Music Production for Young Artists

Music Production for ages 13-17:  7 weeks/ $149

Who this course is designed for

  • Aspiring musicians and producers age 13-17 who are interested in learning how to record, edit and produce their own music.

  • Young musicians wanting to learn how to make excellent demo recordings of themselves or their band.

  • Students looking for an educational, engaging summer project.

  • Parents looking for an amazing experience for their young musician, taught by a credentialed teacher in a safe and moderated environment!

What will be covered in this course

  • Whether you play guitar or other instrument, rap or make beats in Garage Band, or have absolutely no musical experience whatsoever but want to start producing your own music, this course is for you!  You will be interacting with an instructor and fellow students from around the world and learning how to get your music heard around the world!  Sound incredible?  It is!

Course Schedule 

  • This summer course begins July 1st and runs for 7 weeks

  • Class consists of a weekly online discussion session and a weekly web-cast that can be watched at your convenience.   Written materials will also be provided via download.  

Total Cost: $149 USD 

Course Outline

Week 1: Orientation

During this week we will be getting you introduced to the online workspace and orienting you to the structure of the course.  You will meet the instructor and other students and engage in general discussions about music, audio technology, your background with music and audio technology and your goals for the course.  All musical interests and backgrounds are welcome!

Week 2: Music Exploration: from Rap to Country

During this week you will get an overview of what goes into your favorite music.  This is when we ask "how did they do THAT"?  You will begin to get familiar with the basics of music production and begin planning your projects.

Week 3: Recording

In this week you will begin to look at the variety of input sound devices and techniques.  Microphones will  explained, and we will also look at how to record keyboards, guitars or other electric and electronic instruments, including samplers or other devices you may have.  So whether you rap, sing, play guitar, piano, tuba or like to beatbox to annoy your sister, we'll teach you how to record it!

Week 4: Beats and Rhythm

These days, everyone is making beats!  Your little brother could open up Garage Band and have a beat in like, two seconds... so what sets your beats apart from P-Diddy's?  Why isn't your little brother on the cover of rolling stone (other than the obvious reasons)?  Even if you've never made a beat before, you will be learning how to make beats from scratch as we talk about the concepts of sampling and sequencing.  Your beats will begin to make people turn their head and say, "Wow"!setup of your listening space, what to look for in terms of monitors and acoustical treatment.

Week 5: Editing and Mixing

Once everything is recorded, what are you going to do with it?  Editing often gets left out when we are thinking about the compositional process, but for many, it IS the compositional process!  Editing techniques that help you to get the best out of your songwriting and composition skills, as well as making a technically sound recording are covered.  Mixing together tracks is an art form all to itself, and as unique to the musician as the music itself.   Learn how to get the sound you're looking for, and get it every time.

Week 6: Finishing Touches: Effects and other stuff

This is how to take something that sounds just ok and make it sound cool!  Or take something that sounds cool already and make it sound really cool!  Effects can be really fun, but you have to do it right so that it helps rather than hurts your music.  At the end of this week you will have at least one finished song (maybe many) that are worthy of being put onto a CD and promoted!  Next week you go global!

Week 7: Promoting and Getting Famous

We weren't kidding- you really are going to promote your music around the world- once you think up a cool name for yourself, like "DJ Crockpot" (well, maybe cooler than that) you are going to post your music online and people from all over the world will start listening to it... no, we're not kidding about this one.  You might even sell a song or two.  At the very least, when you go back to school at the end of the summer you can show everyone the tracks you cut over the summer.  The will be impressed.  Very, very impressed.  

And if you do end up getting really famous, please don't forget to mention us when you are accepting your Grammy Award.