Advanced Certificate course

Course overview

This exciting course is aimed at people who have completed our DJ certificate course or people with knowledge of DJ hardware and music production software. The course will teach you the more advanced subjects associated with DJ techniques including scratching, advanced mixing and music production software.

You will be using the very latest industry standard DJ equipment and music production software and hardware including the Pioneer CDJ1000 cd decks, Technics SL1210 turntables, Pioneer DJM600 and Vestax PMC05 mk3, Ableton Live 7, Cubase, Logic 8, sound modules and Mackie mixing desks.

You have the option of studying in a group of 4 or on a one to one basis. With the one to one course the structure and timetable is flexible where you are able to study during the daytime, evening and weekends. You can attend the course for two half days or one long day per week, it is also possible to accelerate and complete the course in just 2 weeks. Please contact the office and speak with an advisor for more details on how we can structure the course to suit your schedule.

Also included in the course is an introduction to the business side of music where you will learn about subjects such as copyright, royalties and record contracts which will be useful if you plan to release your music. The course is also very useful if you want advice on how to promote yourself to gain DJ work or to run a successful club night.

It is also particularly suitable for people who are thinking of purchasing a DJ or music production set up at home but have yet to decide on a package that would be the most suitable for their needs. Our tutors and advisors are able to offer informed and impartial advice that will help you choose the best combination of hardware and software to suit your budget.

For further information regarding this or any other course please call 0207 247 8800 and an advisor will be happy to assist you.

Snapshot of what you will learn during the course

Equipment

- working with the latest innovations in DJ and Music production equipment and software

Advanced mixing

- blending tracks fluently into one another, drop mixing and using equalisers and filters

Scratching

- learn about music structure such as beats and bars and scratch techniques such as chirps and flares

Beat juggling

- learn to beat juggle, using vocal tracks to create your own lyrics and phrases

Beat cutting

- play beats/rhythms using samples, learn to mark up the sounds needed create a drum beat

Audio/sound editing

- learn to trim and edit loops, samples, vocals and create bootlegs

Sampling

- creating drum loops, sound/drum libraries and the creative use of filters and time stretching

Song structure

- learn to structure songs successfully by understanding tempo, beats, bars, verses and choruses

Music production

- using software such as Ableton learn the tips and tricks on how to successfully write drum parts, basslines and melodies

Creating a live set

- compile a DJ set using a laptop and the Ableton Live 6 music production software

Effects units

- creating polished set/performances by applying effects such as delays, samples and flangers
Mix Cd production -learn to record and edit a final mastered mix of your dj set or performance using audio editing software such as Sony Soundforge

For a detailed course outline please visit our download page.

Course fees

One to one £949

Course dates 2009

This course is currently only available on a one to one basis. You are able to enroll on this course at anytime.

How long does the course last? for one to one courses the timetable is determined by the student where he/she picks the days/weeks that suits their lifestyle. For example if you were to complete the course over the usual schedule it would take 8 weeks. but if you wanted to fast track the course it could be completed in as little as 2 weeks.

How many days? this is the student’s decision guided by our tutors (one to one course only). For example, most people attend the course for 2 days per week for 8 weeks but some people prefer to study for 1 long day per week for 8 weeks. Others prefer 2 long days for 4 weeks. Timetables are flexible and you are in control.

What time of the day do I attend the course? it’s your decision, we have morning, afternoon and evening slots in our timetable, we are open 10am to 10pm Monday to Friday and 12-5pm on weekends.

Can I change the content of the course? yes you can, the outline above is simply a guide. It's your course and you decide what subjects you want to learn with expert guidance from our experienced tutors.

What's the cost? the course costs just £949 per student.

Can I pay in installments? unfortunately we are unable to offer payment plans at present.

What's next? if you would like to enrol, telephone us on 0207 247 8800 (+44 207 247 8800 outside the UK) and we will do the rest!