UNDERGROUND MUSIC
ACADEMY
DETROIT BASED MUSIC ACADEMY
UNDERGROUND MUSIC ACADEMY
REGISTER NOW FOR UMA'S FIRST ONLINE COURSES
August 25 - October 18, 2024
The moment you've been waiting for is here: we're thrilled to announce our first-ever online courses launching in 2024!
Sign up for our email list to be the first to know when course registration opens and stay ahead of the curve. Don't miss your chance to amplify your sound and elevate your craft with us!
OUR COURSES
Whether you're developing as an independent artist or preparing to work in the music industry, we are here to empower you with specialized courses that cover a range of technical proficiencies, exploratory topics, and skill-building.
RESPECT THE ARCHITECTS
COURSE DESCRIPTION: In this course, Stacey "Hotwaxx" Hale will dive into the history of electronic music, intertwined with her vibrant and extensive experience in the field. Students will explore the evolution of electronic music from this architect's perspective. Explorations will range from its analog origins to its current digital forms, with a particular emphasis on the Detroit scene and its global impact. Through a mix of on-demand recordings, live discussions, and hands-on assignments, students will gain a deep understanding of the foundational elements and influential figures that have shaped electronic music.
Alongside the historical insights, the course will delve into the fundamentals of DJing, guiding students through key concepts such as BPM, samples, mixing in key, and finding your unique sound. Each week will offer a blend of theory and practice, culminating in a final project where students will apply their knowledge and skills in a livestream performance. By the end of the course, participants will not only appreciate the rich heritage of electronic music but also possess the technical abilities to craft and deliver high-quality performances.
DATES & TIMES:
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Tuesday & Thursday, Weekly from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. (EST)
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Schedules are subject to change. Changes to the schedule will be communicated to students in a timely manner by the instructor or one of UMA’s team members.
LEARNING OUTCOME: Upon completing this course, students will have demonstrated an empowered understanding of electronic music history and its relation to their practice. Students will gain strategies to support their creative processes and practices.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Historical and Cultural Understanding
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Students will demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the history and cultural significance of electronic music – particularly its roots in Detroit, and its global evolution – by engaging with on-demand recordings, participating in live discussions, and completing assignments focused on key historical milestones and influential artists.
Technical DJ Skills
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Students will acquire and apply fundamental DJing techniques, including BPM management, sample utilization, and mixing in key. They will showcase their technical proficiency through weekly hands-on assignments and live discussions, culminating in a final music project that reflects their ability to create cohesive and engaging DJ sets.
Creative Development and Personal Style
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Students will explore and define their unique sound and artistic identity by examining various subgenres of electronic music and experimenting with different performance styles. Through guided exercises, group assignments, and a final virtual livestream, students will develop the confidence and creative skills necessary to express their individual style in live DJ performances.
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COURSE LEVEL: Beginner - Intermediate
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SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS:
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In this course, students are encouraged to use the brands and equipment they prefer. Our aim is to provide a flexible learning environment that accommodates various preferences and enhances the creative process. To ensure a smooth and productive experience, the following software and equipment options are recommended:
DJ Mixers: Any brand or model that the student is comfortable with.
DJ Controllers: Students can use any controller they prefer.
DJ Headphones: Any high-quality headphones are suitable.
Speakers and Monitors: Students can use any speakers or monitors they have.
DJ Software: Students may choose from various DJ software options.
Additional DJ Equipment: Any additional equipment that enhances the student’s learning and creative process is encouraged. This may include samplers, effects units, and other performance tools.
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COURSE TYPE: Respect the Architects – Instructed by individuals or organizations who are key players contributing to the legacy of techno and electronic music.
INSTRUCTOR: STACEY "HOTWAXX" HALE
Stacey “Hotwaxx” Hale learned a valuable lesson at a young age: that she could record songs from the radio and her older brothers’ LPs and combine them into one continuous mix, and play it for people to dance to, as a way to avoid socializing. “When I discovered I could entertain by just playing music without having to talk,” she says, “that’s when I knew it was my calling.”
It’s almost unbelievable that the Godmother of House Music originally predicated her entire career on being shy. Hale would go on to become one of the first women to learn how to mix vinyl records – transition from one to the next, at that time on two turntables, via a technique called beatmatching – by asking Detroit icon Ken Collier to teach her in the late ’70s. Shortly thereafter she’d beat 600 DJs and rappers in 1985’s Motor City Mix competition, DJ on the formative if short-lived Detroit television program New Dance Show and supply radio mixes for era-defining on-air tastemakers like the Electrifying Mojo and Duane “In The Mix” Bradley.
