difference between courses and live classes?
Live Classes are closest to the style of how any in person class would operate. These are usually 5 weeks long, and include lessons and optional work outside of class to review.
Courses are more built for those who are looking to go at their own pace. They still offer support from the instructor and peer level.
Do I have to play an instrument to write songs?
No! In fact, there are plenty of tools available now to build songs from scratch without knowing an instrument. The artist Avicii would actually build songs without any keyboard, drawing in notes into software.
That being said, writing songs with an instrument is fun and encouraged, especially if you already play. And if you don't play, some simple instruction is available in courses and private lessons for guitar and piano if you'd like to incorporate that into your journey. But it's totally not required to write great songs!
How expensive are private lessons?
$1,200 per month
This covers 4 weeks of lessons, each being 90 minutes long.
It also includes instant access to any online courses that have been published.
I can't afford to take any of the courses, classes or lessons. What other options do I have?
Not to worry! If private instruction isn't within your budget, you can sign up for free educational content via the email lists below. Sometimes they're videos, sometimes PDFs and written content. All of it is meant to help you make progress in your musical journey for free.
If you give away content for free, why take a course, class, or lessons?
Courses: Structured and curated to build knowledge from the ground up. Built to be more engaging, and offering peer and professional feedback. The songwriting course in construction right now is built with song-related puzzles that took a lot of time to curate in order to make the learning experience more intuitive, step-wise, and enjoyable.
Live Classes: Classes offer real-time opportunities to get answers on questions related to your specific learning journey, and well as offering personal support as you move through a structured curriculum.
Private Lessons: Not only do you get personalize instruction unlike any other content available, but you access to 15 years worth of knowledge on the industry. You can go just about anywhere to get piano and guitar instruction, but rarely is there local access to specific lessons like songwriting, production, and music business.
Accessibility is a big part of my mission, and why I choose to make free content. However the premium materials/instruction help me to continue making that free material.
What days of the week are private lessons?
My current schedule limits me to teaching private lessons Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12PM to 7PM (last lesson 6PM).
Registration opens at the 1st of each month and closes the 14th of the month. Then lessons start the month after.
Have any other questions? Reach out here
Get FREE Educational Content
Get tips once a month on any of the subjects below...or sign up for all of them!
Songwriting Club
Production Club
Music Business Club
Get Acess to All 3!
FAQs
Do you offer in-person lessons and classes?
While I'd love to offer in-person lessons and classes everywhere, currently I'm a single-person company without any in-person locations.
It's a dream to open studios for The Melody Shop, and I hope to in the future. For now, there's still a lot that can be shared via the internet through video instruction and online tools/resources.
How expensive are live classes and courses?
The first round of live classes starts at $120 for a 5-week class. That comes to about $24/class. The class is limited to 10 people and each class lasts about 60-90 minutes. Learn more here.
"Songwriting Unlocked," my comprehensive songwriting course is currently under construction. Intro pricing for the first ones to walk through the course will be announced at release. Click here to get notified on the release of the course!
What's the difference between courses and live classes?
Live Classes are closest to the style of how any in person class would operate. These are usually 5 weeks long, and include lessons and optional work outside of class to review.
Courses are more built for those who are looking to go at their own pace. They still offer support from the instructor and peer level.
Do I have to play an instrument to write songs?
No! In fact, there are plenty of tools available now to build songs from scratch without knowing an instrument. The artist Avicii would actually build songs without any keyboard, drawing in notes into software.
That being said, writing songs with an instrument is fun and encouraged, especially if you already play. And if you don't play, some simple instruction is available in courses and private lessons for guitar and piano if you'd like to incorporate that into your journey. But it's totally not required to write great songs!
How expensive are private lessons?
$1,200 per month
This covers 4 weeks of lessons, each being 90 minutes long.
It also includes instant access to any online courses that have been published.
I can't afford to take any of the courses, classes or lessons. What other options do I have?
Not to worry! If private instruction isn't within your budget, you can sign up for free educational content via the email lists below. Sometimes they're videos, sometimes PDFs and written content. All of it is meant to help you make progress in your musical journey for free.
If you give away content for free, why take a course, class, or lessons?
Courses: Structured and curated to build knowledge from the ground up. Built to be more engaging, and offering peer and professional feedback. The songwriting course in construction right now is built with song-related puzzles that took a lot of time to curate in order to make the learning experience more intuitive, step-wise, and enjoyable.
Live Classes: Classes offer real-time opportunities to get answers on questions related to your specific learning journey, and well as offering personal support as you move through a structured curriculum.
Private Lessons: Not only do you get personalize instruction unlike any other content available, but you access to 15 years worth of knowledge on the industry. You can go just about anywhere to get piano and guitar instruction, but rarely is there local access to specific lessons like songwriting, production, and music business.
Accessibility is a big part of my mission, and why I choose to make free content. However the premium materials/instruction help me to continue making that free material.
What days of the week are private lessons?
My current schedule limits me to teaching private lessons Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12PM to 7PM (last lesson 6PM).
Registration opens at the 1st of each month and closes the 14th of the month. Then lessons start the month after.
Have any other questions? Reach out here
Get FREE Educational Content
Get tips once a month on any of the subjects below...or sign up for all of them!
All 3!
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Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
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© 2025 Cubbage Creations LLC.
All rights reserved.