MONTH 1 – Songwriting

Week 1: Introduction to DAW In Week 1, you’ll take your first steps into the world of digital audio workstations (DAWs). You’ll learn the ins and outs of popular software tools used in music production, getting familiar with their interfaces and functionalities. By the end of the week, you’ll be ready to navigate your DAW with confidence and start creating your own musical compositions.

Week 2: Learning Basic Music Theory Building upon your newfound DAW skills, Week 2 is all about understanding the fundamentals of music theory. You’ll explore concepts such as scales, intervals, and chords, gaining a solid foundation that will serve as the backbone of your songwriting journey. Through interactive lessons and practical exercises, you’ll develop a deeper understanding of how music works and how to apply theory to your compositions.

Week 3: Writing Melodies Now that you have a grasp of music theory, it’s time to put pen to paper and start writing melodies. Week 3 is dedicated to honing your melodic skills, exploring different techniques for crafting memorable and emotive melodies. From catchy hooks to expressive motifs, you’ll learn how to breathe life into your compositions and captivate your audience with your musical storytelling.

Week 4: Writing Chords In the final week of Month One, we’ll focus on writing chords, the harmonic foundation of any song. You’ll delve deeper into chord progressions, exploring different voicings and inversions to create rich and colorful harmonic landscapes. Whether you’re aiming for a soulful ballad or an upbeat pop anthem, Week 4 will equip you with the tools and techniques needed to craft compelling chord sequences that elevate your music to new heights.

MONTH 2 – Recording

Week 1: Recording MIDI In Week 1, we’ll start with the basics of MIDI recording. You’ll learn how to harness the power of virtual instruments and MIDI controllers to create dynamic and expressive musical performances. From programming drum beats to laying down intricate synth melodies, you’ll discover the limitless possibilities of MIDI recording and how it can enhance your productions.

Week 2: Recording Audio Moving on to Week 2, we’ll shift our focus to recording audio. Whether you’re capturing vocals, guitars, or any other acoustic instruments, you’ll learn essential techniques for achieving professional-quality recordings. From microphone selection and placement to signal flow and gain staging, you’ll master the art of capturing sound with precision and clarity.

Week 3: Recording Automation Week 3 is all about adding movement and expression to your recordings through automation. You’ll explore how to automate parameters such as volume, panning, and effects to create dynamic and evolving soundscapes. With hands-on practice in your digital audio workstation (DAW), you’ll learn how to breathe life into your productions and take your tracks to the next level.

Week 4: Recording Live Instruments In the final week of Month Two, we’ll bring it all together as you delve into the art of recording live instruments. Whether it’s a full band setup or a solo performance, you’ll learn how to capture the energy and emotion of a live performance in the studio. From setting up microphones to managing multiple tracks, you’ll gain valuable experience in capturing the essence of live music.

MONTH 3 – Arranging

Week 1: Arranging MIDI In Week 1, we’ll kick things off by delving into the world of MIDI arrangement. You’ll learn how to structure and organize your MIDI compositions to create dynamic and engaging musical arrangements. From layering multiple instrument tracks to experimenting with different musical motifs, you’ll discover how to craft compelling melodies and harmonies that captivate listeners.

Week 2: Arranging Audio Moving on to Week 2, we’ll transition to arranging audio tracks. You’ll explore techniques for layering and blending recorded audio to create cohesive and polished arrangements. Whether you’re working with vocals, guitars, or percussion, you’ll learn how to arrange audio elements to complement each other and create a balanced and immersive listening experience.

Week 3: Arranging Automation Week 3 is all about adding movement and dynamics to your arrangements through automation. You’ll learn how to automate parameters such as volume, pan, and effects to create dynamic and evolving soundscapes. With hands-on practice in your digital audio workstation (DAW), you’ll discover how automation can breathe life into your arrangements and take your music to the next level.

