COURSE OVERVIEW
Learn the art of hip hop beatmaking within The Sound Lab: Ableton Live | Hip Hop • R&B! This 10-week hands-on program teaches beginner and intermediate producers how to create, develop and arrange professional productions within today’s music industry.
Led by accomplished producer Fil Vidak, you’ll learn how to build tracks from the ground up, develop complete productions, arrange songs, pursue placements and establish yourself as a competitive producer.
By the end of the course, you’ll have the skills, tools and strategies to create impactful music and take the next step as a modern music producer.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
Personalized Production Workflow – Develop an efficient creative process for arranging, producing, troubleshooting and finishing tracks.
Ableton Mastery – Navigate Ableton with confidence while learning essential tools, routing, shortcuts and production workflows.
Songwriting & Arrangement – Build melodies, rhythms and song sections while learning how to develop ideas into complete productions.
Beat Placements & Artist Collaboration – Learn how to present and sell your beats, pursue placements and effectively work with artists.
Professional Production Techniques – Use sound selection, effects, processing and industry techniques to create polished, competitive productions.
IN-DEMAND PRODUCER
With more than a decade of experience in Hip Hop, Trap and R&B, Fil Vidak brings years of professional music production and industry experience directly into the classroom. As a producer, composer, programmer and songwriter, Fil teaches students how to take an idea and develop it into a complete, polished production. Throughout 10 hands-on lessons, students will learn Fil’s approach to beatmaking, composition, arrangement, sound selection, programming and workflow while building the skills to confidently create professional-quality music in Ableton.
1-ON-1 INSTRUCTION
Our advanced music production courses are taught exclusively 1-on-1, allowing every lesson to be shaped around the student’s experience, musical style and creative goals. Students work directly with their instructor through hands-on production, personalized demonstrations and real-time feedback while developing their own sound and workflow. With flexible scheduling and individualized instruction, students can spend more time on the areas they want to strengthen while progressing through the complete course curriculum at a pace that works for them.
10 LESSON CURRICULUM
LESSON 1: INTRO TO ABLETON LIVE
Learn the In’s & Out’s of Ableton’s Digital Audio Workstation and how to use it effectively
Understand how to work system settings (MIDI, Audio, General, Files, Project, Info)
Explore the layout & practice utilizing each setting
LESSON 2: SAMPLING & SOUND DESIGN
Learn the keyboard commands for a fast workflow
Discover the channel rack inside & out to create a drum beat
Practice utilizing the playlist
LESSON 3: MUSIC THEORY & MIDI PROGRAMMING
Learn the different routes to find and use samples
Practice loading in various samples
Experiment breaking up samples, utilizing effects, and figure out what groove best fits your taste
LESSON 4: DRUM PROGRAMMING & GROOVE
Learn how to use the piano roll by creating chords & melodies with the different tools provided
Discover how to use the piano roll to create melodies WITHOUT having any prior theory knowledge
Understand the importance of sound selection within melody creation
LESSON 5: ARRANGEMENT & PRODUCTION
Continuing from Week 4, students learn how to use the piano roll to create drum grooves
Learn how the BPM matters for various beats and within the beat making process
Discover rules of rhythm for various genres: Dancehall, Afrobeat, Hip Hop, R&B, Trap, Boom Bap, etc.
LESSON 6: THE MIXER
Learn how to construct various arrangement styles: Intro-Verse-PreChorus Hook, etc
Understand how to tie in transitions to make a more cohesive beat
Practice drum selection & leveling
Learn the In’s & Out’s of the mixer
Discover the tools to develop your own personal sound
Understand EQ, compression, reverb & delay - then practice these within the class
LESSON 7: mixing & workflow
Learn the In’s & Out’s of the mixer
Discover the tools to develop your own personal sound
Understand EQ, compression, reverb & delay - then practice these within the class
LESSON 8: EXPORTING & DELIVERY
Discover every aspect of the render window
Learn how to prepare files for collaboration or printing
Learn how to create a system for file organization.
LESSON 9: MUSIC BUSINESS
Understand the different licensing practices and different lease options (exclusive, non-exclusive, premium)
Learn about different ways to get placements, learn how to create music for yourself & learn how to sell your beats to others
Learn the ethics & code of conduct within a studio environment
LESSON 10: FULL PRACTICAL
Students will work independently in a 10-hour session to complete individualized music production projects under the guise of our instructor
A Q&A with instructor to answer any questions and offer additional guidance for the set-up of home production rig or career goals in the music industry!
SUCCESSFUL Completion of course
Over the course of 10 lessons, students explore the creative and technical tools within Ableton while developing a stronger understanding of music production. Designed for personal enrichment and professional development, The Sound Lab gives students hands-on experience creating, arranging, and shaping their own music while building greater confidence within the Ableton workflow.
CONTINUED ABleton SUPPORT
Completing this course is just the beginning of your journey with Fil Vidak. As a dedicated mentor, he continues to provide support and guidance even after the classes are over. Whether you need help troubleshooting software issues, refining techniques, or seeking advice on advanced production strategies, Fil is always available to ensure you feel empowered and confident in your music production skills. His commitment to your growth extends beyond the classroom, fostering a lasting relationship that inspires your creative development and success as a producer.
MORE INFORMATION
ELIGIBILITY: Anyone (beginner or intermediate) interested in learning music production within Ableton Live within hip hop, R&B, trap is eligible for this class.
REQUIREMENTS: Latest version of Ableton is required so students can practice at home.
LENGTH: This is a 10-class (55 total hours) course that is delivered as a group or 1-on-1 instruction. 10 consecutive weeks: Nine of the classes are 5-hour lessons. The final class is a full day (10 hours) of practical.
PRICE: $5000 for 1-on-1 instruction. The 1-on-1 price reflects a highly specialized curriculum, dedicated studio time, flexible schedule and personalized attention to the individual student. Ask about our payment plans!
TO REGISTER: We require a 50% deposit to reserve your seat. The balance is due by the start date of the course OR you can participate in our payment plan. There are no additional costs.
NEXT COURSE COUNTDOWN: 1-on-1 courses have “ongoing admissions” and can begin whenever you are ready. Scheduling is flexible for holidays.