EDM Production, Techniques, and Applications

Students enrolled in this course master the cultural, technical, and compositional origins of electronic dance music by analyzing and creating music in a wide variety of dance music styles. Students then apply these new techniques into the musical styles about which they are most passionate. Fundamental to electronic dance music creation is a deep exploration of timbre through the use of digital audio workstations, effects, synthesizers, and samplers. This embrace of sonic exploration has enabled dance music to be an experimental space for new sounds that eventually move to pop and musical theater. Each dance music style has a unique cultural origin which is explored, recognized, and carefully considered in the application of these techniques and sounds into other styles. By splitting the class experiences between deep technical lessons using industry standard tools, studying the stories of the people behind the music and the application of those techniques into a wide variety of contemporary styles, students are prepared to innovate in the contemporary music styles of their choice.