About the Class
In this hands-on production course, students will learn how to make their own instrumentals using GarageBand on a MacBook, iPad, or iPhone. No fancy gear required, just curiosity and the drive to make something great. We’ll cover 4–5 different musical styles across the semester, breaking down what makes each one unique from a production standpoint: the groove, the sounds, the structure, the arrangement of instruments, the energy.
Each week, students will create a short instrumental (15 to 45 seconds) in the style we’re focusing on. We’ll reverse-engineer real songs to understand how producers layer sounds, choose instruments, and build a song like a house from one component to 20. Students will learn how to use loop libraries, sound packs, and samples to bring their ideas to life quickly and intuitively. Most people don’t realize that the first thing we respond to in a song isn’t the words—it’s the groove, the production, the way the parts fit together. This class helps students unlock that layer and realize how easy (and fun) it is to create something people feel.
Your Instructor
Nick
