UNDERGROUND MUSIC
ACADEMY

Do you have policies on attendance and grades?

Our courses are not modeled to include grades or take attendance. We encourage students to understand that their participation, insight, and perspective are critical to cultivating an engaging learning environment and getting what they need from the course.
What is the class size cap?

The class size is limited to 15 students.
Where are the classes held?

Live Sessions are held on Zoom. The link will be sent to students before the start of the semester.
What is the refund policy?

We offer several refund opportunities for students who have purchased courses: 1. Partial Refund (A): A partial refund of 70% is available if the refund request is offered to those who submit a request before …(5 days before) the course's designated start date. 2. Partial Refund (B): A partial refund of 40% is available if the refund request is initiated within 5 days after the course start date. 3. Refunds No refunds will be issued after 5 days from the designated start date of the course. 4. Course Cancellation: If the course is canceled by the school, a pro-rated refund will be issued for classes that have not transpired.
Will I receive a certification upon completion of the course?

Currently, we do not offer any certification through our courses. However, we may consider this direction in the future.
Will there be another chance to take the course?

Yes, we are planning to offer these classes and more in the future.. To stay updated on new course offerings, sign up today for our mailing list here. In the meantime, stay connected via our newsletter for free workshop opportunities.
Is there a space for me to receive written instructions and updates?

Communications will be received through both email and our community group on Discord. Each course has its own space where instructors share weekly class lessons.
What equipment is required?

Each course may require different prerequisites. Please see the course description on our homepage or shop for specific requirements.
What are the course dates and how long is the course?

The course runs from Monday, August 25th to Saturday, October 18th, 2024. The course is 8 weeks long.
What is the length of each class?

On-Demand Lecture: 30 minutes (sent weekly) / Live Session: 1.5 hours per week
What is the class workload?

Weekly Exercises: Exercises help build the skills students need to reach project milestones or explore weekly lecture content more deeply. They offer space for concept development and experimentation, providing tools needed to complete the cumulative project. Cumulative Project: Students will work to complete one cumulative project during the course. These projects are selected by instructors and showcase the many skills gained throughout the course.

ONLINE COURSE FAQ

CURRICULUM ECOSYSTEM

MUSIC: FINDING YOUR VOICE. DEVELOPING YOUR PRACTICE.

How do we develop a creative process that moves us towards innovation?
What skills must one cultivate to create a practice that works for them?
How do you position your practice and independent artistry within the music industries?

We inspire our students to identify their unique creative processes.

Students receive an expert, personalized education in production and DJing, including the use of tools, software, and equipment, while our Our Eco-System focuses on wellness, empowerment, and community help students further develop and sustain vibrant creative practices.

FOCUSES:

Practice:

Finding your Sound
Collaboration in Practice
Workflows & Organization
Sourcing Inspiration
Iterative Processes & Experimentation
Independent Artistry

Skill Building:

Workflow & Practice Development
DJing
Hardware Equipment & Software
Music Production
Branding / Marketing

Speculative Futures:

Am I an Architect? Who am I Building with?
Future Casting. New Sounds. New Visions

WELLNESS: THE POTENTIALITY OF FREQUENCIES

What impact does music have on us?
How do we maintain wellness within our personal practices, communities, and industry?
What is the role of the musician in wellness?

Our students leave our courses with a deeper understanding of the power of music. We investigate the ways music impacts those who make it and their audiences, safe practices, and financial Well-being.

FOCUSES:

Wellness in Practice:

Scientific Basis (Examples / Applied)
Sustainable & Safe Collaboration in Practice
Financial Wellness & Business Practices

The Impact We Create:

Facilitating Healing
The Artist's Impact
The Impact of a Song

Impact on the Musician / Individual:

Personal Practice, Embodiment, Mixing as Mediation, Discipline
Play, Creativity, & Mixing as Magic
Trauma-Informed Safety

COMMUNITY: AMPLIFYING CONNECTION. CULTIVATING COLLABORATION

What does safety and accountability look like in practice?
What role does community play in education and development?
How does collaboration help us to foster collective growth as artists?

As artists, we engage with communities in a multitude of beautiful ways, whether that be the communities we form with audiences, neighbors, or fellow musicians. Our curriculum uplifts and guides those connections, encouraging students to collaborate and grow, together.

FOCUSES:

Community-Centered Economies:
- Building Networks & Mutual Aid
- Business in Community
- Resourcing
Engaging with Community:
- Community Event Practices
- Safety & Accessibility in Event Planning
- Engagement in Practice
Safety & Accountability:
- Accessibility
- Sustainable Practices
- Diverse Learning & Processes

Equity: Uplifting the History. Uplifting the Anti-Hero.

How can understanding the past guide us toward equity in the present?
What is the role of music in archiving the past, representing the present, and creating new futures?

We want our students to leave with a deeper connection to past and present architects of electronic music. We believe history empowers our community to understand their individual and collective power. It lays a blueprint, offering frameworks of movement, equity, and genre building. Students leave us grounded in legacy and ready to innovate.

FOCUSES:

Connectivity:
1. Historical & Contemporary Examples of Collaboration
2. Peer-to-Peer Skill Sharing
3. Collective Movements & Building
Social Justice Values:
1. Frameworks of Equity
2. Applied Practice
3. History of Social Justice Movement in Electronic Music
Music History:
1. Architects
2. Detroit Origins
3. Legacy, Lineage & The Future
4. Afro-Futurism
5. World Building