About this course: After successfully completing the three prior courses of the Music Production Specialization, this capstone experience is your chance to use your talent and accumulated knowledge to create and submit a finished, fully produced song. As you go through milestones, you will work on your own or with other musicians to develop a song and vision for the finished product. You will then plan and execute its production, including recording, editing, mixing, and posting the finished product. All along the way, you will receive feedback from the peer review process, allowing you to tweak and refine your finished song.
Created by: Berklee
Taught by: Stephen Webber, Director of Music Production, Technology and Innovation
Berklee
Taught by: Chrissy Tignor-Fisher, Assistant Professor
Contemporary Writing and Production
Taught by: Loudon Stearns, Assistant Professor
Contemporary Writing & Production
| Basic Info | Course 4 of 4 in the Music Production Specialization |
| Level | Intermediate |
| Commitment | 4 weeks of study, 5-8 hours a week |
| Language | English |
| Hardware Req | A computer with a Digital Audio Workstation |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Welcome to the Music Production Capstone
Welcome to the Music Production Capstone! 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, 8 readings, 1 practice quiz
- Video: Welcome
- Reading: A Note From Stephen, Loudon, & Chrissy
- Reading: Meet Your Teaching Assistant
- Practice Quiz: What Are Your Goals?
- Reading: Connect with Your Classmates
- Reading: Documentation and Process-folios
- Reading: Peer Review Assignments
- Reading: Course Certificates
- Reading: Troubleshooting
- Reading: Learner Support
Pre-Production
This week, we will focus on everything that needs to be done before you head into a recording session. We'll cover how to use reference tracks and analysis to develop an emotional timeline for your song, as well as how to schedule and work with other musicians.
2 videos, 1 reading
- Video: Pre-Production
- Reading: Pre-Production Check List
- Video: Project Phase 1: Pre-Production
- Peer Review: Pre-Production
WEEK 2
Production
This week, we will dive into the recording session. We will discuss what your role is as a producer and what you need to focus on throughout the session. We'll also share some ideas on how to create a comfortable environment and how to make sure your session is successful.
3 videos, 1 reading, 1 practice quiz
- Video: Reflecting On Your Mock-Up
- Practice Quiz: Reflection
- Video: The Session
- Reading: Production Check List
- Video: Project Phase 2: Production
Graded: Production
WEEK 3
Editing
This week, we'll focus on editing the tracks from your session last week. Chrissy, Loudon, and Stephen will share how they approach the editing process and offer a few tips and tricks to keep in mind while you edit your project.
3 videos, 1 reading, 1 practice quiz
- Video: Reflecting On Your Session
- Practice Quiz: Reflection
- Video: Editing
- Reading: Editing Check List
- Video: Project Phase 3: Editing
- Peer Review: Editing
WEEK 4
Mixing & Mastering
In this final week, we will dive into mixing and mastering your projects. Depending on the genre of your song, the way you approach the mixing and mastering stage may be very different. We will discuss various ways to approach the mixing stage, how to tell when your mix is complete, and finally, strategies to mastering your project.
6 videos, 2 readings, 1 practice quiz
- Video: Reflecting On Your Record
- Practice Quiz: Reflection
- Video: Philosophies of Mixing
- Video: Mixing Techniques
- Reading: Mixing Check List
- Video: Mastering Techniques
- Reading: Mastering Check List
- Video: Project Phase 4: Mixing and Mastering
- Video: Congratulations!
Graded: Mixing and Mastering
FAQs
How It Works
Coursework
Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.
Help from Your Peers
Connect with thousands of other learners and debate ideas, discuss course material, and get help mastering concepts.
Certificates
Earn official recognition for your work, and share your success with friends, colleagues, and employers.
Creators
Berklee
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.
Pricing
| Purchase Course | Audit | |
|---|---|---|
| Access to course materials | Available | Available |
| Access to graded materials | Available | Not available |
| Receive a final grade | Available | Not available |
| Earn a shareable Course Certificate | Available | Not available |
Ratings and Reviews
Great course! Love it!
A good place to start!
Thank you! This course is useful to add my skill!
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In this course, the class ideas, and the help of classmates make the difference. The result at the end is surprising and I ended up getting over it many times. I would make a new module for sure.