Berklee's minor in music technology arms students with the tools they need to effectively leverage technology to create and distribute their music. The immersive, integrated courses are designed to be completed in one semester at Berklee’s state-of-the-art Valencia campus, where students can take full advantage of its powerful combination of facilities, staff, and faculty.
The coursework is designed to be completed in one semester and is delivered at Berklee College of Music's campus in Valencia. The minor consists of all required courses and one elective course, for a total of 10 credits.
Entrance Requirements
Students must be accepted into the Berklee Study Abroad program and spend a semester at Berklee's Valencia, Spain, campus. Upon acceptance into this program, Berklee students who wish to declare the music technology minor should submit the Declaration/Change of Major/Minor form to Katie Irwin.
What Will I Learn?
Upon completion of a minor in music technology, students will:
- understand and utilize concepts of critical listening and production analysis;
- synthesize new technology to create, compose, produce, and perform music;
- produce, record, and mix songs effectively and efficiently using a professional DAW;
- employ the concepts of signal flow, gain stages, microphone techniques, room acoustics, compression, EQ, and digital effects in the recording and performing of music;
- set up, troubleshoot, and effectively operate small to medium-sized PA systems, stage lights, and video systems; and
- make purchasing decisions pertaining to music technology systems, including DAWs, microphones, monitors, outboard gear, PA systems, interfaces, and other music technology.
Curriculum
Class Color Code
- Orange: Berklee College of Music class offered in Valencia, Boston, and/or online
- Blue: Berklee College of Music class offered exclusively in Valencia
- Green: Berklee College of Music class offered online in Valencia
Required Courses
MP-114 Critical Listening Lab Online
1 credit, Berklee College of Music class offered online in Valencia
This online course focuses on developing critical listening skills with particular emphasis on analyzing recording and mix techniques in the context of the popular music mix. Topics include: acoustics of the critical listening environment; mix elements such as balances, panning, EQ, reverb, compression, delay and time-based effects; instrument identification; stylistic comparisons of recording and mix techniques. Listening analysis examples and concepts are reinforced through weekly critical listening assignments. A set of weekly audio ear training drills are also part of the class.
MP-115 Production Analysis Lab Online
1 credit, Berklee College of Music class offered online in Valencia
This course represents a step-by-step approach to the essential elements of effective records. Using evaluation of demos, masters and commercial recordings, it takes students through an in-depth analysis and appraisal of the emotional effectiveness of recordings, with consideration for: artist identity, vision and intention; melody, lyrics, and song form; arrangement, performance, and mixing. Several student analysis projects are required.
MTI-303 Recording and Mixing Skills for Music Production
4 credits. Berklee College of Music class offered exclusively in Valencia
This project-based course is broken into two weekly sessions, the first focused on production and engineering concepts and the second focused on mixing skills. Throughout the semester, students complete two production projects: a step-by-step, singer-songwriter multitrack recording, and an exact sound-alike of an existing pivotal or hit record. Students experience the complete production process from preproduction though delivery, acquiring technical skills including multitrack recording techniques, microphone technique for vocals, guitars, drum-set and other instruments, and an understanding of signal flow, editing, mixing and delivery in the modern DAW environment. Students also gain experience with effective techniques of music production, including identifying goals, serving the emotional content of the song, effective arranging for records, and interpersonal issues surrounding the recording process.
Study abroad students outside of Berklee enrolling in this course must have requisite musical background.
MTI-304 Live Sound and Stage Craft
2 credits, Berklee College of Music class offered exclusively in Valencia
Live Sound and Stage Craft teaches students the ins and outs of setting up and operating sound reinforcement systems. Students develop knowledge of signal flow, mixing board operation, microphone choice and placement as well as strategies to avoid feedback. Weekly hands-on guided set up and operation of sound reinforcement systems help illustrate concepts and allow students to learn through the power of experience. This includes mixing from the stage while performing, mixing for other musicians for and from the FOH (front of house) position, as well as monitors. In addition, students acquire effective set up and stage management skills as well as the common communication protocol with other musicians and technicians in live sound reinforcement situations. Finally, implementation of adapted practices and systems for problematic spaces or venues is also explored. Students will also gain experience with basic lighting and video stagecraft systems.
Elective Courses
MTI-307 Electronic Dance Music Creation With Ableton Live
2 credits, Berklee College of Music class offered exclusively in Valencia
This course explores topics in electronic production and live performance techniques related to modern electronic dance music production, sound design, arrangement, and performance. Students will generate content and create their own music while learning how to use Ableton Live Suite. Students will learn to analyze electronic music, and explore techniques for remixing, performing, and creating electronic music.
MTI-308 Virtual Production Techniques
2 credits, Berklee College of Music class offered exclusively in Valencia
This is an 'in-the-box' project-based virtual production course. Students learn to produce short sound-alikes of fragments of contemporary hit records employing sequencing and virtual instruments. They also learn to produce a full acoustic band cover using virtual instruments and one live instrument and/or vocalist. Additionally they learn to produce short musical creations by chopping and editing audio, incorporating tempo mapping, elastic audio, Melodyne, looping, beat detective, and other manipulation tools. Students also learn the skills needed to edit and arrange music to picture.
Study abroad students outside of Berklee enrolling in this course must have requisite musical background.
MTI-309 Music Video Production and Dissemination
2 credits, Berklee College of Music class offered in Valencia, Boston, and/or online
This course provides an introduction to the art and technology of creating music videos. Students learn the challenges and possibilities of representing music visually through the art of filmmaking. They explore the fundamental tools and techniques of music video production by reviewing and analyzing groundbreaking music videos. They also apply those techniques in the hands-on production of personal music videos.
MTI-310 Live Electronic Performance and DJ Skills
2 credits, Berklee College of Music class offered exclusively in Valencia
An introduction to live electronic music performance and DJ skills, beginning with the use of the turntable as a musical instrument. Students will explore the culture and aesthetics of Hip-hop, turntablism, club DJs, radio, and mash-up DJs, and will master the following techniques: cueing, mixing, beat matching, beat extending, mash-ups, blending, and scratching (basic, scribble, laser, uzi, stab, cut, transformer, crab, chirp and flare). Students will create their own live mixes and present them as midterm and final performances.
Everything about my experience was memorable: getting to immerse into an entirely different culture; the freedom and possibility of exploring other countries on weekends; the smaller community of Berklee students; the facilities; the weather; and so on and so forth. I can't pick any particular event, time, place, or even a small collection thereof to list as the most memorable piece of my experience, as the entire semester was beyond memorable in its own right.Zach Rosten, Study Abroad Fall 2015
