Creating a mini-course is a practical way for musicians to share knowledge, grow an audience, and earn income. If you’ve ever helped another musician figure out how to book a gig, use a plug-in, or build a social media plan, you already have course material. Teaching what you know doesn’t mean being a master of everything. It means showing others how you solved a problem they’re still trying to figure out.

This guide gives you a clear process to build and share a course that helps others—and works for you too.

Step 1: Define Your Course Idea & Audience

Choose your topic. Focus on something you know well and enjoy teaching. Keep it specific. "Songwriting for Rappers" is clearer than "Songwriting." Think about common questions people ask you. That’s often where the strongest topics are hiding.
Know who you’re helping. Define your audience. Are they total beginners, hobbyists, or emerging pros? Picture one person who would benefit from your course. Build it for them.
Solve one clear problem. What is your course helping them fix or figure out? For example, "Learn to mix vocals with free plugins" solves a clear challenge. Stay focused on a single outcome.
Test before you build. Ask your followers if they’d want a course on your idea. Run a live workshop or host a Q&A to see who shows up. Use what you learn to shape your content.

Step 2: Outline the Course Content

Break it into short modules. A mini-course works best with 3 to 7 lessons. Each lesson should cover one idea or skill. List them out like chapters in a playlist.
Keep lessons short. Aim for 5–15 minutes per video. Shorter lessons help your students keep up and stay engaged.
Pick your format. Video is great if you want to speak directly to the camera or show software and instruments. Slides with voiceover work if you’re teaching something more visual or step-by-step. Use PDFs or worksheets when you want students to reflect, plan, or take action.
Add simple engagement tools. A quiz at the end of each module can reinforce learning. Worksheets or challenges get students actively applying what they learn.

Step 3: Create Your Course Materials

Use what you already have. Most musicians already own mics, audio interfaces, and cameras. Record your lessons in your home studio or rehearsal space.
Script or outline each lesson. You don’t have to read word-for-word. Just know the key points you want to hit. Keep your tone clear and casual.
Design simple extras. Create checklists, cheat sheets, or templates. Keep them clean and easy to use. Don’t over-design.
Make it human. Use your real experiences. Tell short stories from your music life that connect to the lesson. Speak like you're talking to one person, not a crowd.

Step 4: Choose a Hosting Platform

Click the Pic to learn more about our online course “How to be a Wealthy Musician.”

Teachable Simple to use and great for beginners. Does everything for you—hosting, payments, course pages. Charges fees on lower plans.
Thinkific Has a free plan with no transaction fees. Offers more control over layout and design. Takes a bit longer to set up.
Kajabi Offers everything—courses, email, website, podcast. Best for creators running a full business. Expensive to start ($149+/month).
Udemy Big audience built in. Less control over pricing and presentation. They often discount your course heavily.
Gumroad Great for selling a simple course or downloadable pack. Very low setup time. Not built for structured, multi-module courses.
Podia Combines course hosting with email and sales tools. Easy to manage multiple products. Clean design, lower price than Kajabi.
Private Website Full control if you’re tech-savvy. Use WordPress with plugins like LearnDash or MemberPress. Best for long-term business owners who want flexibility.

1. Teachable

✅ Pros:

Easy-to-use, beginner-friendly interface
Handles payments, hosting, and student management
Allows pricing flexibility (subscriptions, one-time payments, bundles)

❌ Cons:

Transaction fees on lower-tier plans
Limited customization unless on higher-priced plans
Email marketing tools aren’t as strong as competitors

Best for: Musicians who want an easy, all-in-one solution without too much tech setup.

2. Thinkific

✅ Pros:

No transaction fees, even on free plans
More customization options than Teachable
Good free plan for testing out a course

❌ Cons:

No built-in email marketing (you’ll need a separate tool)
Somewhat steeper learning curve compared to Teachable

Best for: Musicians who want more customization without paying transaction fees.

3. Kajabi

✅ Pros:

Full business suite (website, email marketing, automation, podcast hosting, etc.)
Great for creating a membership or subscription-based course
Professional-looking design with minimal effort

❌ Cons:

Expensive ($149/month+), so not ideal for beginners
Overkill if you just need a simple course platform

Best for: Musicians serious about building an online education business with a membership model.

4. Udemy

✅ Pros:

Huge built-in audience, so you don’t have to market as much
Free to start—Udemy only takes a percentage of sales
Course pricing and discounting are automated

❌ Cons:

Udemy heavily discounts courses (most sell for $10-$20)
Less control over branding, pricing, and student data
Not great for premium courses or long-term monetization

Best for: Musicians who want passive income and don’t mind selling lower-priced courses to a broad audience.

5. Gumroad

✅ Pros:

Simple, lightweight way to sell courses, PDFs, and digital products
Low fees compared to Teachable or Kajabi
No monthly subscription—pay only when you sell

❌ Cons:

No true course structure (like modules or quizzes)
Limited customization and student engagement tools

Best for: Musicians who just want to sell a few courses or digital downloads without committing to a full platform.

6. Podia

✅ Pros:

No transaction fees, even on lower-tier plans
Also supports memberships, coaching, and digital product sales
Built-in email marketing

❌ Cons:

Less customization compared to Kajabi
Fewer third-party integrations than other platforms

Best for: Musicians looking for an all-in-one solution for courses, memberships, and email marketing without the Kajabi price tag.

7. Private Website (WordPress, Shopify, etc.)

✅ Pros:

Full control over branding, pricing, and customer data
No platform fees—only pay for hosting and tools
Can integrate with existing music-related offerings (merch, Patreon, etc.)

❌ Cons:

Requires more setup (plugins like LearnDash or MemberPress)
You handle everything—tech support, hosting, and marketing
More upfront costs for web design and maintenance

Best for: Musicians who want full control and already have a strong online presence.

Which One is Right for You?

If you want ease of use: → Teachable or Thinkific
If you want an all-in-one business platform: → Kajabi or Podia
If you want passive sales on a marketplace: → Udemy
If you want a flexible, low-cost option: → Gumroad
If you want full control: → Your own website

Step 5: Price & Structure Your Course

Pick your pricing model. If you want more email subscribers, offer it free. If you want income, charge a fair price. For most mini-courses, $47 to $197 is standard.
Add a bonus. Give them something extra—PDF guides, templates, sample tracks. A short Zoom Q&A can also be valuable.
Create pricing tiers. Offer a basic version with just the course. Add a coaching call or community for a higher tier. Example:
- Basic: $47
- Course + Coaching: $97
- Course + Coaching + Templates: $147

Final Tips

Share your course often, not just once. Promote it during live shows, on stories, and in email.
Ask for honest feedback from your first students. Their input will help you improve future versions.
Update your course if something becomes outdated or unclear. Keep it current.
Build long-term connections. Create a private group, a follow-up course, or a newsletter to stay in touch.
Keep showing up. Courses work best when paired with consistent presence and trust.

You don’t need a huge following or perfect gear to start. Just a clear topic, a plan, and the drive to help someone else learn what you’ve figured out.