Class 1: Introduction, discussion of students goals. Overview of program. Brief audio history. Overview of current trends in analog and digital technologies. Textbook: Chapter 1

Class 2: Basic signal flow. Operation of mixing consoles. Cabling, interfacing with outboard units and microphones. Textbook: Chapter 11

Class 3: Microphones. A primer for use of all types of microphones. Mic placement, mic selection and mic accessories. Textbook: Chapter 4

Class 4: Interfacing audio equipment. Consoles, power amps speakers, cabling, outboard devices for live sound and studio situations. Textbook: Read Pages 109-113

Class 5: Outboard processors, plug ins including equalizers, compressors gates, reverbs and all other popular processors. In both digital (Pro Tools) and analog domains.Textbook: Pages 439-479

Class 6: Setting up a studio. Purchasing equipment, interfacing and setting up a recording space. Textbook: chapter 14

Class 7: Sound reinforcement. A guide to purchasing, interfacing and operation of live sound systems. Including maintenance of cabling, speaker cabinets and general troubleshooting. Read chapter 10

Class 8: Summary. Including question and answer to wrap up any unaddressed topics. A Final Exam will be administered to complete the course. Presentation of certificates.

All classes will include demonstrations on actual equipment. Most classes will take place in classroom but some may take place in the Jam Room recording studio. Any relevant topics not covered in this syllabus may be included in the class if students request it.

Class 1. Introduction, discussion of students goals. Overview of program. Different ways of making money in the music business. Book: Broad-Strokes Overview of the Record Business pages 61-78. What’s A Producer 116-126 Workshop: Making a career path.

Class 2. Booking. How to book shows, negotiate contracts, understand contracts, press kits. Book: Touring pages 329-346 Workshop: Making a press kit.

Class 3. Publicity. How to get press, create press releases, make contacts and the ins and outs of Public Relations. Test Review for pages 61-78, 116-126, 329-346.Workshop: Making a press release.

Class 4. TEST ONE. Record Companies. Royalties, publishing, submitting to labels, copyrights. Book: Advances and Recoupment pages 80-83, Real Life Numbers pages 85-97. Copyright Basics 193-197.Workshop: Submitting material to a record label.

Class 5. Advertising and Marketing. How to get the most out of advertising, press, radio, flyers, street teams. Book: Publishing Companies and Major Income Sources:pages 201-219. Music and New Technologies pages 371-375. Workshop: Designing flyers and a street campaign.

Class 6. Management. Artist management, event management. Book: Personal Managers: pages 27-38 Business Managers 41-47.Workshop: Design a management plan and contract.

Class 7. Final exam review. Forming an LLC Projects presentations.

Class 8. Summary. Including question and answer to wrap up any unaddressed topics. A FINAL EXAM will be administered to complete the course. Presentation of certificates.

Any topics not covered in this syllabus may be included in the class if students request it.

Class 1. Introduction “The Importance of Commercial Music Theory”.
Notation basics, major scales and key signatures.
Pages 1-53

Class 2. Diatonic and chromatic intervals.
Pages 53-73
Rhythm notation and exercises

Class 3. Triads and inversions
Pages 73-99
Rhythm notation and exercises

Class 4. Diatonic triads
Pages 99-127
Rhythm notation and exercises
TEST ONE

Class 5. Modal Scales
Pages 127-155

Four part chords and inversions
Pages 155-177

Class 6. Diatonic four-part chords
Pages 177-201

Class 7. Minor scales and key signatures
Pages 201-223

Class 8. More four-part chords, suspended chords and altered chords
Pages 201-223
FINAL EXAM

1. Intro quiz-Discussion of class goals and types of equipment to be used during demonstrations. In class demonstration of entry level PA gear. Live console overview.

 2. Equipment maintenance and repair. Soldering. Speaker cabinet driver replacement. Anatomy of speaker systems and cabling.

 3. Fixed installation pa systems, building acoustics, installation, budgets equipment selection and operation.

4. PA System Configuration-consoles, crossovers, power amps, equalizers and speaker systems and their interconnection. Matching components, gear buying guide.

5. Wireless Microphones. Handheld , lavaliere and headset microphone usage in live settings will be covered.

6. Remote recording –studying methods and gear for recording worship services, live bands and other artist in live performance settings.

7. Field Trip-The entire class will travel to a venue to set up and operate a PA system.

8. Final Test-guest speaker

Course covers the digital audio program Reason

Class 1: Introduction to Digital Music Production
Recording, Editing, Mixing, Mastering

Class 2: Analog & Digital Audio Signals and Connections, Signal Flow, Setting Up a Digital Studio, MIDI

Class 3: Electronic Music Synthesizers, Properties of Sound, Pitch, Timbre, Digital Samplers

Class 4: MIDI Messages, Patterns in Music, Creating Patterns,

Class 5:  Common Mixer Configurations,The Reason Mixer, The Logic Mixer,

Class 6: Effects Processing and Mixing, Overview of Effects Types, Spectrum Processing: Filters, Mix Practice--Adding EQ and Reverb

Class 7: Hard-Disk Recording and Editing, Sampling Concepts, Hard-Disk Recording, Bouncing a Mix to Disk, Review for Final Exam.

