Explore the art of record production and how to make recordings that other people will love listening to. This course will teach you how to make emotionally moving recordings on almost any recording equipment, including your phone or laptop. The emphasis is on mastering tangible artistic concepts; the gear you use is up to you. You will learn to develop the most important tool in the recording studio: your ears. You will learn to enhance every aspect of your own productions, both sonically and musically, by employing deeper listening skills.
Assignments will include posting your own recordings for peer review, and reviewing your classmates’ work by employing specific tools and strategies. If you use a digital audio workstation to record and mix, that’s great, but as long as you can record into your computer and post an MP3, you can complete the assignments.
As you learn about the art of record production in this 4-week course, you will also learn about yourself and who you are as an artist and producer. It is not necessary that you read music or play an instrument to take this course.
This course is part of the Music Production Specialization
The Art of Music Production
Offered By
About this Course
4.8
753 ratings
What you will learn
Discuss why one musical recording is more compelling than another and identify the unique elements of the recording that contribute to it
Begin to assess and establish your identity, vision, and intention as an artist and producer
Write and develop a compelling piece of music by utilizing various tools
Establish the sonic signature of your production by utilizing specific production techniques
Skills you will gain
Audio ProductionMusicMusic productionSongwritingMusic recording
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week
1Welcome to The Art of Music Production
Welcome to The Art of Music Production! Before you begin the course, we will cover all the details about the course and what you'll need to know to get the most out of your experience.
1 video (Total 1 min), 4 readings, 1 quiz
1 video
Welcome1m
4 readings
A Note From Stephen10m
Connect with Your Classmates10m
Course Resources10m
Earn A Course Certificate10m
1 practice exercise
What Are Your Goals?8m
Listening Like A Producer
By the end of this lesson, you’ll understand the concepts of listening to music emotionally and technically. Strategies for maintaining objectivity and using kinesthetic observations to discover musical effectiveness will be internalized. You’ll train yourself to make distinctions on what works and what doesn’t work, rather than just passively listening as a fan.
6 videos (Total 18 min), 1 reading, 3 quizzes
6 videos
Why Do We Listen To Music?3m
Listening Emotionally vs. Listening Technically2m
Kinesthetic Observation - Emotional Cues4m
Elements of A Compelling Musical Recording4m
Letting Go Of Prejudice2m
1 reading
Elements of a Compelling Recording10m
2 practice exercises
Identifying Emotions2m
Listening Like a Producer22m
Week
2Identity, Vision, and Intention
In this lesson, you’ll hone in on your identity as a recording artist: who are you, and what are you meaning to convey through your music? You’ll work on refining your vision and intention for the recordings you’ll make employing these skills, and record and post a “work tape” of a new piece of music.
6 videos (Total 21 min), 2 readings, 4 quizzes
6 videos
Artist Comparison Exercise4m
Artist Identity Workshop3m
Producer Identity Workshop6m
What is your Artistic Intention?2m
Giving and Receiving Feedback3m
2 readings
Artist Identity Examples10m
What is Your Artistic Vision?10m
3 practice exercises
Defining Your Artist Identity2m
Defining Your Producer Identity2m
IVI22m
Week
3Strengthening Musical Productions: Tools & Strategies
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to employ several useful techniques for strengthening your songs and instrumental tracks. You’ll acquire skills in prosody, focus, and an intelligent approach to repetition. You’ll also learn to craft better melodies, write better lyrics, and construct a musical form that best suits the emotional contour you are trying to accomplish with your recording. You’ll understand the principles of getting the most out of feedback on your recordings, in order to gather valuable perspective to better convey your intended response. You’ll incorporate notes from your colleagues to further refine your recording and re-post an updated version.
10 videos (Total 50 min), 1 reading, 3 quizzes
10 videos
Form: The Structure of Your Song7m
5 Tools for Writing Better Lyrics9m
Crafting Better Melodies4m
Repetition3m
Arranging - Rule of Threes5m
Studio Performance2m
Programmed Tracks5m
Singers: Virtuoso vs. Vibe3m
Producing Vocals4m
1 reading
Song Form10m
2 practice exercises
Arranging - The Rule of Threes2m
Tools & Strategies22m
Week
4Defining the Sonic Signature of your Song
By the end of this lesson, you will address the sonic signature as it relates to your intention and vision, as well as your technology resources and acoustic space. You’ll learn about microphone techniques, getting good levels, and mixing with reverb, EQ and compression. You will record your material, having made some deliberate decisions about the sound of your record, and post your recording for peer review according to specific criteria.
10 videos (Total 47 min), 1 reading, 2 quizzes
10 videos
Single-Source Recording5m
Multi-Track Recording5m
Sound Absorbtion vs. Sound Proofing2m
Acoustic Spaces & Mic Placement5m
Microphone Types and Pick Up Patterns8m
Layering7m
Guitar Micing Clinic3m
Application of Technology to Art5m
Where To Go From Herem
1 reading
Microphone Types and Pick Up Patterns10m
1 practice exercise
The Sonic Signature22m
4.8
75%
83%
Top Reviews
By LR•Sep 26th 2016
Exceptional and essential guide for music producers. This course really makes you think of music production from a holistic perspective. I'll never listen to music the same superficial way anymore...
By BD•Aug 22nd 2018
Really enjoyed this and got a lot out of it.\n\nGreat curriculum, great delivery. Meaningful assignments, great community. Highly recommend if you want to reflect on and hone your artistic vision.
Instructor
Stephen Webber
Director of Music Production, Technology and InnovationBerklee
About Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music was founded on the revolutionary principle that the best way to prepare students for careers in music is through the study and practice of contemporary music. For more than half a century, the college has evolved to reflect the state of the art of music and the music business. Berklee serves distance learners worldwide through its award-winning online extension school, Berklee Online.
About the Music Production Specialization
This Specialization will give you the knowledge and tools you need to record and produce professional sounding music. You will begin by developing your identity, vision, and intention as an artist and producer. Next, you will learn the technical aspects of music production, including how sound is translated into audio signals, recording techniques, and effects such as reverb, delay, and compression. You will also learn how to use the industry standard Digital Audio Workstation, Pro Tools, to create professional recordings. Finally, you will apply the knowledge and tools you gained in a culminating 4-week Capstone where you will complete a project beginning at the pre-production stage through the recording, mixing, and mastering stages.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
What is the refund policy?
Is financial aid available?
Will I be working on my own music?
Absolutely. You will be writing new pieces and making new recordings that will incorporate specific elements in order to learn new skills. The assignments in this course require you to submit your own, original work.
What do I need in order to submit recording assignments?
During the course, you will be asked to submit recorded examples of your song ideas. You may also use your smartphone or tablet. You may also use your computer's built-in microphone or an external microphone plugged directly into your computer (via built-in ports or an external audio interface), in addition to basic audio recording software, such as Audacity, that will allow you to record yourself and save the recording in MP3 format.
More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.
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