Modules – Teens

Focus In.

Modular Learning

Perhaps the full program isn’t right for you. Maybe there’s a more focused category of learning that you want to pursue. Then MODULES are for you.

Classes are generally 1 hr long, 1 class per week, for 8 – 20 weeks (depending on the module), taught in groups of 1 to 4.

There are 2 age groups: 13 – 15 and 16 – 18.

Weekly web based assignments help take advantage of online learning while keeping the costs down.

Lab time in “The Library” is included in the fee. In addition, students who complete any module will qualify for perpetual discounted studio rates!

Check below for our current offerings, and check back often as we add more. If you have an idea for a module please reach out!

Getting Started in Logic Pro Fast

8 weeks, 1 hr sessions / week

Details

Logic Pro X is a dense program with tons of hidden features. If you don’t set it up properly from the start, it can be a frustrating experience, but once you wrap your head around Logic’s “Logic”, the clouds part and your life of making music on a computer can really blossom. Darryl has been using Logic since the ’80’s when the company C-Lab launched “Notator” for the Atari 520ST computer.
Weekly Lessons
Requirements

Though it is possible to take this program without an Apple computer by booking into our lab room for assignments, it is highly recommended that you have an Apple computer running Mac OS Sonoma 14.4 or later with Logic Pro installed. Apple offers a free 90 day trial. Click here for a list of compatible Apple computers.
Pricing

The Art of Mixing - Logic Pro

10 weeks, 1 hr sessions / week

Details

This is an introductory course on the Art of Mixing. Upon completion, the student should have a strong grasp on how to build a compelling, professional mix. Learn with a mentor using the latest productivity and AI based tools that get the sound you are after quicker and with more accuracy. (Note that even though this course uses Logic Pro as the DAW, many of the principles apply to any DAW).
Weekly Lessons

Week 1 – Intro to Mixing

Week 2 – Monitoring

Week 3 – Acoustics

Week 4 – How to Start

Week 5 – What to Listen For

Week 6 – Intro to Equalization

Week 7 – Intro to Compression

Week 8 – Intro to Signal Processing

Week 9 – Building the Mix

Week 10 – Finishing the Mix
Requirements

Though it is possible to take this program without an Apple computer by booking into our lab room for assignments, it is highly recommended that you have an Apple computer running Mac OS Sonoma 14.4 or later with Logic Pro installed. Apple offers a free 90 day trial. Click here for a list of compatible Apple computers.
Pricing

Song Composition in Logic Pro

6 weeks, 1 hr sessions / week

Details

This is an introductory course on how to write a song using the latest tools and techniques in Logic Pro. Learn the importance of self expression. The course attempts to balance the art of songwriting, borrowing themes from Rick Rubin’s book “The Creative Act”, and the technical aspect of manifesting the artistic vision in Logic Pro. Use the latest writing development tools and AI for chord progressions, melody and rhythm generation and arrangement building as well as lyric assistant tools that help connect the inspiration in your soul to the outside world.
Weekly Lessons
Requirements

Though it is possible to take this program without an Apple computer by booking into our lab room for assignments, it is highly recommended that you have an Apple computer running Mac OS Sonoma 14.4 or later with Logic Pro installed. Apple offers a free 90 day trial. Click here for a list of compatible Apple computers.
Pricing

Song Surge - Write, Record, Mix, Master and Upload a song in 20 hrs

10 weeks, 2 hr sessions / week

Details

Join Darryl on the complete journey of a song, from the inception of a song idea to composing the song, recording all the instrumentation, mixing it, mastering it and uploading it to the streaming services. We will share equally in songwriting and recording royalty ownership. We will try to match up musically like minded people for this class.
Weekly Lessons

Week 1 – Intro / idea brainstorming / song inception

Week 2 – Writing

Week 3 – Writing / Arranging

Week 4 – Recording “beds”

Week 5 – Recording overdubs

Week 6 – Recording overdubs / Vocals

Week 7 – Recording Vocals

Week 8 – Mixing

Week 9 – Mixing

Week 10 – Mastering / uploading
Requirements
Pricing

Recording Sessions with Multiple Musicians

8 weeks, 1 hr and 2 hr sessions / week 12 hrs total

Details

We are seeing a renewed interest in live bands today. There is a new excitement around the idea of a actual band performing music live. The entire recording doesn’t necessarily all have to occur live, but the end result should have the energy and excitement as if it was. For an engineer and producer, capturing that experience effectively in the studio involves years of practice to perfect. You need a well honed balance of left brain and right brain thinking. Ultimately, you can have the best equipment mic’d perfectly, but you aren’t going to get a compelling recording if the musicians aren’t feeling inspired enough to pour their hearts out. Join Darryl on an 8 week journey where we will capture bed tracks from a band, and record overdubs to complete a fully finished, INSPIRED recording. (Note, we will not mix this project in this class). If you know a band or are in a band, and want to learn how to engineer and produce a finished track and walk away with a high quality produced recording of the band for your needs, this might be a great module for you!
Weekly Lessons

