This one-time course introduces students to the music production software Ableton Live and the basic functions of digital audio workstations. Students will become familiarized with concepts such as BPM, audio & midi, audio effects, and arrangement. With guidance, students will utilize virtual instruments and drum kits to create a basic project and receive feedback.

The class will be broken into three parts. In the first, students will be familiarized with the layout and interface of Ableton Live. Next, students will be introduced to the bread and butter of Ableton's creative suite - virtual instruments and audio effects - and shown how they function. In the final portion of the class, students will create and experiment with their own Ableton projects, with guidance and feedback from myself.

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.