I want to start an electronic music club at my high school.

[Quix]

Hey, I'm planning on trying to start an electronic music production club at my high school (~300 people). I think I am the only producer in my school, and I want to try to get people interested in production. I'm a bit unsure about how this is going to work, so I would appreciate some suggestions. I have a few main problems right now:

THE COST: This is by far the biggest problem. While I have purchased Ableton Live for ~$250, I know for certain that no one would be willing to put that much of an investment into something that they know little about. I'm almost certain that I'd get in huge trouble for condoning piracy at a school-sponsored club. I'm thinking about using Reaper's unlimited free trial, but I know almost nothing about using Reaper and I feel that I'm going to be pretty useless on helping them out with it.

Gathering interest: I'm not sure how many people would be willing to take on the huge commitment of learning how to make electronic music.

[ghelded_kultz]

For cost, learning Reaper and then teaching them might work but that will set back the timing for a while. Same thing if you go through another free route, such as LMMS or Ardour. It will be hard to get ANYONE though if you insist that they buy some $250 worth of software before they have done any production.

Interest, you'll just have to ask around. But remember, with a lot of clubs and hobbies they start small and grow as people see what they do. So even if you find only one other person, it might be worth starting the club and hopefully leaving a legacy even after you graduate.

Other things: How popular is electronic music at your school? Knowing you audience is important. If not many people even like it, than even less will want to produce it, so it will be much harder to get this rolling.

Considering you go to a small school, how busy is the average student with sports and other clubs? This will make it harder to get people to join simply because of logistics.

[the4thImpulse]

It sounds to me like you want to, in a way, force people to want to produce music with you. I know I am twisting your words by saying that but I think it's worth pointing out that you can't make people produce music if they don't want to.

I would start by asking around if people want to learn and find out if there is a general interest amount those that don't yet produce. It may be best to find a core people and help them out outside the school system. I other words make some new friends..

If you are set on making a school club you will have to talk with the echo about using their computer labs if you want to make it easy (not that it wil be easy), otherwise you will need everyone to bring in computers to wherever you are hosting it. There are free software out there that work well for learning on (LMMS is free I think, Sony acid is cheap as well).

I hate that you even mentioned piracy when talking about this as that method should have left your mind long ago.

Could you be more specific as to what you expect out of a program club like this? It's really something that takes a lot of thought and work to make something worthwhile out of.



-wrote on an ipad, excuse any horrible spelling or bad autocorrect.

[Quix]

I appreciate your replies.

Interest, you'll just have to ask around. But remember, with a lot of clubs and hobbies they start small and grow as people see what they do..

It sounds to me like you want to, in a way, force people to want to produce music with you. I know I am twisting your words by saying that but I think it's worth pointing out that you can't make people produce music if they don't want to.

I would start by asking around if people want to learn and find out if there is a general interest amount those that don't yet produce. It may be best to find a core people and help them out outside the school system. I other words make some new friends.

In response to both of those points, I'm definitely not going to try to force anyone to go through with it, and I'm going to be asking several of my friends if they would be interested in learning production for themselves. I'm not going to start the club if there's not enough genuine interest. However, if I do get enough interested enough to form the club, I'm sure that it would gradually increase in size as time goes on. One person has actually asked me what software I use to make music, so I'm sure that he would be interested in joining. In response to the last line, I'd definitely be cool with hanging out with people and helping them out outside of school.

If you are set on making a school club you will have to talk with the echo about using their computer labs if you want to make it easy (not that it will be easy), otherwise you will need everyone to bring in computers to wherever you are hosting it. There are free software out there that work well for learning on (LMMS is free I think, Sony acid is cheap as well).

Could you be more specific as to what you expect out of a program club like this? It's really something that takes a lot of thought and work to make something worthwhile out of.

I honestly got the idea tonight, and I'm not entirely sure yet about how I would try to teach production or get people interested in it. I could definitely talk to a school administrator if I wanted to use the school computer labs, and I think my request would have a decent chance of being approved, though getting a supervisor for the club would probably be required. Right now I'm leaning towards either the "unlimited" trial of Reason or LMMS.

Other things: How popular is electronic music at your school? Knowing you audience is important. If not many people even like it, than even less will want to produce it, so it will be much harder to get this rolling.

It's not hugely popular, but most people enjoy Skrillex and the like. I'm really not entirely sure how much interest there would be.

Considering you go to a small school, how busy is the average student with sports and other clubs? This will make it harder to get people to join simply because of logistics.

That's something I haven't thought about, and I'm glad you pointed it out. Most meetings and sports practices happen right after school, which is probably when I would want to have club meetings, so that may be a conflict. If there were only a few people in the club, I'm sure that I could talk to each of the members to find a good time and day of the week for meetings.

