This summer, we are excited to offer the brand new Music Producer Intro Camp, July 8-12, for students ages 9-12. Taking advantage of the great tools and resources in the George Mason University Music Technology Lab and Recording Studio, kids will be able to utilize the same gear and software that professional music producers have been using to make popular music for over 40 years!
Directed by Mason Music Technology Professor Dr. Robert Gillam, the camp takes place in Mason’s School of Music on the Mason Fairfax campus in Fairfax, VA (part of the Washington, DC Metro area). Along with being an educator and composer, Dr. Gillam plays several different keyboard instruments including piano, Hammond organ, and his personal favorite, the keytar. He is also a highly skilled synthesizer and drum machine programmer. His primary areas of interest are in music technology, composition, sound design, commercial music and music for media.
During the week, students will have a chance to explore different software programs and different types of hardware for making and recording music. The Lab has computers with professional music production software, vintage drum machines, synthesizers, microphones and a full recording studio.
“It’s an amazing space where students can explore and be really creative,” explained Dr. Gillam. “They can expect to develop better musicianship skills, explore a wide range of musical creativity tools, and better appreciate what it takes to make the music that they love to listen to.”
Although not fully confirmed as of the writing of this post, we are working on setting up a special video conference session with platinum-selling music producer working in Los Angeles! (More details to follow…)
“I know the kids are going to have a blast working with the professional production equipment and hearing their song ideas come to life!” exclaimed Dr. Gillam. “When it comes to music production, it’s often ‘the weirder, the better!’ After leaving this class, students will have the skills they need to work on creating their own music tracks and gain a much better appreciation for everything that goes in to making a piece of recorded music.”
The camp offers a great mix of music fundamentals, creativity skills, hands-on technology use, and audio science. Students will be highly encouraged to be creative and try new things, and they will be introduced to great tools available for the beginning music producer. Who knows, maybe they will produce a chart-topping hit in the future!
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