Week 4: Arranging Effects In the final week of Month Three, we’ll explore the creative use of effects in arrangement. You’ll learn how to use effects such as reverb, delay, and modulation to enhance your compositions and create unique sonic textures. From subtle ambiance to bold soundscapes, you’ll discover how effects can add depth and dimension to your arrangements, making them truly stand out.

MONTH 4 – Editing

Week 1: MIDI Editing In Week 1, we’ll start with MIDI editing, where you’ll learn how to manipulate and fine-tune MIDI data to create polished and professional-sounding compositions. From quantizing and adjusting note lengths to experimenting with velocity and expression, you’ll discover how to breathe life into your MIDI tracks and make them truly shine.

Week 2: Audio Editing Moving on to Week 2, we’ll shift our focus to audio editing. You’ll explore techniques for cleaning up audio recordings, removing unwanted noise, and correcting any imperfections. Whether you’re working with vocals, guitars, or drums, you’ll learn how to edit audio with precision and accuracy, ensuring that your recordings sound pristine and professional.

Week 3: Editing Live Instruments Week 3 is all about editing live instrument recordings, where you’ll learn how to enhance and polish performances captured in the studio. From correcting timing and pitch errors to comping multiple takes, you’ll discover techniques for transforming raw recordings into polished and cohesive musical arrangements.

Week 4: Editing Effects In the final week of Month Four, we’ll explore the creative possibilities of editing effects. You’ll learn how to manipulate and fine-tune effects parameters to sculpt your sound and create unique sonic textures. From tweaking reverb and delay settings to experimenting with modulation and distortion, you’ll discover how to use effects editing to add depth and character to your productions.

MONTH 5 – Mixing

Week 1: Mix Preparations In Week 1, we’ll start with mix preparations, where you’ll learn how to organize and optimize your tracks for the mixing process. From setting proper levels and arranging your session to cleaning up tracks and preparing stems, you’ll lay the foundation for a smooth and efficient mixing workflow.

Week 2: Dynamic Effects Moving on to Week 2, we’ll explore dynamic effects and how they can shape the overall dynamics and impact of your mix. You’ll learn how to use compression, expansion, and gating to control the dynamics of individual tracks and the overall mix, ensuring clarity, balance, and cohesion in your productions.

Week 3: Equalization Week 3 is all about equalization, where you’ll learn how to sculpt the frequency balance of your mix to enhance clarity, depth, and tonal balance. From corrective EQ to creative shaping, you’ll discover how to use equalization effectively to bring out the best in your tracks and create a professional-quality mix.

Week 4: Room & Time-Based Effects In the final week of Month Five, we’ll explore room and time-based effects, such as reverb and delay, and how they can add depth, dimension, and atmosphere to your mix. You’ll learn how to choose the right reverbs and delays for different instruments and genres, as well as how to use them creatively to enhance your productions and create a sense of space and movement.

MONTH 6 – Mastering

Week 1: Preparation for Mastering In Week 1, we’ll start by preparing your tracks for mastering. You’ll learn how to organize your session, check for any technical issues, and ensure that your mixes are ready for the mastering process. From exporting stems to setting proper levels, you’ll lay the groundwork for a successful mastering session.

Week 2: Mastering Compression Moving on to Week 2, we’ll explore mastering compression and how it can enhance the dynamics and impact of your final mix. You’ll learn how to use compression techniques such as multiband compression, parallel compression, and dynamic range control to achieve a balanced and cohesive sound that translates well across different playback systems.

Week 3: Mastering Equalization Week 3 is all about mastering equalization, where you’ll learn how to fine-tune the frequency balance of your tracks to achieve clarity, warmth, and depth. You’ll explore techniques for corrective EQ, harmonic enhancement, and tonal shaping, mastering the art of equalization to bring out the best in your music.

Week 4: Preparing for Final Master In the final week of Month Six, we’ll focus on preparing your tracks for the final master. You’ll learn how to assemble your mastered tracks into a cohesive album or EP, sequence them for optimal flow and impact, and apply any final touches to ensure that your music is ready for release.