Beat Production and Mobile Recording
Program Length: 12 Weeks
Session Length: 60–90 minutes
Skill Level: Beginner
Recommended Software: Logic Pro, Ableton Live, FL Studio, MPC Software, or similar DAW
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Learning Objectives
Students will learn to:
• Understand song structure
• Program drum patterns and rhythms
• Create melodies and chord progressions
• Write basslines that stay in key with chords and melody
• Use samples and instruments
• Understand the frequency spectrum
• Balance track levels in a mix
• Arrange full songs
• Export finished music
Week 1 — Introduction to Music Production
Topics
• What a music producer does
• Elements of a song
Drums
Bass
Melody
Vocals
Activities
• Break down a popular song
• Identify each element
• Build a simple drum loop
Assignment
Create a 4-bar drum loop
Week 2 — Rhythm & Drum Programming
Topics
• Kick, snare, hi-hat roles
• Drum sequencing
• Tempo (BPM)
• Groove and swing
Activities
• Program drum patterns
• Experiment with groove and swing
• Layer drum sounds
Assignment
Create an 8-bar drum beat
Week 3 — Drum Sound Design
Topics
• Choosing drum sounds
• Layering kicks and snares
• Velocity and dynamics
Activities
• Compare different drum sounds
• Build a custom drum kit
Assignment
Create a custom drum kit and beat
Week 4 — Melody & Musical Ideas
Topics
• What melody is
• Basic scales
• Writing simple musical phrases
• Using MIDI instruments
Activities
• Create simple melodies
• Experiment with different instruments
Assignment
Add a melody to your beat
Week 5 — Chords & Harmony
Topics
• What chords are
• Basic chord progressions
• Emotional tone of different chords
Activities
• Build simple chord progressions
• Combine chords with melodies
Assignment
Add chords or pads to your beat
Week 6 — Bass lines & Groove
Topics
• Role of bass in music
• Bass following chord root notes
• Keeping bass lines in key
• Kick and bass interaction
Activities
• Write bass lines from chord progressions
• Listen to kick and bass relationship
Assignment
Create a bass line that follows your chord progression
Week 7 — Sampling
Topics
• What sampling is
• Chopping samples
• Rearranging samples creatively
Activities
• Chop a sample
• Combine samples with drums
Assignment
Create a sample-based beat
Week 8 — The Science of Sound
Topics
• What sound waves are
• The frequency spectrum
• Low, mid, and high frequencies
Frequency Overview
Low (20–250 Hz)
Kick drums, bass
Mid (250–4000 Hz)
Vocals, instruments
High (4k–20k Hz)
Hi-hats, brightness
Activities
• Identify frequencies by ear
• Use EQ to shape sounds
Assignment
Use EQ to improve clarity in a beat
Week 9 — Mixing Fundamentals
Topics
• Volume balance
• Gain staging
• Panning (stereo placement)
• Avoiding clipping
Basic Level Guide
Kick: −6 to −10 dB
Snare: −8 to −12 dB
Bass: −8 to −12 dB
Melodies: −12 to −18 dB
Activities
• Balance track levels
• Create a clean mix
Assignment
Mix your beat
Week 10 — Effects & Processing
Topics
• Reverb
• Delay
• Compression basics
• Creative effects
Activities
• Compare dry vs processed sound
• Add effects to instruments
Assignment
Apply effects to your beat
Week 11 — Song Arrangement
Topics
• Turning loops into full songs
• Song structure
Intro
Verse
Chorus
Bridge
Outro
Activities
• Expand loop into full track
• Add transitions
Assignment
Arrange beat into a 2–3 minute song
Week 12 — Final Mix & Showcase
Students finalize their projects and present them to the class.
Deliverables
• One original song (1–3 minutes)
• Balanced mix
• Exported audio file
Students explain their production process and what they learned.
Additional:
Add a beat battle in Week 12 instead of just a presentation. Students vote on:
• Best drums
• Best melody
• Best overall beat