Berklee in Los Angeles • Introduction • Program Information • About Berklee College of Music • Application

It's All In The Song:
Writing, Production, and the Business of Music

The Berklee in Los Angeles program will guide the aspiring instrumentalist and vocalist in songwriting craft, the production of song demos, music production, and the business of music marketing.

Students will work with Berklee faculty members to learn the elements of recording and production techniques using the Macintosh multi-disk recording program GarageBand.

Other topics will include performance craft, the business of record deals, and legal protection. Copyrights, performance rights, ASCAP and BMI, legal protections, and other related topics will be part of your daily classes and activities. Through both individual and team efforts, students will work through the processes involved in writing, recording, and marketing a song from conception to completion. At the end of the program, students will perform their songs in concert for parents, friends, and colleagues.

The program will take place on the campus of Long Beach City College in Long Beach, California. The Long Beach Marriott is the event hotel for students who require housing.

Classes

The Berklee in Los Angeles program will present classes in lecture and panel formats, enabling students to learn the various skills necessary to pursue their songwriting goals.

Songwriting
Classes will include such topics as song form, melody, harmony, bass line development, and lyric writing.


Computer Lab
Students will use Macintosh GarageBand software, and learn the use of synthesizers and MIDI, emphasizing the needs and tools of the contemporary songwriter.


Recording Techniques
Students will discuss a variety of recording topics that will familiarize them with the basic techniques of recording and production as they apply to the needs of the songwriter.


Performance Class
Vocalists and instrumentalists will develop their live performance skills, rehearsal techniques, and stage presence. Other topics will include stage set-up, music and show programming, and microphone technique.

Berklee's Music Business/Management Department will present classes that focus on music business for bands and artists, including strategies for getting a record deal, the business and legal issues pertaining to record companies, and talent management.

Scholarship Auditions
During the week, scholarship auditions will be conducted for selected students interested in pursuing full-time study at Berklee in Boston. Students who are accepted into the program will be forwarded audition information in their acceptance packets.

Blowout Concerts
As the culmination of the week's studies, all students will perform at these special concerts. This year's concerts are scheduled for Friday, August 8 at Long Beach City College. Parents and friends are invited to attend.

Scholarship Award Ceremony
After the concerts on Friday night, all students will receive certificates of participation. Results of the auditions will be announced, and scholarships to Berklee College of Music will be awarded to the winners.