Since the inception of the Girls Rock Detroit music camp in 2015, Hale has acted as a DJ instructor helping young women and nonbinary artists find their way through mentorship and music, becoming GRD's Co-Director in 2023 for a term running through 2025. Hale also teaches DJing and advanced music production classes at Spin Inc., including workshops held at the Charles H. Wright African American Museum in honor of Dilla Day. Hale's educational résumé is extensive, including teaching DJ classes and music theory inside of the Avalon Village, creating the first virtual learning platform for the Detroit Electronic Music Conference, teaching production at Give A Beat in Los Angeles, and serving as the coordinator for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers After School Programs inside several Detroit public schools, including the Detroit School of the Arts.
Adapted from Stacey “Hotwaxx” Hale: The Godmother of House Music on Red Bull Music Academy Daily
ALCHEMY OF THE DJ
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This intensive eight-week course exists to introduce students to the art and alchemy of DJ performance. It will illustrate how a working knowledge of music history, technical DJ skill, psychology, and intuition can all translate to creating unification of community through the power of music.
Students will leave with a working development of their inner voice as a DJ and a general comprehension of their personal style and intention when performing, as well as a comprehension of "reading the crowd" responsibilities, and capabilities of the disc jockey profession as a conduit for social change.
DATES & TIMES:
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Class Meeting Time: Tuesday, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
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Final Exam: Saturday, 10/12/2024 7:00-9:00pm
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Schedules are subject to change. Changes to the schedule will be communicated to students in a timely manner by the instructor or one of UMA’s team members.
LEARNING OUTCOME: Upon completion of this course, students will have reliably demonstrated an understanding of theoretical concepts and practical applications of these concepts as related to their creative process or practice.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this course, students will:
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Have gained knowledge of the history of the DJ.
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Have an increased awareness of the interconnectedness of several genres of music, current and past.
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Have a working knowledge of the current trends and standard in DJ equipment, with the ability to utilize and troubleshoot any DJ equipment in most environments.
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Gain hands-on familiarity with various DJ techniques, specifically: performing under pressure, programming, beat matching, beat counting, blending, phrasing, and an introduction to harmonic mixing.
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Have a developed awareness of their inner voice as a DJ. The student will have a general idea of their personal style and intention when performing.
COURSE LEVEL: Beginner - Intermediate
SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS: (1) 8Gig or more USB Flash drive, Access to a laptop with RAM sufficient enough to operate Serato and Rekordbox, electronic music files for mixing, and the following hardware - Students at minimum should have available for use of a DJ Controller with jog wheel (Brand not of importance)
COURSE TYPE: Special Topic / Instructed by individuals who can offer a dynamic exchange of skill-building and experimental theory/pedagogy.
Please note that this course is not a basic "How to be a DJ" class and will not provide extensive technical training. While it introduces essential operating skills and fun aspects of DJing, the focus is on exploring the psycho-intuitive relationship between the DJ and the dance floor, rather than in-depth technical instruction. Students seeking additional support with technical skills are welcome to attend scheduled office hours.
INSTRUCTOR: RIMARKABLE
Detroit native, Rimarkable, is a DJ, vocalist, songwriter, and producer. She lit up the stage with world stars such as George Clinton, Madonna, and Erykah Badu, as well as legendary DJ colleagues Louie Vega, Honey Dijon, Todd Edwards, Francois K, Pete Tong, and Roger Sanchez.
Rimarkable is known for her unwavering knowledge of where electronic music comes from and where it is going. Alongside her multi-hyphenate musicianship, Rimarkable is also an Adjunct Professor at NYU-Tisch in the Clive Davis Institute where she teaches the younger minds about ’The Alchemy Of DJing’.
Quite literally a party starter, she’s produced several successful, long-running events in New York, Detroit, and the Bay Area over the past 20+ years. In early 2021, Rimarkable signed with UK house music institution Defected, including the Defected Music publishing arm, and stepped up as a presenter for the weekly Defected Radio show. Rimarkable currently spends her time between Detroit and NYC.
THE DETAILS MATTER
Post Production Methodology, Finalizing Your Song For The Club
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is taught by Coflo, an esteemed producer and dancer, and explores the fundamental principles of post-production, aiming to give students a proper methodology for finalizing the details of their music. Students will explore key concepts as they pertain specifically to post-production use cases, such as frequency masking, subtractive EQing, multi-band compression, side-chain compression, stereo image control, gain staging, parallel processing, gluing, limiting, saturation and coloring. Through a combination of existing project studies, group discussions, hands-on exercises and project feedback, students will find new approaches to sculpting their sound so that their songs and ideas will translate more accurately and with better results on large PA systems found in nightclubs and festival stages. This course will not only explore technical concepts but also creative problem-solving, so that the student’s creative choices in their songs are never compromised for what is “technically correct”.
DATES & TIMES:
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Record Uploads: Weekly. Monday
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August: 26
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September: 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
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October: 7, 14
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Office Hours: (Live Sessions): Weekly, Wednesday 1:00 p.m. (EST)
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August: 28
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September: 4, 11, 18, 25
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October: 2, 9, 16
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Schedules are subject to change. Changes to the schedule will be communicated to students in a timely manner by the instructor or one of UMA’s team members.
