THE PROGRAM
Starting on 21st October for 4 weeks, the lucky 7 finalists will take part in a program of Hangouts with big producers, DJs and key people from the music industry while taking Point Blank's Electronic Music Composition course online. Through a series of Hangouts, you too can share in learning music production/composition techniques alongside the 7 winners and get to hear what the big artists have to say. To get you started, Point Blank has provided an exclusive series of video tutorials.
CHECK THE AGENDA
LIVE SESSION AGENDA
ARMIN VAN BUUREN
FIRST ACADEMY HANGOUT!
We’re very excited to announce the first artist to be involved in the Google Hangout of the Academy of Electronic Music. The finalists will take part in a once-in-a-lifetime hangout with no one less than Armin van Buuren! During the hang-out, the lucky 7 have the opportunity to ask Armin their burning question. And the best part is – everyone can watch!
(EMC)
ELECTRONIC MUSIC COMPOSITION TOPICS COVERED: CHORD PROGRESSIONS
This session will expand on your chord knowledge by focusing on chord progressions. Ski will show how to define chords as roman numerals and how to combine major and minor chords - and how to use a 'chord device'. Ski will deconstruct 'Spectrum (Calvin Harris RMX)' by Florence & The Machine to demonstrate the chord progression and then provide the acapella to the winners to try it out themselves.
(EMC)
ELECTRONIC MUSIC COMPOSITION TOPICS COVERED: KEY SIGNATURES & SCALES
We start with an introduction and explanation of what to expect during the next few weeks. In this lesson expert tutor Ski Oakenfull from Point Blank will teach the seven winners about key signatures and major and minor scales. The group will listen to some example tracks to determine their key and gain access to a key signature test project. Although quite rudimentary, this lesson is designed to provide a solid foundation for future masterclasses.
Week 2 – 28/10/13
EMC topics covered: Chord Progressions & Basslines
This week’s focus will be on big bass and moving chord progressions. You’ll be able to make finished tracks out of all your unfinished 32 bar loops! Learn to add basslines, chords, hooks and melodies whilst keeping everything in key. The students’ tracks will be evaluated by Point Blank and you can refer back to the results later.
(EMC)
ELECTRONIC MUSIC COMPOSITION TOPICS COVERED: BASIC CHORDS & ARPEGGIOS
Following on from the previous lesson, we will look at constructing basic chords and arpeggios from the scales we studied. Ski will examine the chords of Deadmau5’s 'The Veldt' by deconstructing it, and then applying key signature knowledge to try out some new chords and arpeggios. The winners will download the acapella to try it out for themselves.
Week 3 – 4/11/13
EMC topics covered: Rhythm, Beats & Vocals
In the third week you’ll learn about beats. Pretty important! This week will be about rhythm when applied to beats and riffs. We’ll use examples of syncopation to add more interest to the rhythm and also use vocals by working with acapellas. Ski will deconstruct a track to demonstrate how to work with vocals.
YOUTUBE & GOOGLE+
HOW TO BUILD A FANBASE
"Building a fanbase on YouTube and Google+, how do you do that? A representative of YouTube will tell you everything you need to know on how to build an audience and make sure they keep coming back to your music."
Week 4 – 11/11/13
EMC topics covered: Track Building & Arranging
In the final week we’ll pull together all the elements: we’ll look at track building, structure and arrangement. Here you’ll learn to finish what you started, so you have a completed tune for people to hear. In the final hangout Ski gives more live appraisals of selected students' tracks using Point Blank's DVR format.
