Class Description
In this class, students explore the creative and technical foundations of modern music production. Through hands-on experiences in beat creation, songwriting, studio recording, and digital audio production, students develop both artistic voice and technical literacy. The course emphasizes collaboration, professionalism, and safe studio practices while introducing industry-standard workflows. Students will learn how music is created, recorded, refined, and prepared for sharing with an audience.
Learning Objectives: in this class, students will learn
- The art of the peer critique and give peer critiques on the progress of student work;
- Opportunities and potential resources on career pathways;
- How to distribute, exhibit, and promote artwork for a variety of audiences.
- The art of peer critique and constructive creative feedback
- How to collaborate effectively in a studio environment
- Career pathways in music production, audio engineering, and digital media
- How to distribute, exhibit, and promote creative work
- Foundations of beat production using FL Studio
- Studio signal flow and recording fundamentals
- Microphone types and safe operation procedures
- Basic mixing and sound shaping concepts
- Ethical and creative use of AI tools in music production
- Professional studio conduct and equipment care
Equipment
- Studio microphones (dynamic and condenser)
- Audio interface
- 500-series rack hardware (preamps, compressors, EQ)
- Studio monitors and headphones
- MIDI controllers and keyboards
- Drum pads / beat-making hardware
- Laptop or desktop production workstation
- Recording microphones and stands
- Cables (XLR, TRS)
- Whiteboard and collaborative planning materials
Software
- FL Studio (Primary Digital Audio Workstation – beat production, recording, arrangement)
- GarageBand (Introductory DAW and songwriting tool)
- BandLab (Cloud-based collaboration and recording platform)
- SUNO AI (AI-assisted music composition and idea generation tool)
- FabFilter Plugins (Professional mixing and processing tools – EQ, compression, limiting)
- VST Instruments & Effects (Software-based virtual instruments and audio processors)
- Audio File Export & Sharing Platforms (WAV/MP3 rendering and digital project submission)
Deliverables: Students and Class Projects
By the end of the course, students will produce:
- Original digital beats
- A collaborative songwriting project
- A recorded spoken word or vocal piece
- A structured digital audio session demonstrating signal flow understanding
- Participation in peer critique sessions
- A final creative project (recorded song, beat project, or collaborative production)
Students will leave the course with tangible creative work and foundational audio production skills aligned with industry practices.