LEARNING OUTCOME: Upon completion of this course, students will have reliably demonstrated the ability to utilize specialized techniques, equipment, and software.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Creating Balance and Space
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Students will learn to apply frequency masking and subtractive EQ techniques to create clarity and separation between different elements in their mix.
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Students will demonstrate the ability to control the stereo image and use gain staging to balance the levels of different tracks.
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Students will engage in hands-on exercises to practice parallel processing and understand its impact on creating space in a mix.
Creating Consistency
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Students will explore the use of multi-band compression and side-chain compression to achieve consistent dynamics across their productions.
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Students will participate in group discussions to identify and address common consistency issues in existing project studies.
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Students will develop skills in gluing techniques to ensure a cohesive and unified sound throughout their tracks.
Creating Power and Feeling
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Students will experiment with limiting, saturation, and coloring to enhance the energy and emotional impact of their productions.
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Students will receive project feedback to refine their approach to creating powerful and emotive soundscapes.
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Students will understand how to use creative problem-solving to maintain the emotional integrity of their music without sacrificing technical precision.
Listening and Finalizing
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Students will practice critical listening skills to identify areas for improvement in their mixes.
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Students will learn finalization techniques to ensure their productions translate well on large PA systems, such as those found in nightclubs and festival stages.
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Students will complete hands-on exercises to apply final adjustments and polish their tracks for professional release.
COURSE TYPE: Specialized Skill: Instructed by individuals or organizations, that can offer skill-building in specialized techniques or equipment.
COURSE LEVEL: Beginner - Intermediate
SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS:
Equipment: Computer, Near Field Monitors and/or Headphones
Software/plugins needed:
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DAW (i.e. Logic, Ableton etc..)
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Multi-band EQ with Spectrum Analyzer (all modern DAWs come with this)
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Multiband Compressor with sidechain capabilities (This one is free , not a compressor but dynamic EQ and give similar behaviors - https://www.tokyodawn.net/tdr-nova/)
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Glue Compressor (wide-single band compressor) (most DAWs have this built in, but many free available)
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Saturator/Excitor (most DAWs have them included, but also MANY free plugins available)
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Correlation Meter (phase correlation, most DAWs have one included)(this one is free: https://www.izotope.com/en/products/ozone-imager.html)
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Image/Stereo Widener/Stereo Width Controller (most DAW’s have one of these included).
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Utility tool with Mono/Stereo switch (most DAWs have one included)
INSTRUCTOR: COFLO
Coflo brings a true dancer's touch to house music. A lifelong student of American house dance and the Afro-Brazilian martial art Capoeira, he brings decades of movement experience into his musical creations. Their musical expression aims to create full-body sonic experiences, inspiring and instigating creative movement and elevating the dancer's response as its own true artform.
Coflo's original productions and remixes can be found on many staple house music imprints, such as Osunlade's Yoruba Records, Ocha Records, Joe Claussell and Ron Trent's Sacred Medicine, Local Talk, and many more. Coflo has had numerous #1singles including a remix on Nervous Records for the maestro Louie Vega's "How He Works."
His passion and energy for the arts is relentless as he remains forever a student, learning and growing with each passing year.
Don’t miss out on the chance to join us on this educational journey. Secure your spot today and take the first step towards securing your spot in these UMA courses today!
How Our Courses Work:
1. On-Demand Lectures:
Instructors send weekly videos to students, providing a flexible and convenient way to engage with course material. These videos encompass lectures, detailed exercise instructions, and valuable resources, enabling students to learn and review at their own pace. Recognizing that many of our students are working artists with demanding schedules, this approach ensures that they can access and absorb the content from the comfort of their own space. This method supports their creative process and professional commitments, fostering a balanced and enriching educational experience.
2. Live Class Sessions:
While we want to ensure the comfort of our students, we also recognize the importance of community to the learning experience. Peer-to-peer exchange of skills and feedback is facilitated during weekly 1.5-hour live class sessions, held on Zoom. The focus of these sessions is on fostering connection – both to the material and to each other. Through discussions, in-class exercises, and feedback circles, students deepen their understanding and build a supportive learning community. These live interactions enrich the educational experience by encouraging collaboration, reflection, and mutual growth.
3. Digital Community:
Our online community on Discord provides a dynamic space for students to engage outside of class and access valuable information. Instructors post lesson plans and written instructions, making it a comprehensive resource hub. Students can connect with peers from all courses, fostering a broader sense of community and collaboration. Additionally, this platform offers the opportunity to maintain connections even after the course ends. Alumni enjoy lifetime access to dedicated channels, along with public channels, ensuring they remain an integral part of our vibrant, ongoing community.
Our Curriculum EcoSystem:
UMA's courses are developed and curated based on the four components of our Curriculum EcoSystem. This system connects the dots between theory, skill-building, and practical applications, allowing students to understand and cultivate the magic within music-making while ensuring a transformative educational journey for each student.
To learn more, visit our About page here.