Pure Sound: Music Maker Series

FULL SERIES: $100 or $25 for A LA CARTE CLASSES
[REGISTER AT: DecaturMakers.org](https://decaturmakers.app.neoncrm.com/nx/portal/neonevents/events?path=%2Fportal%2Fevents)

🎶 From Theory to Track: A 5-Part Music Workshop Series 🎶
Dive into the full journey of music creation—from the building blocks of harmony to shaping your own synth sounds, programming beats, recording like a pro, and pulling it all together into a finished song. Across five hands-on workshops (Sept 7–Oct 5), you’ll explore the art and science of making music, with practical tools and creative techniques you can apply on any instrument. Perfect for beginners and hobbyists ready to bring their musical ideas to life!

Sept 7: Music Theory Crash Course
Get comfy with the building blocks of music. We’ll start with the basics of harmony—what it is and why it matters—then dive into how to choose chords that go well together, build progressions that fit a specific mood, and make multiple instruments agree harmonically. You’ll also learn how to extend and translate chords across different instruments and keys. By the end, you’ll walk away with practical tools to turn musical ideas into something real—on any instrument.

Sept 15: Synthesizer Sound Design
Explore the world of synthesizers and learn how to make sense of all those controls. We’ll cover the basics of what a synthesizer is, explore the physics of sound through synthesis, and take a quick look at the history of keyboard instruments and different schools of synth development. You’ll get hands-on practice creating a new sound from scratch, learning how to shape timbre to elicit a specific mood—and how to apply these ideas to other instruments, too. Perfect for anyone curious about sound shaping and sonic identity.
Sept 22: Rhythm & Drum Programming
What makes a groove groove? We’ll explore how different musical styles are defined by their tempo and signature rhythms, and trace a brief history of electronic, dance, and hip hop production through drum machines, sequencers, and samplers. You’ll get hands-on practice creating drum and rhythm tracks in software, choosing and manipulating drum sounds, and experimenting with sequencing. We’ll also take a look at the art of sampling and how it shapes modern music.

Sept 28: Basics of Recording
Plug in and press record! Learn about the essential equipment and software needed to make clean, effective recordings—whether you’re using microphones or direct-input instruments like electric guitars and hardware synthesizers. We’ll cover key technical details such as mic placement, software settings, phantom power, and checking levels, then take a deeper dive into recording techniques and creative approaches that can elevate your sound. Along the way, we’ll explore a brief history of recording technology and practices, and experiment with what can be done with your recordings—like doubling, overdubbing, special effect plugins, and direct manipulation of audio.

Oct 5: Putting It All Together (aka Making a Song)
Let’s bring it all home! In this capstone workshop, you’ll use everything learned throughout the series to actually create songs or beats. We’ll take a short loop and arrange it into a fully structured track with unique sections, add a lead vocal or melody line, and layer on the special sauce with automation and master effects. By the end of the night, you’ll have a finished piece to share at our celebratory listening party—an inspiring way to showcase your new skills and creativity.

Age: 16+ (if younger, please email info@decaturmakers.org)