I've Got An Opportunity...

[Sonarch]

So, i'm a junior in high school, and I just found out that they have a class that teaches a lot of music production, like recording and using DAWs and stuff like that. While I doubt my career will be in music, I think it would be really cool and would help me a lot with making music since I have no experience at the moment. However, I believe the class takes up 2 credits, which I could do next year as a senior, which would mean I would lose the free period I would have if I didn't take it. I don't know if I should or not. Anyone know if things like this can be done at college? Would it be better there, or in high school?

[the4thImpulse]

I want to do it for fun then take it in high school, if you want to do it for life and make a career around it then take in both high school and college. A college course would be much better as they would prepare you for a future career in the music industry (not just production but live sound, studio recording, audio technician, ect..)

Free periods are fun but if you really enjoy music than I think you should go for the course.

[Lavender_Harmony]

Don't write it off as a career option. Music is more expansive than you think. Besides, sacrificing a free period to do the thing you love as a class? Psh, that's hardly a difficult choice.

[soultensionbenjamin]

Don't write it off as a career option. Music is more expansive than you think. Besides, sacrificing a free period to do the thing you love as a class? Psh, that's hardly a difficult choice.

oh my, that sounds intresting how expansive is it ?

[Freewave]

If they offer a free hands on class IN high school i think it would really be worth your time. No time like the present. Unless you really don't want to make music.

[ph00tbag]

I can't think of a reason not to. If you genuinely enjoy the class, then the free period is far from wasted.

[Sonarch]

Well, i'm going to have to look into exactly what they do in that class, my guitar teacher mentioned recording and using software, and when I walked by the classroom today I saw some kids in what I'm pretty sure was FL Studio. And I think they have little desktop midi keyboards in there too... I think it would be really fun. Alright, now you guys are getting me sold on the idea.

And I really have no idea what I want to do for a career, so I suppose music is a good option. But I don't think that's what i'll be studying when I get to college. I don't know how that works; could I take a class like that if it wasn't related to my major?

[the4thImpulse]

And I really have no idea what I want to do for a career, so I suppose music is a good option. But I don't think that's what i'll be studying when I get to college. I don't know how that works; could I take a class like that if it wasn't related to my major?

I am in college this year taking a one year course on audio engineering, its six hours a day four days a week (I get Friday's off!). There would be no time to take any other courses in any subject and that would likely be the same most everywhere else. Audio engineering is separate from an arts/science degree and won't require any other per-requisite courses. I can't speak for a purely music production course, you may need other theory courses for those. A career in audio would almost certainly be in live sound, if you play your cards right studio, and if you are very lucky performer/producer.

[Nonsense_Profile]

You Know, once When I was in high school there was a class that was dubbed "Comp Graphic Design" And my first thought when I saw it was "Holy shit my mom's a computer graphic design artist and she make's billboard's and website's and card's and other cool shit!" so obviously I signed up the first fucking chance I had.

On the first day of class me and my non retarded friend's(the one's who took the class.. yeah) took our seat at the back of the class,(one, because we were cool kid's, and mainly halfway through the year we all took turn's searching up term's like 'blue waffle' and 'lemon party' and just really weird shit to laugh at and not be able too sleep for a week because of that fucking image holy shit whatthefuckisthisidonteven ajdhlfjkahjkgahflkjdshfojkadh), when the teacher told us about our schedule for that year.

I saw what I wanted to learn, which was Photoshop, so I was happy as hell.

We had our first lesson in that same week, really basic. learn about layer's (Guy's tie is yellow, separate layer from every thing else) We colored in the tie in with the brush tool and... that was it.

...Okay, well it's the first lesson, I'm guessing they just wanted to see if people knew the basic tool's. understandable. Don't worry they'll teach us more helpful thing's in the future. I'll just wait.

I colored that mother fucker's tie in over about 300 time's over the course... And That's all the experience I gained.

My point is that if you see shit like that in HIGH SCHOOL, it probably sound's alot better than it actually is, the reason being is that both the teacher's and the schooling system think you have the mind set of someone from the early 90's who only just found out what a computer does and cant even use a keyboard without hurting themselves unless they have proper guidance.

i.e. You'll learn the very minimal, smallest, most basic level of audio interface, epuipment, DAW, Yada yada.

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And not that it's anyone's opinion other than my own, but I always felt that music is all about soul and experimentation, I mean I come up with some pretty crazy shit from just laying down a simple 4x4 midi and messing around with all the pretty flashy light's and cute knob's my Moog has. Or all the setting's on my digital interface (THOR,Malstrom,Massive)

Don't expect too much out of a class like that.

[Nonsense_Profile]

Don't write it off as a career option. Music is more expansive than you think. Besides, sacrificing a free period to do the thing you love as a class? Psh, that's hardly a difficult choice.

oh my, that sounds intresting how expansive is it ?

It's like a fat chick it's so expansive.

[Seven]

Had some musical education last year, in a music class, learning about DAW's, synthesizers and whatnot. Nothing special - no?

Well, the thing is - it was never really a course. We showed up after school, and sat in a room. Chatting about and occasionally producing music with our English teacher (hobbyists producer). It was all on our spare time (even so for him)

I regret nothing. It was a ton of fun, and I would, with no doubt, do it again.


Take the classes. What is free time for, if not spending it on something you like (on a phone, can't bother quoting all the post above)

[Captain Ironhelm]

Free period? Something you want to do? Do it.

[ghelded_kultz]

I say go for it. I am in a class like that right now (with no intention of doing music in college) and while it is fairly basic, it's a whole lot of fun. If you have the time in your schedule then you should do it and you probably won't regret it.


Of course I also have a very lazy senior schedule with no worries about credits so I have something like four classes that entirely for fun, but that's not the point.

[Sonarch]

Well, I suppose i'll have to talk to people in the class, or maybe the teacher, and find out what is done in the class, but right now i'm seriously thinking about doing it.

[Versilaryan]

If it ends up teaching you stuff that you already know, easy A. And even then, you can talk to the teacher and see if you can learn even more outside of class. Seriously, fun classes > free period.

[Derpageddon]

You should most definitely take it, even if it isn't THAT expansive. While I get that having a free period is always nice, I was an all season athlete in HS and that free period was invaluable to getting my HW done. But I ended up taking a simple class that sounded like fun and I liked it so much I am now in my Second year of College perusing it.

Don't underestimate how important having fun is.

[meletric]

Oh man, that sounds amazing! I say go for it.

[GumsOfGabby]

I know that you can get complete certificates for sound and tech production Institutions for Technology. I think they go for about 6 months each and you can complete them along side high school. They'd probably be a bit more informative than the courses your high school has to offer and don't cost much.

Have a look into both, see which one you'd prefer. As long as you enjoy it, why not?

[Dabrenn]

Echoing all the other sentiments in here, I'd definitely say go for it!

You'll probably end up wasting that free period anyways and learning something fun is a great opportunity, I wished they had offered classes like that in my High School.

[Nine Volt]

I'd go for it.
Actually, next semester I have a class called "Intro to Electronic Music", which I've been told is an easy A regardless of experience. I've been producing for 9 months now, so I don't think it'll be a problem for me. Unless we have to use... Logic *shudder*.