Music Production with GRAMMY-Winning Producers from 1500 Sound Academy

About This Course

Unleash your inner composer with 1500 Sound Academy, the music entertainment educator that’s cultivating the talent of future producers and musicians! You’ll get to the heart of music production in this course developed by GRAMMY-winning musicians, Larrance Dopson and James Fauntleroy, winner of Best R&B Song (2014, 2018) and credited on hit albums with artists like Kendrick Lamar, Rihanna, Justin Timberlake, and Bruno Mars. Your iD certified rockstar instructor will guide you through the curriculum which includes video masterclasses from industry experts. The ability to create music from scratch is right at your fingertips with the Novation Launchkey, a powerful MIDI keyboard with customizable knobs and light-touch drum pads. Combined with Ableton Live, you’ll dial up your music theory and design your own emotionally-charged chart-topper, complete with energized drum beats. Whether you dream of producing Beyonce?’s next hit album or becoming an indie musician, you’ll take a seat at the soundboard and set up your own music portfolio on SoundCloud to kickstart your career.

Scholarships are available based on need.
NOTE: This course is for teen students and is not the same as 1500 Sound Academy’s postsecondary program.

In this course you will:

• Learn to use Ableton Live, one of the industry’s leading Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs)
• Understand key music mixing concepts like EQ, reverb, and delay
• Use music theory fundamentals to create your own emotionally-charged songs
• Build your own beat while learning the best uses for hi hats, kicks, and snares
• Develop a portfolio of music projects to jumpstart your online fanbase and make your college apps pop

Sample Schedule

Sessions 1-5:
Begin the course by learning the basics of music production. You’ll discover the differences between musical genres and start listening with an educated ear, picking out nuances in the songs and honing music theory fundamentals along the way. Experimenting with audio design hardware and using sample libraries and music clips, you will create your very own songs within Ableton Live and export them to share.

Sessions 6-10:
Building on your knowledge from sessions 1-5, you’ll learn more about creating beats and the specific use cases for kicks, snares, and hi hats. Continue unlocking songwriting strategies, and discover the basics of mixing and audio effects to create an emotional mood with your next hit single. Throughout the process, you’ll develop your own unique artistic aesthetic and get familiar with industry terminology and the business side of making music. Finish out strong with a SoundCloud portfolio that shows off your musical prowess to potential fans, labels, and colleges.

Earn a Certificate

Upon successful completion of this program, iD Tech and 1500 Sound Academy grant a certificate of completion to participants. This program is graded as a pass or fail; students must receive 75% to pass and obtain the certificate of completion.

• Certificate recognizing your skills and success
• Skills that can help secure internships and potential jobs
• Portfolio to share with colleges and future employers
• Designated office hours for additional help and advice

When does your teen want to learn?

School Year 2022-2023: Weekly for 10 Weeks
Supercharge your teen’s school year with an online group class meeting once a week for 10 weeks! For maximum flexibility, you can choose the ideal day of week and time to learn—perfect for teens juggling multiple after-school activities! Each two-hour session includes a live instructor, individual attention, and access to exclusive curriculum. Office hours are included for further help and personalized guidance.

Summer 2023: Daily for 2 Weeks
Maximize your teen’s summer learning with an online group class meeting Monday-Friday for two weeks! This focused schedule will help them boost their resume as quickly as possible, with plenty of summer left for travel, hangouts with friends, and other favorite activities. Each two-hour session includes a live instructor, individual attention, and access to exclusive curriculum. Office hours are included for further help and personalized guidance.

What Parents Are Asking

Is this course right for my teen?
With an expert blend of live instruction, video insights, and interactive experimentation, this course empowers teens of all learning styles to thrive as they pursue songwriting, recording, and producing. Your teen will have the opportunity to actively follow along with their instructor as they play chords and learn notes, instead of just watching and listening. They’ll build finger dexterity, improve their sense of timing, and gain confidence in their ability to execute their creative visions.

What college majors can this course lead to?
By establishing music theory and production fundamentals in this course, your teen will build a foundation to pursue college majors like Sound Engineering, Sound Design, Electronic Music Production, Music Technology, Music Business, Music Theory and Composition, and so much more. Music consumption is at an all-time high thanks to popular streaming services like Spotify, which has helped create a multi-billion-dollar industry encompassing production, distribution, concerts, album sales, and streaming. We can’t wait to prepare your music-minded teen for the world of opportunity that awaits them in college and beyond.

Is this program right for beginners?
Yes! Teens of all skill levels will benefit from this program.

What are the technical requirements for this program?
In order for your teen to run this course, they will need a Mac or Windows computer, webcam, and stable internet connection with access to Zoom video conferencing. They will use Ableton Live software (free trial) as well as the hardware outlined below.

Is hardware included for this course?
Yes. Your teen’s tuition includes a Novation Launchkey, a powerful MIDI keyboard with customizable knobs and light-touch drum pads. Note: Your teen’s MIDI Keyboard may be shipped after their course start date. Rest assured that it will not be needed until several weeks into their course.

How will my teen receive their certificate?
Upon successful completion of this program, iD Tech and 1500 Sound Academy grant a certificate of completion to participants. This program is graded as a pass or fail; students must receive 75% to pass and obtain the certificate of completion. After successful completion of the program, your digital certificate will be emailed to you, at no additional cost, in the name you used when registering for the program. All certificate images are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject to change at the discretion of iD Tech and 1500 Sound Academy.

Will 1500 Sound Academy faculty be teaching this course?
This course is taught by live, iD Tech instructors.