This recurring course familiarizes students with the music production software Ableton Live and the basic functions of digital audio workstations. Students will become comfortable with concepts such as BPM, audio & midi, audio effects, and arrangement. With guidance, students will utilize virtual instruments and drum kits to create their own music projects and receive feedback.

The structure of this class is fluid and dependent upon each student's needs and abilities. However, it will generally be comprised of 3 parts: a lecture portion where students are introduced to new information or concepts, a breakout portion where students are given time to apply and work with the concepts they have learned (with my assistance), and a discussion portion where we will discuss their work and I will provide feedback and guidance for areas of improvement.

A general breakdown of the class' weekly topics is as follows:

1. Week of 5/13/23:  The Ableton Interface and Creating a Project
2. Week of 5/20/23:  Virtual Instruments, Audio Effects, and Processing
3. Week of 5/27/23:  Songwriting, Arrangement, and Sampling
4. Week of 6/3/23:  Midi Effects, Synthesis, and VST's

The class will be taught using a mixture of lecture, interactive exercises, and discussion, so students can not only absorb information but immediately put that knowledge into practice to better understand the mechanics of the software. I will be screen-sharing for some of the lecture portion of the class, so students are able to follow along visually as I explain aspects of the software. Students will also receive guidance and feedback on their projects so they can work through obstacles and continue their learning after the class has ended.