Week 1 – Intro / Creating the environment for capturing magic

Week 2 – Set-up / Connections

Week 3 – The often overlooked art of the headphone mix

Week 4 – (2 hrs) Recording Session 1

Week 5 – (2 hrs) Recording session 2

Week 6 – (2 hrs) Overdub Session 1

Week 7 – (2 hrs) Overdub Session 2

Week 8 – Conclusion
Requirements
Pricing

Microphones and Recording Techniques

8 weeks, 1 hr sessions / week

Details

This is an introductory course on microphones and the techniques used to capture sounds in a compelling way for the listener. We will explore the history of microphone types and their usage, explore well used techniques as well as unique approaches that Darryl has developed over the years.

Weekly Lessons

Week 1 – Intro to Microphones

Week 2 – Common Manufacturers and Models

Week 3 – Recording Drums

Week 4 – Recording Electric and Upright Bass

Week 5 – Recording Guitars

Week 6 – Recording Vocals

Week 7 – Mono, Stereo and Immersive Recording

Week 8 – Recording Stringed Instruments

Week 9 – Recording Pianos and Organs

Week 10 – Recording Brass and Woodwinds

Week 11 – The Joy of Re-Amping

Week 12 – Review

Requirements
Pricing

MIDI and Electronic Music

8 weeks, 1 hr sessions / week

Details

Did you know that electronic music is older than the blues? Over the last century electronic music has evolved from very eccentric nerdy academic laboratories to a important aspect of virtually every genre of music. Join Darryl on a journey of the history of electronic music and MIDI, where it is now and where it is going with the latest song creation and audio manipulation tools.
Weekly Lessons

Week 1 – Intro / history of electronic music

Week 2 – Tech that led to MIDI – CV, gates, analog sequencers, and their current renaissance

Week 3 – MIDI in a DAW

Week 4 – MIDI keyboards and virtual instruments

Week 5 – Electronic music production 1 – synths

Week 6 – Electronic music production 2 -samplers

Week 7 – Electronic music production 3 – drum machines / looping

Week 8 – Conclusion
Requirements

Though many aspects of this course apply to any DAW, and it is possible to take this program without an Apple computer by booking into our lab room for assignments, it is highly recommended that you have an Apple computer running Mac OS Sonoma 14.4 or later with Logic Pro installed. Apple offers a free 90 day trial. Click here for a list of compatible Apple computers.
Pricing

Using the latest AI and productivity tools

8 weeks, 1 hr sessions / week

Details

It seems like every day a new AI based music productivity tool comes out. Tools that help with songwriting. creating chord progressions, melodies and rhythms, adding a virtual musician to accompany your music, Ai agent lyric writing collaboration, or tools that streamline and give more accuracy to the mixing and mastering process. It’s kinda insane, and like any technological revolution, it is not without controversy. Explore with Darryl the options that are constantly presenting themselves that allow anyone with the right imagination and grasp of technology to create music.
Weekly Lessons

Week 1 – Intro / History of the controversy of using technological tools in music creation and how AI is unprecedented.

Week 2 – AI chord and melody generation

Week 3 – AI arranging tools

Week 4 – AI instrumentation – jamming with the machine

Week 5 – AI sample and loop curation and selecting

Week 6 – AI tools for mixing

Week 7 – AI tools for mastering

Week 8 – Conclusion
Requirements

Though many aspects of this course apply to any DAW, and it is possible to take this program without an Apple computer by booking into our lab room for assignments, it is highly recommended that you have an Apple computer running Mac OS Sonoma 14.4 or later with Logic Pro installed. Apple offers a free 90 day trial. Click here for a list of compatible Apple computers.
Pricing

Intro to Dolby ATMOS and Immersive Recording and Mixing

6 weeks, 1 hr sessions / week

Details

“Immersive Audio” is the latest generation in the movement beyond stereo as a consumer listening experience. Where “Surround” gave us sounds surrounding us on the same plane, “Immersive” adds height to the equation, giving a more 3-dimensional experience.Though there are a small handful of different formats, Dolby ATMOS is currently the most adopted format, finding itself in headphones, cars, soundbars, VR goggles, laptops, music and video streaming services. It can be experienced on over 2 billion devices worldwide. It isn’t coming, it has already arrived. Join Darryl in his calibrated Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 mixing environment for a mind blowing sonic journey!
Weekly Lessons

Week 1 – Intro / history of listening formats and the rise of Immersive Audio / listening party

Week 2 – What is Dolby Atmos? The .adm file. More listening.

Week 3 – Mixing Atmos in your DAW with headphones

Week 4 – Mixing Atmos in your DAW in a 7.1.4 listening environment – Part 1

Week 5 – Mixing Atmos in your DAW in a 7.1.4 listening environment – Part 2

Week 6 – Conclusion – mastering the .adm file.
Requirements
Pricing