Electronic Music Production & Performance Certificate

Explore the practical principles of creating and performing electronic music along with studio recording practice, sequencing, synthesis and sampling, composition and arrangement, mixing and sound design. Discover and explore a wealth of electronic music styles and gain the skills and techniques required to create and finalise your own electronic music work.

• Develop your unique artistic voice and portfolio
• Record, mix, finalise and perform your own tracks
• Learn the essentials of recording and studio components
• Learn a variety of analogue and digital electronic music instruments
• Familiarise yourself with different hardware and software tools
• Build a collection of original sounds and sound design hacks
• Gain insight into electronic music culture, business and entrepreneurship

Recording for Electronic Music

Focus on the fundamental concepts and practical techniques required to operate in a  professional recording studio environment. Explore various recording techniques and apply them in practical, real world projects, focusing on microphones, pre amps, signal flow and workflow.

Audio Production

Focus on the practical audio production skills required for electronic music creation using digital audio workstations (Ableton) to compose, arrange, and produce original pieces.

Sequencing, Synthesis and Sampling

Gain a practical understanding of a range of common synthesis, sampling, and sequencing tools. Experiment with subtractive, additive, FM/AM, wavetable and modular synthesis types along with a range of sampler features utilising both traditional and experimental sequencing tools and techniques.

Composition and Arrangement

Explore and demystify the most important concepts, frameworks, theoretical tools and historic trends which have shaped electronic music into the diverse and rich ecosystem it has become.

Music and Culture

Develop important analytical skills for discussing music and communicating complex musical ideas. Learn to formulate your opinions and enhance your understanding of the impact of electronic music on the wider cultural landscape through engaged research and discovery.

Performance

Explore the major tools, issues, and concepts surrounding contemporary electronic music performance. Develop practical tools and explore important performance-based subjects such as improvisation, collaboration, cross-disciplinary practice, and critique.

Mixing Principles

Develop core skills in contemporary mixing practice and the toolset required to support it from mix structure through to developing an awareness of spectral, dynamic and spatial elements.

Sound Design

Sculpt and craft sound using a range of electronic and acoustic instruments and tools. Overview the important developments of this field of work and create a range of otherworldly sounds!

Sound and Media

Create music, sound, foley and ADR in combination with visual content. Explore and analyse practices found in film, media, gaming, and the web in order to design your own unique approach to narrative construction.

Building an Artist / Producer Profile

Recognising and developing how you speak to the world is an integral part of the creative music industry. Develop and refine your own artistic identity in a way which enhances your musical values, your visual aesthetic and your public persona. Transform your ability to connect with a wider audience.

Music Industry

Situate yourself within the multiple commercial contexts of the contemporary music industry. From communication and marketing technique through to copyright and intellectual property rights, develop the knowledge which empowers you to overcome hurdles and to take full advantage of arising opportunities.

Your initial progression choice will be whether to make your first foray into the music industry or to continue your self development and opt for completing our bachelor degree in Electronic Music Production & Performance.

There is no right and wrong answer here. It will depend on the skillset you have already developed and what you are planning to do in the music industry.

Your success in either depends entirely on you – what you bring, your approach, and the grit, passion and sheer determination with which you take the next course or start your first project in the music industry.

However you measure it and whatever artistic realm you are working in, most creatives would like to achieve success with their creative endeavour. There are many types of success an individual may want to achieve. From successful completion of an artistic exploration all the way through to financial security and a global audience. 

There are many skills required to develop these dreams into real and practical futures. Our optional course in self-development and leadership is the ‘rocket fuel’ which will provide you with the frameworks, the focus and the drive to help realise your future.

Self development to better understand how to take decisive action, to communicate powerfully with others and take an honest look at how you limit yourself. Leadership to complete your creative project, to bring your work into the external world and to attract an audience to share, appreciate and follow your work. 

The employment model in the music industry has transformed over the last 25 years. Roles with permanent contracts do still exist but it is much more likely that you will work either as a freelancer or as part of a small startup on your way to professional creative autonomy.

The music industry never ceases to evolve and reinvent itself. We aim to provide you with an education that enables you to either be a change maker or to be capable of adapting and staying at the forefront of this change.

Here are some areas you may find yourself working in:-

Audio production, remix engineering, contemporary DJ performances, recording artist, performance artist, audio creation for events and brands, creative advertising, sample packs for labels and other artists, sounds installations, programmer, sound and music for games and film, interdisciplinary arts projects, working in related fields such as record labels, publishers, artist management companies to name but a few.

All applicants will be asked to provide: personal and educational information, documentation of their education experience, a portfolio or audition tape, and a personal introduction (which can be submitted as a written statement of motivation or a video/audio clip). 

MINIMUM ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

- Standard entry: graduation from high school at a level which would normally permit entry to university in the country where it was gained. This would be A-Levels in the UK and the Abitur in Germany, for example.

- Non-standard entry: We recognise that not all education happens in the classroom and it may be possible to admit you through a non-standard access route. If you do not possess the required formal qualification, but have acquired relevant professional or life experience, please contact our Admissions team.

If neither of the two categories above describe your situation, you'll most likely need to complete a short course to gain access to our 1 and 3-year HE degree courses.

LANGUAGE 

The language of instruction in all our courses is English and applicants must demonstrate a level equal to IELTS 6. We do not ask for official exam results, but we will assess the standard of English in your application and support materials.

For more information please contact our Admissions team and we’d be happy to discuss your opportunities to come study with us.

Course start: mid-September 2023

Application deadlines

• Round 1 - International / EU students - 31 March, 2023*
  * All international students requiring a VISA to study in Germany should apply latest by 31 March, 2023.
• Final deadline - 31 May 2023
  We encourage everyone to apply well before this date, if you're course of choice is already full you will be added to a waiting list.

We offer two ways to pay:

• Single Payment Option:
  Enrolment Fee* €895 + Tuition Fee €9,855 = €10,750 per year
  Single payment tuition fee - August 1st deadline
• Instalment Payment Option:
  Enrolment Fee* €895 + Tuition Fee 10 instalments x €1,085.50 = €11,750 per year
  Monthly instalment plan from August 1st - May 1st

* Note- Enrolment fee is non-refundable. It is due every year as part of the total annual fee.

If you decide to enrol in both a 4-week short course and HE degree course (1 or 3-years long) with us, you will receive a discount of 500€ on the total tuition.

Get a feel for our school from the comfort of your home with our Virtual Open Days and skill-focussed Taster Workshops.

Hosted by our team and students, these online events will give you a sense of what it's like to come and study with us in Berlin.

We look forward to meeting you online soon!