the Tea Gallery, a social experience in good taste at Danville, Pennsylvania
the Tea Gallery, a social experience in good taste at Danville, Pennsylvania
Fine Art, Fine Music, and Great Conversation, with tea and coffee

Music

Creating music on a computer can be very rewarding. Video games, movies, animations, and commercials all use computer (digital) music. There are two basic types of music created on a computer; MIDI and wave or loop based. MIDI is used most often for keyboards and is a less data intense method of storing a composition however, you need some sort of keyboard or computer software synthesizer to hear anything. Wave and loop based music is more like the analog world we live in. It stores the data as it was recorded; for example, the music on a CD or mp3 file.

Wave and loop based digital music has been around since the late 1990s. During the past few years the programs that are used to manipulate and create this type of music have become available in free versions. Sony ACID is one of these programs that uses loops you choose to create songs.

You will need a computer for this class. A laptop would best however, we may be able to accommodate a desktop if that is all you have available. Unfortunately we can not provide a computer for you to use at this time. For the MIDI class a keyboard will be required. We will have one available but it will have to be shared.

Classes will be once or twice a week depending upon the type of class (beginner, intermediate, advanced). These classes will be scheduled based upon student requests. The outlines below may change as necessary to ensure a great learning experience.

Classes will be $25/hour unless otherwise noted.

Computer Music Introduction

This class will provide you with a good overview of the types of digital music and their applications. This is an introductory class of approximately 30 minutes and will be provided at no cost.

          • What programs to use; free or commercial, and why
          • Loops, waves, mp3, and MIDI; what's the difference?
          • Recording, manipulating, converting and processing tools and programs
          • Why is everything so complicated?
          • What type of music or recording can I add to my web pages or send in email?
          • An overview of Copyright Laws and Fair Use

Wave and Loop based Music

Class length may vary based upon the level of training desired.


Beginner (2 one hour classes)

          • What programs to use
          • How to create a song using loops
          • How to acquire, create, and manipulate loops
          • How to apply effects to loops and songs (reverb, chorus, compression)
          • How to change the key, tempo, volume, fade in and out
          • How to render the song and save it as a wave file and a mp3

Intermediate (2 one hour classes) this may change

          • What digital wave editing programs to use
          • How to synchronize the music with a photo slide show
          • How to use effects, panning, 5:1 versus 2:1 wave files
          • How to create a recording studio
          • How to use VST and Directx software instruments
          • Creating a music CD, Scoring a movie, Other resources

Advanced (4 one hour classes) this may change

          • To be determined

MIDI Music

MIDI sequencers and software based instruments provide a near limitless way to create music. Learning to play a keyboard requires time and patience but the results will be a life long skill that you can use. You do not have to know how to play a keyboard to take the beginner class. We will use free midi files to create a song.

 

Beginner (2 one hour classes)

          • What programs to use
          • How to create a song using MIDI files
          • How to acquire, create, and manipulate MIDI files (quantize, transpose)
          • How to apply effects to a MIDI file
          • How to change the key, tempo, volume, fade in and out
          • How to render the song and save it as a wave file and a mp3

Intermediate (2 one hour classes) this may change

          • What digital wave editing programs to use
          • How to synchronize midi files
          • How to use effects, panning, 5:1 versus 2:1 wave files
          • How to create a recording studio
          • How to use VST and Directx software instruments
          • Creating a music CD, Scoring a movie, Other resources

Advanced (4 one hour classes) this may change

          • To be determined

Back to top