Music Producer Intro Camp
Ages 12-17
Overview
Have you ever wondered how your favorite songs are put together? Have you ever wanted to learn how to use computers and technology to make your own music? This camp will introduce you to the artistic and technical skills needed to produce professional-sounding music tracks. Working in a state-of-the-art facility, we will learn about Digital Audio Workstations, drum and synthesizer programming, vocal production, and arranging for different musical styles. At the end of camp, we will present a listening party showcasing the tracks you have produced!
Course Objectives
- Digital Audio and DAW Operation using Ableton Live
- Drum Machine Programming
- Synthesizer Programming
- Using effects and mixing tracks
- Identifying and writing in different musical styles
- Song structure and form–strategies for composition
- Elements of live performance using Ableton Live and Music Technology
Tentative Schedule
Day 1: DAW Operation / drum machine programming / building song structure using drum patterns
Day 2: Scales, basslines, bass synthesizers, and MIDI recording/quantizing
Day 3: Chords, chord progression basics, chordal instruments, final project decisions
Day 4: Effects processors, recording audio, and final project work
Day 5: Mixing tracks, using EQ, titling tracks, and preparing for final project presentations.
Ages: 12-17
Dates: July 31 – August 4, 2023
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Tuition: $467
Location: Mason Fairfax Campus, deLaski Performing Arts Building
Covid Safety Information
- Mason Community Arts Academy follows all safety protocols required by George Mason University. Visit our COVID Safety Guidelines for more information.
- Mask & PPE Requirements—Masks are optional, but strongly recommended, for students and faculty in all programming. *See University Policy on Face Coverings for full details.
- George Mason Offers Covid Vaccine Appointments
Program Faculty
John Jansen
Dewberry School of Music Faculty, Music Technology
John C.L. Jansen is an active composer, multi-instrumentalist, luthier, author, recording engineer, and teacher of music technology and music theory, based in Takoma Park, Maryland.
John’s compositions are influenced by a reverence of nature, a love of patterns, and the energy of minimalism. He currently divides his time between writing chamber works for ensembles of existing instruments and writing for original instruments and tuning systems he designs himself. His music has been performed across the United States by the Partch Quartet, the Grand Valley State University New Music Ensemble, Duo Atmos, chamber band Drive (J:), Decho Ensemble, the violinist Todd Reynolds, and saxophonist Jacob Swanson.
A strong advocate for new music, John has appeared at Strange Beautiful Music VI and VII in Detroit, Michigan with the GVSU New Music Ensemble, as well as accompanied the same group on four tours of the national parks—reaching twenty parks spanning the West Coast to the East Coast. In 2016 John co-founded Drive (J:), a chamber band from Fredonia, New York. With Drive (J:), John has appeared at the New Music Gathering in Boston, MA, and released two studio albums: places/spaces, and Phenomenology. As a solo performer, he has appeared at the New York City Electro Acoustic Music Festival and the Hot Air New Music Festival in San Francisco, California. John has also collaborated with Bang On A Can to restore Glenn Branca’s Movement Within, a piece for an ensemble of original instruments designed for a seven-octave overtone tuning. He worked directly with the original instruments, and the final product was performed live on WNYC’s New Sounds program.
As an instrument builder, John invented a 3rd bridge instrument called the duochord, a 9-foot-long amplified zither which allows the user to isolate string partials, and to generate clouds of reverberant harmonics. He is also one of the only builders of daxophones, and pick-behind-the-bridge guitars, little-known inventions by Hans Reichel.
In 2020, John founded JLJ Instruments, a company that produces experimental musical instruments. The company has shipped globally, with orders ranging from daxophones to microtonal guitars.
Adjunct Professor of Music
- Music and Computer Technology
Education
- BA Music Composition, Grand Valley State University
- MM Music Composition, SUNY Fredonia
Notes
- Please note that group classes are subject to cancellation if minimum enrollment is not reached.
- Be sure to check our policies and procedures regarding registration, withdrawals, refunds, and more for summer group classes.
- All students will receive a Welcome Letter via email at least 1 week before the class starts with all necessary details.
- Online registration closes 2 business days before the first class, however space may still be available. Please contact academy@gmu.edu for more information. A $10 late registration fee may apply.
- For additional information, please contact the Academy at academy@gmu.edu.