Class 8: Class projects presentation. Final exam.

Class 1: Introduction to Songwriting. Identifying the most successful song structures and why they work.Building a successful song.   

Class 2: Introduction and instrumental solos.Exercise: Identifying song structures, song structure checklist.

Class 3: Writing effective lyrics. Developing great song ideas and catchy titles.

Class 4: Understanding what constitutes a great idea and how to find one. Keeping a hook book.

Class 5:  Using the three-step lyric writing technique.

Exercise: Practicing the three-step lyric writing technique.

Class 6: Acquiring the tools for successful lyric writing.Learning to focus on the lyrics.

Class 7: Studying song forms. Class projects review.

Class 8: Class projects presentation.

1. Assessment of student’s knowledge of audio, refresher on basics and setting goals for the class. Basic Pro Tools overview.

2. Getting started with pro tools. Creating and storing projects with an emphasis on basic file management.1st lab project assigned

3. Microphone selection and placement. Using Mics, preamps and compressors during tracking.(Rick  Belt instructor)

4. Selecting and assigning final recording projects for students.(sample proposal passed out ) Setting up pro tools sessions for tracking, creating bounce and audio cd’s.1st lab project due. 2nd lab project assigned

5. Setting up a recording studio control room: Monitoring, Acoustic environment, Using Talkback. . (Rick Belt instructor) Written proposal for final project due.

6. Setting up pro tools for mixing, utilizing auxiliary sends, bussing and subgroups.2nd lab assignment due.

7. Using Plug ins during mixing, and continuing covering basic pro tools functions.

8. Final Project presentation, critique and test

Grades will be 1/3 lab assignments,1/3 final project and 1/3 final written test. Failure to complete any of them will result in a non passing grade.

1. Review and assessment of knowledge of general audio terms and audio devices. Including a brief quiz. Overview of goals and types of projects due.

2. Studio operations. Setting up and operating recording sessions, general guidelines. Setting up pro tools rigs for sessions. Studio management. The jobs of engineering and producing defined.

1st Lab  Project Assigned

3. Sound and hearing: The basics of sound and acoustics and how the ear perceives them. Control room monitor selection and placement

4.. Microphone selection and placement. Advanced techniques using a huge array of different microphones and direct boxes on different sources.

 Lab Project Due-Final Project Assigned

5. Outboard gear. High end mic preamps, compressors equalizers and their integration within different studio scenarios.

 Live band recorded in class.

6. Mixing with plug ins: Selecting and using plug ins for in the box digital mixing. Preparing final masters

7. Mixing Part 2: Utilizing and understand effects and preparing final masters.

8. Final project Due. Projects played and critiqued in class.

1. Getting Started With Pro Tools-An introduction to the Platform and its various hardware and software components

2. Creating Your First Session – Learn to create and setup Pro Tools sessions for various applications and learn the basics of file management.

3. Making Your first recording-Learn to set up a pro tools sessions and interfaces  for tracking and monitoring live sound sources.

4. Importing Media Into your Sessions-Learn to import audio and Quick time files into a pro tools session for both audio and soundtrack projects. Learn to make final cds from the audio in a pro tools session. Midterm quiz

5. Basic editing techniques-Learn to cut, copy, paste and manipulate audio within a pro tools session. ( Final Project/lab assigned - creating audio soundtrack for a short film clip)

6. Making Midi Recordings-An introduction to Midi recording and music production

7. Basic Mixing Techniques- Learn creative mixing and mastering techniques to make your final recordings sound professional.

8. Final presentation of final projects in class and written final exam

Lab time is available for projects and assignments. See instructor for lab time availability

Class 1. The using plug ins and signal routing. An introduction to Waves plugs ins and their integration with Pro Tools session and a first look at the Waves toolbar.

Class 2. The Waves REQ –use of the Waves REQ and a general overview of equalizers and their terminology. EQ lab assigned.

Class 3. Waves Rcomp - Use of the Waves Rcomp and a general overview of compressor usage for mixing and their principles of operation. Use of compressors and equalizers for mastering. Assignment of final audio project.

Class 4. Waves C1 processors-Use of the C1 compressor, expander, gates and side chain compression. Advanced compression and other dynamics processor techniques demonstrated. Compression lab assigned

Class 5. Waves Rverb- Applying the Rverb and a general overview of reverb usage and terminology. Demonstration of reverbs and delays during mixing.

Class 6. Waves Super Tap-A primer for using the Super Tap and other delays during mixing. A final look at finishing and mastering mixes.

Class 7. Extra lab time and week off for work on final projects. Students take waves certification test online.

Class 8. Final Project due and written test.

       Lab time is available for projects. See instructor for lab time availability