Introduction to Music Production Course

Suitable for beginners

Course duration 12 weeks

School of Electronic Music est: 1996

Enrol on course

Change the payment option from the dropdown menu below to view further information.

Start dates and course fees

Start Dates

FAST TRACK- 3 months music production
NEXT DATE: Thursday 5th Feb 2026 6pm – 10pm

Course fees

Option One : Advanced Payment 15% Discount save £180

Total course fees: £1633.90.

Option Two : Instalments Payment

Total course fees: £ 1795.50

Registration fee of £300 to enrol onto the course.

+ 3 monthly instalments by direct debit of £498.50 each.

When should I enrol?

In short: enrol as soon as you are ready. All live course dates are available for you to enrol on.

Unlike most training centres SEM has a limit on lecturer to student ratio and keeps its class sizes small. We therefore have limited availability and courses fill up in advance. We would recommend enrolling as soon as you are ready, to avoid disappointment.

Introduction To Music Production

Price range: £300.00 through £1,195.00

Start date

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Course Introduction

Course Fees / Dates / Enrol

This introduction to music production course provides a gateway into music for those who don’t know where to start.

It’s aimed at beginners, carefully structured to help you reach a confident level in music production.

With the help of our expert tutors, you’ll be confidently using Ableton Live and making music. All tasks are highly practical, helping your technical ability increase alongside your creativity.

Fast track 3 months
The Intro to Music Production Course is delivered in our classroom for a duration of 12 weeks.

This course will have you writing and producing music – creating ideas and arranging them into a track – confidently with Ableton Live.

You will have access to our Midi Lab to produce using Ableton Live software, Push hardware, and make use of our sample libraries.

LESSONS

Introduction to Music Production: One lecture weekly

Course Overview

Ableton Live
Clips, scenes and loops
Session view improvisation
Sampling and warping audio
MIDI editing & programming
Optimal Workflow
Shortcuts and workflow
Arrangement view
Creating and using templates
Advanced browser functions

Music Production
Track analysis
Editing automation
The art of remixing
Modulation and FX
Composition Skills
Arrangement and structure
Music theory for producers
Programming drum patterns
Melodies and chords

CREATIVE STRATEGIES
Motivational music tips
Project file management
Productivity and mindset
Recycling unused material
Basic Sound Design
Subtractive synthesis
Oscillators and generators
Filters and tonal shaping
Envelopes and LFOs

Modules Included

Production Skills 3 Months Fast Track

Duration: 3 Months Fast Track

The production module will give you a strong grounding in music production skills using Ableton Live – arguably the most immediately creative DAW on the market. You’ll learn how to work with MIDI and audio, virtual instruments, MIDI controllers and effects: techniques, which will be built on as the module progresses.

You will learn Ableton live inside out, along with basic sound design with Lives extensive selection of proprietary instruments, formulae for different genres, and techniques to turn your track from an arrangement into a finished piece.

If you’re interested in becoming a successful music producer, or DJ/producer, then this module will teach you essential skills for success in a competitive market place, and gives a solid platform for those looking to move onto further advanced study. We’ll show you how to get the most from your home studio setup, and how to incorporate hardware instruments into your workflow, if this is a direction you’d like to take.

Whether you’re new to music production or have been already producing your own music for a while, you’ll be learning all the essential skills in a creative environment, from industry active expert tutors with a wealth of releases and remixes under their belts. School of Electronic Music is an Ableton Certified Training Centre and a Native Instruments Training Partner.

Introduction to Ableton Live

Ableton Live workflow, MIDI sequencing, audio sample import and editing, music computer setup and specifications, MIDI controllers, audio interfaces.

Music Production Skills

Critical/analytical listening skills, common production techniques, basic synthesis/sound design, remixing skills, how to structure music of different styles/genres.

Home Studio Skills

Modern audio interface connectivity, functionality and signal flow, audio routing and recording.

Is this course for me?

Course Dates / Fees / Enrol

Even if you never studied music in school or don’t play an instrument, this course welcomes you to explore your musical ideas—no prior experience required.

What this course will teach you is how to make music using Ableton Live. Writing in drums, bass, vocals, synths, and absolutely everything else.

Whether you want to make drum’n’bass, hip-hop, house, techno, or something else entirely. We’ll show you how to make it.

Entry Requirements
None. Suitable for beginners or self-taught producers. All you’ll need is a comfy pair of production headphones – no software or prior qualifications needed.
Course Outcome
It’s aimed at total beginners, designed at getting you to a confident level in music creation. You’ll be producing music – creating ideas and arranging them into a track – confidently with Ableton Live.

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Course FAQS

Do I need equipment for the course?

If you plan to always study in SEM

Music production headphones with a 1/4″ adapter, an external hard-drive or USBs to save your work, and writing materials are the only equipment you will need.

If you need advice on what flat-response, comfortable music production headphones to purchase, please speak with Bop DJ Manchester who are 5-minutes walk from SEM. They can also offer you discounts as a SEM student.

Every student has access to their own iMac workstation in the school which contains all the software, samples and plugins that you will use throughout the course.

I am an international student. Can I apply?

UK Students

Students from within the UK can enrol via the normal way, by clicking ‘Enrol Now’ on their chosen course.

EU and International Students

Our course pricing remains the same – we do not increase the course price for international students.

If you wish to come to Manchester to study, please view our international students page for further information regarding Britain’s exit from the EU, and VISA information. There are a few VISA options for EU and international students:

Standard visitor VISAs
If your main purpose to the UK is as a visitor ie. for leisure, and studying a course is something you wish to do in addition (and is not the main reason for your trip), you may be able to travel to the UK on a standard visitor VISA.

Short term study VISAs – for study up to 6 months
As this course is 6-months, it works well for a short-term study VISA for which the limit is 6 months. If you were looking at studying several courses with us totalling more than 6 months, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t study it with us.

We have several options in place where part of your training could be done online (eg this course could be), with other modules done during the 6 months in the UK. As our courses are modular, we can pack in a lot of training into the 6 months you are here in Manchester, with lots of the modules overlapping during this time to ensure you maximise your time.

Tier 4 Visas
We cannot issue Tier 4 VISAs, which are typically VISAs if you are wanting to study in the UK for longer than 6 months. However if you are a student already in the UK under a Tier 4 VISA (e.g. studying a university course) then you are able to study at SEM alongside, as long as it falls within the timeframe of your Tier 4 VISA allowance.

Do you provide student accommodation?

Student accommodation is not provided with the course.

Please see our accommodation page which has detailed information on both student halls, and private renting in and around Manchester.

It is advised that if you are moving to Manchester from abroad or a different city, the atmosphere of student halls might be better for you.

We can help you with other aspects of re-locating, such as advising you on the best transport links to find us, and where some of the best musical venues around Manchester are.

See our accommodation page for more information, and if you need any assistance in relocating please ring SEM office on 0161 833 4722 to speak with our Student Support Team.

Be the first to know about future courses, events and offers

Introduction to Music Production Course

Suitable for beginners

Course duration 12 weeks

School of Electronic Music est: 1996

Enrol on course

Change the payment option from the dropdown menu below to view further information.

Introduction To Music Production

Course Introduction

Fast track 3 months

LESSONS

Course Overview

Ableton Live

Optimal Workflow

Music Production

Composition Skills

CREATIVE STRATEGIES

Basic Sound Design

Modules Included

Is this course for me?

Entry Requirements

Course Outcome

Sign up for info on future free courses and events

Course FAQS

Be the first to know about future courses, events and offers

Ask us anything

CONTACT

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