Unfortunately, music production is ultimately self-motivated, and the more I think about it, the more this sounds like "work" to the people in the club (and myself).

[the4thImpulse]

In response to the last line, I'd definitely be cool with hanging out with people and helping them out outside of school.

I think that may be a more realistic option, not saying its impossible to do it the other way. I think it would be more beneficial to both you and a few others by forming some sort of relationship over a love of music producing (even if its varying genres). Without having to worry about 'school' issues like permission, supervisors, and what I imagine to be crappy school computers and such you could focus on producing and team building. Maybe the club consists of time at school showing each other what you've created in the past week or two and helping each other out with their projects (giving advice and input). Its still a school club but relies less on the schools equipment and resources and more on individuals personal love towards the idea.

I'm just trying to give you things to think about, I would be glad to help you work your way to making a 'club' sort of thing. Its a good idea. What grade are you in currently (and don't use that fancy american lingo, candians don't understand it )?

[Quix]

I'm just trying to give you things to think about, I would be glad to help you work your way to making a 'club' sort of thing. Its a good idea. What grade are you in currently (and don't use that fancy american lingo, candians don't understand it )?

Yeah, thanks a bunch for the help! I'm in the eleventh grade right now (junior in high school).

[vladnuke]

For that matter, aren't there certain programs that have comfy EDU pricing?

That's actually pretty interesting. We had a DJ club at our school where all the bros brought out their Seratos and had jam seshs, but idk if it's still active. I know there's more than a few producers at my school (gotta love LA), so I've actually been thinking of starting a little club too. Would be interesting to see how many people are willing to jam out.

[itroitnyah]

This sounds like a good idea, but it would probably work out better at a larger school. Like the school that I go to now that has 1200 students, for example. Or as a better example, a school with 2400 students like the one I used to go to, lol.

[Spactrum]

I'm going to do the same at my school (around 1500 students)
This summer I will get the permission to do my own club and my music teacher is managing it.

Thing is: The school buys me everything I need

so far we have set up:
- a big room
- 12 computers (6000€ with software,Fl Sudio 10 and Ableton Live)
- 24 midiboards (12 for me, 12 for my teacher's class)
- A server unit (250€)
- Front speaker system (400€)

So we're at an overall of 9000€ now, but the principal is willing to pay for it, since we got a title (something like "One of the best in Europe") so we have a ton of money now

So actually it depends on the money
I don't think a small school like yours could afford you all that, so you have to search for sponsors or something
My club is paid 10% by our city because it's "promoting studen't creativity"
If you really want to teach students who don't have any experience or equip, you need a ton of money.

[vladnuke]

Dude, holy shit, that's balla dolla.

You go to some fancy private school or what?

Los Angeles can't even afford edible food for it's students.

[LFP]

I'm going to do the same at my school (around 1500 students)
This summer I will get the permission to do my own club and my music teacher is managing it.

Thing is: The school buys me everything I need

so far we have set up:
- a big room
- 12 computers (6000€ with software,Fl Sudio 10 and Ableton Live)
- 24 midiboards (12 for me, 12 for my teacher's class)
- A server unit (250€)
- Front speaker system (400€)

So we're at an overall of 9000€ now, but the principal is willing to pay for it, since we got a title (something like "One of the best in Europe") so we have a ton of money now

So actually it depends on the money
I don't think a small school like yours could afford you all that, so you have to search for sponsors or something
My club is paid 10% by our city because it's "promoting studen't creativity"
If you really want to teach students who don't have any experience or equip, you need a ton of money.

And here I thought my school was generous giving us 400€ to buy the liquid hydrogen for me and my pals near minimal friction course :3

Just kidding, but that's really freaking awesome dude, just hope quix can get something along the lines of that would be cool if it worked out! :3

[Spactrum]

Dude, holy shit, that's balla dolla.

You go to some fancy private school or what?

Los Angeles can't even afford edible food for it's students.

We are in NRW, Germany's top developed area and I feel like they're throwing the money after us in the schools
It's a public school, but our system is a bit different

There are 4 types of Schools after elementary:
1. Hauptschule (literally for the dumbest people, finish at year 9)
2. Gesamtschule(where the average pupil goes, mostly year 9)
3. Realschule (smart students, can go to the higher one after that,year 9,lots of students come to us after that)
4. Gymnasium("High Class", where I go to, until year 12, most of the students go studying right after it)

We have a Smart-Board or Projector in every of the 240 classrooms and a very big auditorium with awesome speakers, a full light system and two grand pianos at 50k each.

I come from a rather poor family so this was very new to me when I came there 5 years ago.
And I'm very happy that I can do this, because that what the money is for afterall.