MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS

My musical journey (with respect to production) started with trying countless DAW’s until finding Ableton Live and realizing it was the right software for me. I then fumbled around, making music that was good melodically but didn’t sound very good. I had no idea how to do the things I wanted to do, and watching YouTube filled my head with so much stuff that wasn’t applicable to the specific challenges I was facing, I became very frustrated. This was when I decided to learn from someone.

I ended up signing up for a long term program, one interaction each week, lots of assignments, and tailored content addressing where I was struggling. Within months, my music changed dramatically and I went from sharing with a few friends to sharing with everyone and eventually my first official release.

I worked on music for years and then, again, hit a wall. This one was in respect to my mixes, or the way my music sounded sonically…I felt like I couldn’t get my music to sound as ‘pro’ as I wanted it to, kicks were weak, bass not as strong, I knew I needed some help here. I bought books, I watched hours upon hours of YouTube videos on mixing, and then, once again, realized I needed to learn from someone, cause it just wasn’t making the difference I needed. So, I signed up for an 8 week masterclass and received direct instruction on the mix/master process. Within weeks, my music sounded completely different and had ‘leveled up’ sonically.

Private instruction is the cheat code to getting your specific music related questions and challenges solved. Sometimes a few small adjustments to your process is all it takes.

None of this music stuff is really that new. Melodies are melodies, harmonies are harmonies, and rhythms are rhythms. There are a lot of amazing artists who make music and know very little about music theory and structure…they produce by ear and software. But what if you knew what you were doing and why you were doing it? See, chord progressions are synonymous with music regardless of genre, and knowing what a I-IV-V-I progression is can give you an automatic direction for the musical idea you want to convey.

It’s not necessary, but it definitely makes a huge difference when it comes to developing songs.

Go onto YouTube and look up ‘Ableton tutorial’ or something similar…and you will find 1,000’s of people delivering content, with many of them offering classes and private teaching. And the truth is…most people who teach deliver the same content, just differently. Which is to say, certain people who teach resonate with us more than others…style, delivery, language, attitude…all of these things help us learn better from some people vs. others. I know I have a style that works well with most people, but not everyone. Please check out my videos, come watch me stream, send me a note and we can chat..it’s the best way to determine if we’re a fit.

Just like I advise people when it comes to selecting their primary DAW, choose what works for you.

My passion for music and energy for teaching is very hard to quench. My musical background is deep, I have a lifetime of musical learning, starting with the cello in elementary school, moving to the viola and voice. I received a full vocal scholarship to college, and eventually attended Berklee School of Music in their Composition Program (I had to score two full orchestral pieces for the application!). I discovered dance music when someone handed me a tape (yes, I've been around for a few) and I never looked back.

I can write anything from dance floor bangers to full orchestral scores…and love to combine the two. Outside of music, I have a background in corporate training, instructional design and leadership and have delivered programs at several large organizations.

And I love this stuff.

Here at Electro Cell Studios, we take a functional approach to education. 

Ok Dave, what are you talking about?

Technical teaching primarily focuses on the technical aspects….think about a deep dive into a synthesizer for example, going over every knob and what it does, all in the context of learning how that synth works.

Functional teaching is a methodology where we learn through experience and production…let’s learn the synth, but in the context of a song we’re writing, and since we want it to make a sound, let’s learn about the synth while trying to coax this sound out of it. You learn and create simultaneously and apply the knowledge immediately.

We can (and will) get as technical as you want and dig into these deeper aspects (such as what each knob does on a device), but the idea is to learn as we write, and learn as it relates to what we want to write, not in a vacuum. 

Making music is not only a highly technical process, but it’s also an emotional one. We are bearing ourselves through our art and sharing what we made with the world for all the listen to, like, dislike, share, overlook, criticize…this can be limiting at best and paralyzing at worst. 

Overcoming writer’s block, getting beyond the frustration of your art not being ‘perfect’, creating in the moment without fear…these hills can be steep. I navigate them regularly and help others work through their blocks, so if you are struggling to find your voice or trust yourself to share it, we can talk some strategies to mitigate this interference. 

The world needs more art…don’t hold yours back.