Course Listing

Fundamentals of the propagation of sound; introduction to microphone and loudspeaker technology; basics of microphone selection and placement; basic recording studio signal flow; basic signal processing (reverberation, delay, equalization, compression, and other effects); introduction to contemporary recording and production techniques in digital and analog 

Fundamentals of audio editing, mixing, and processing using digital audio workstations; latency & sync protocol for audio recording; editing techniques; MIDI recording and editing techniques; basic mixing techniques; preparation for stereo mix-down; workflow practices including creating sessions, file management techniques, working with media in sessions, backups 

Large-format console usage; signal flow setup; level/gain monitoring and peak prevention techniques; patch bay usage; monitoring & talkback system design & setup; advanced microphone selection and placement tactics including in-depth comparisons between all microphone types; optimization of polar patterns; understanding of transducer effects on translated sound 

Aesthetic considerations and operation of equipment for multi-track mix down of stereo masters; topics include essential mixing effects and techniques to achieve tonal clarity; common control room procedures and protocol; console and control room signal flow, control logic, patching; use of outboard signal processors; session documentation 

Basic acoustic theory; develop understanding of the effects of acoustics on recording; optimization of recording space for different scenarios; studio construction and design methods; control room and live room design theory and treatment practices; home/project studio design and optimization 

Vintage analog recording console design, function, and signal flow; integration of tape deck into recording process; stylistic comparisons between analog equipment components (e.g. tubes vs transistors) 

Applied recording and engineering techniques for solo artists, mixed-instrumental ensembles, and full orchestra; vocal and drum recording; isolation tactics and studio optimization for live ensemble and orchestral recording; session management tactics and logistics 

Large format console mixing techniques; re-amping/bussing to outboard gear; considerations for different playback scenarios; psychoacoustics of mixing environment and how to adapt; headphone/”in-the-box” mixing techniques 

Gain familiarity with hardware and software tools; learn metering and spectral analysis techniques to identify harmonic distortion/phasing; referencing on multiple loudspeaker systems; tonal adjustment techniques such as mid-side processing, multi-band compression, EQ, and reverb; ‘loudness’ considerations; preparation for different playback media including vinyl, CD and DVD, multichannel audio (5.1), digital download and streaming 

Fundamentals of magnetic theory, tape biasing, head azimuth, tape recorder modes and controls, reproduce alignment, and maintenance; course will also discuss session management and creative modes of use for music production 

Learn troubleshooting techniques to narrow down and fix problems with console, outboard gear, microphones, synths, etc; hands-on experience with all necessary tools (soldering iron, multimeter, oscilloscope) 

Synth/outboard gear modification; circuit bending; design of custom instruments (e.g. modular synths and experimental, sensor-based instruments) 

Propagation and reflection of sound waves; acoustic properties of pipes, strings, bars, membranes, the human voice, and wind, string, and percussion instruments; resonance, harmonics and overtones; directional characteristics of sound sources; pythagoras and the mathematical history of musical sound with focus on intervals and tuning; room reverberation 

Sound stage setup for various configurations/ensembles; front of house mixing; monitor mixing; systems integration of live sound reinforcement, live recording and video capture; microphone choice and placement; scene storage and documentation strategies; audience/ambience recording techniques 

Primer in digital audio technology with focus on music production applications; understand audio codecs such as Linear PCM, 32-bit floating point, mp3 and AAC; investigate underlying concepts including sampling, aliasing, the Nyquist frequency, quantization, dither, clocks, jitter, and the fourier transform; learn best practices of digital audio file transmission, meta-tagging, and storage 

Gain proficiency of composition, arrangement, and sound design using Ableton Live; advanced midi compositional techniques; use of external controllers to optimize workflow and enhance performance; integration of software virtual synths and effects into production flow 

Expand understanding of all components used throughout the music production process; identify equipment characteristics and their effects on audio signal; tradeoffs between modern vs vintage equipment; optimizing gear selections for different recording scenarios. 

Technical and non-technical considerations for producers of pop and commercial music ensembles; production technique focusing on male and female lead & background vocals, lead & rhythm guitars, bass guitar, keyboards, drums, auxiliary percussion; adapting studio arrangements for live performance; incorporating visual components, stage equipment, and software to enable modern live performance 

Production techniques focused on creating electronic dance music; explorations on hardware vs. software synthesizers; sound synthesis via Ableton Live; creative use of advanced audio effects including side-chain compression, delay, reverb, distortion, downsampling, phaser, chorus; creation of sweeps and other ambient layers; optimization for playback on club PA systems; incorporation of visual components, stage equipment, and software to enable modern live performance 

Develop ability to accurately describe every aspect of selected audio mixes, spanning from pop music to acoustic ensembles and orchestral recordings; identify engineering techniques such as balance, panning, EQ, reverb, compression, and other effects; instrument identification; stylistic comparisons of differing engineering and mix techniques; identify and articulate possible audio issues 

Discussions on the purpose of music in film and television; interpreting dramatic flow of screenplay and director’s vision into musical form; practical and psychological considerations of music placement; complementing dramatic situations with appropriate usage of melody, harmony, rhythm, and form; fundamentals of usage of digital audio production software for film scoring 

Detailed analysis of modern and classic film scores; MIDI and audio sequencing techniques as well as use of virtual synthesizers and effects for composition; integration with score writing tools like Sibelius; exercises in scoring other media, including television and video games 

Composition and arrangement techniques for preparing dramatic score for full symphony orchestra; apply knowledge of instrumentation and orchestration in collaboration with local film makers to realize finished score 

Techniques for assembling and refining motion picture soundtrack using timecode; film spotting; ADR; syncing and alignment of music to picture; aesthetic considerations to aid collaboration between filmmaker and composer 

Analysis of vocal and instrumental ranges and performance variations; parts extraction; arrangement of piano reduction; discussions on transposition, score format, and new notation 

Discovery of techniques and influential styles of historic composers; examination of classic film scores 

Investigation into the unique audio needs of film, including recording and editing location sound, integration of sound effects, recording ADR, creating and editing foley effects, surround sound mixing, mixing for foreign distribution 

Explore the rich architectural landscape of Rome from a sonic perspective; classes are taught in the field, at selected locations throughout Rome offering unique acoustical characteristics 

Explore techniques in recording and mixing in non-studio environments 

Producing professional quality tours and festivals including tour management, staging and audio-visual production management, budgetary considerations, vendor/sponsor/partnership models 

The different roles in music production, working with studio musicians, coaching the performers, hard and soft skills, professionalism; workflow and etiquette; communication and presentation skills; studio psychology, subjectivity, negotiating; working in teams, leadership 

Explores the aesthetic trends and technological advancements in recorded music, from the earliest multi-track recordings, the sonic renaissance of the 1960s, to the digital recordings of modern day 

Understand the psychological dimension of music; internalization of pitch, timbre, intervals, chords, and rhythms through neural, cognitive, and auditory functions; consonance, dissonance and auditory illusions; associations in musical structure, language, memory and emotion; the role of evolution, biology, and experience; techniques of music therapists and recent research on advanced musical proficiency 

Explore the rich history of Forum Music Village - one of Europe’s most celebrated and sought-after recording studios since its founding in the late 1960’s by legendary film composer Ennio Morricone