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Bespoke 1:1 Music Production Course

12 Weeks of once weekly online face to face training

Learn to create music that stands out with this intensive online 12-week Ableton Live course. Guided through each essential aspect of production, you’ll explore genres from jazz to rock to techno, learning to create polished, professional-grade music. This course emphasises hands-on techniques with Ableton Live, Slate Digital plugins, using sample libraries such as Splice, plus the latest AI tools for vocal generation, live instrumentation, and mastering, giving you the practical skills to produce with confidence in an increasingly AI driven world.

Weeks 1-4: Foundations of Music Production

Week 1: Introduction to Ableton Live 12 and Music Theory Essentials

  • Overview: Get started with Ableton Live, diving into the interface, session vs. arrangement view, and fundamental workflows.

  • Skills: Project setup, audio and MIDI basics, creating loops, navigating samples.

  • Music Theory Basics: Learn essential scales, keys, and chord progressions for dance music.

  • Creative Inspiration: Tips for generating and capturing musical ideas.

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI): Integration, workflow and tools

Week 2: Beat Creation – Rock, Breaks, Hip Hop, House, and Techno

  • Overview: Discover the core rhythms behind popular dance genres.

  • Skills: Drum programming techniques, genre-specific beat patterns, adding swing and groove. Audio resampling, stem splitting & audio clean up tools.

  • Genres in Focus:

    • Rock: Recording Rock Drums with microphones - quick run through.

    • Breaks & Hip Hop: Emphasise dynamic drum patterns, layered beats, and rhythmic groove.

    • House: Explore the steady 4/4 beat, classic hi-hat rhythms, and soulful groove.

    • Techno: Focus on hypnotic, driving beats and layering techniques for depth.

Week 3: Sound Design Essentials – Synths and Basslines

  • Overview: Understand the fundamentals of synthesis to create basslines, leads, and effects. Synths - Nexus, Omnisphere, Roland TB-303, Sylenth, Serum.

  • Skills: Subtractive, FM, and wavetable synthesis, crafting basslines, and designing unique leads.

  • Genres in Focus:

    • Drum and Bass: Experiment with deep, rolling basslines.

    • Techno & Progressive: Create atmospheric pads and evolving textures.

Week 4: Vocal Sampling & Production, AI Vocal Generation, Guitar AI generation

  • Genres in focus: Rock, Jazz, Blues

  • Overview: Integrate live sounds and vocals and explore in depth AI-powered tools to add a unique touch to your tracks.

  • Skills: Editing, tuning, and chopping vocal samples, layering harmonies, AI-generated vocals. Mixing Guitars and Rock Drums

Weeks 5-7: Genre-Focused Production Techniques

Week 5: Drum and Bass Production

  • Overview: Dive into the fast-paced world of drum and bass, known for its intense energy.

  • Skills: Breakbeat programming, layering bass sounds, EQing for punchy low-end.

  • Focus: Craft deep, rolling basslines, tight drums, and intricate sample work.

Week 6: Progressive House Melodies and Harmonies

  • Overview: Craft the emotional, melodic elements that give progressive house its depth and allure.

  • Skills: Melodic layering, chord progression for build-ups, using arpeggios, and melodic automation.

Week 7: Techno and Trance Sound Design

  • Overview: Dive into the unique, powerful soundscapes of techno and trance.

  • Skills: Synthesising pads, leads, and evolving textures.

  • Focus: Techniques for pads, plucks, and leads that drive high-energy dance tracks.

Weeks 8-12: Advanced Mixing and Mastering

Week 8: Mixing Fundamentals

  • Overview: Learn the basics of a clean, balanced mix, one of the cornerstones of professional music production.

  • Skills: EQ, compression, panning, balance, gain staging.

Week 9: Advanced Mixing Techniques

  • Overview: Dive deeper into mixing techniques for added polish.

  • Skills: Multiband compression, stereo imaging, using FX for space and depth.

Week 10: FX and Soundscaping – Creating Atmosphere and Depth

  • Overview: Enhance your tracks with creative soundscaping techniques.

  • Skills: Layering ambient sounds, designing soundscapes, advanced reverb and delay effects.

Week 11: Final Mix Review and Polish

  • Overview: Review and refine your mixes, addressing any final adjustments and exploring advanced techniques.

  • Skills: Analysing and finalising mixes, using reference tracks for consistency, preparing for mastering.

Week 12: Mastering Essentials - theory, traditional equipment & AI mastering tools

  • Overview: Learn the final touches needed to prepare your track for release, including AI mastering tools for added precision.

  • Skills: Basic EQ and compression for mastering, loudness standards, limiting, final export settings, AI-assisted mastering.

Additional Course Features

  • Feedback Opportunities: Submit your work weekly for evaluation and receive personalised guidance to fine-tune your projects. You will be asked to submit TWO final tracks for review at the end of the course.

  • Access to Recordings: All sessions can be recorded, allowing you to review content at your own pace.

  • Exclusive Templates & Samples: Benefit from custom resources we will build together, giving you extra tools to bring your music to life. Making your own sample packs.

  • ESSENTIAL COURSE REQUIREMENTS: > 1) Ableton Live (not provided). Skills are transferable across various DAW’s, but Ableton users will gain the most from this course.

    > 2) A strong and stable internet connection is required. A connection test prior to payment is necessary.

  • Homework is given every week: designed to keep you focussed from one week to the next. To get the most from this course, you will ideally spend time alone creating music and practicing what you have learned each week. 10 hours of alone time each week would ideally complement this course.

  • If you wish to focus on a particular genre that is not listed above, we can adapt the course to suit your needs.

  • Further post-course support and training is available on demand at the same rate.

Course Enrollment

  • Enquiries via the contact form, email or telephone number listed on the contact form.

  • The full 12 weeks costs £900 (£75.00 per week - 4 hours)

  • Printed Course manual included.

  • Full payment is required for the full 12 weeks before commencing.

  • Availability: 4 new spaces every 3 months.

  • This course is aimed at beginner to intermediate level producers.

  • Some prior basic musical knowledge is helpful but not necessary to enroll.