Courses and Workshops at the PMC

The centre regularly runs music workshops and courses for the community, and wants to develop this area of work - so please get in touch if you have requests or proposals for training events, and bookmark this page to check in regularly on the latest schedule.

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Cubase Music Technology
Starts 30th January, Wednesdays 7-9pm for 12 weeks - £36.00

This course will use Cubase to show you how to build your own dance tracks, and will be led by local DJ Sundance, aka Jonathan Oates, an experienced and skilled music producer. Topics to be covered are:

• General knowledge and correct set up of SX3

• Working with audio and midi files

• Sound card, computer set up and system requirements

• Creating drum and rhythm tracks from one shots

• Basic understanding of mixing and EQ

• Mastering and correct placement of mastering devices

• Basic music arrangement (genre dependant) verse, chorus, bridge, etc

• Using vst instruments in productions

• Audio editing within audio editors

• Sampling and loop arrangement

• Vocal recording and microphone use

• Treatment of vocals and sounds

More about Jonathan:

''I've been in the dance music scene for sixteen years in total and have been dj'ing and professionally producing dance music for seven years.

Under my DJ name of DJ Sundance, I've played in most of the clubs in Cornwall and ran the SAS Ball dance tent in 2006. At present I'm signed to an American record label and have had three top ten hits in the US sound click dance charts. My debut album 'We Believe' was released at the end of Oct 2006 by Andromeda Recordings US, who also got the album played several times on international radio stations.

I also work with a singer who is featured on some of the tracks and we have played and performed our music live at many venues including the SAS BALL 2006.

Most of my productions are made in my purpose built studio where I primarily use Cubase sx3, I use SX3 because it has a fantastic audio engine which has a very polished sound to finished productions. Along with the others such as Logic, it is accepted as a professional sequencer and is only one step down from the ultimate and extremely expensive studio that is Pro Tools!

I was very fortunate to have a formal training some seven years ago by my friend Ian Widgery,who also used Cubase, and has worked for EMI, has remixed the likes of Robbie Williams, David Bowie and has supplied sound tracks for major Hollywood movie productions. Experience like this is invaluable, learning techniques from people like this is something money just can't buy.

Along the way I've also found my own techniques and production values, which once all combined, give me the sound that is my own.

So far to date this combination has proved itself right, my music is accepted within the professional field, both in this country and across the globe. Now I have interest from Uk music companies wanting to use my music in TV and film, but as always in this business it all takes time.

If I can offer my knowledge of production techniques and music creation to other people who'd like to have this foundation then I am only to pleased to pass it on.''

If you're interested to know more, please get in touch with the Centre - places are limited!

Rock School
Coming in Spring '08

This series of workshops will be ideal for bedroom rock stars - anyone who has the passion, the instruments, the ideas - and just needs to find the rest of the band. Working with experienced musicians who can advise on the ups and downs of the music business, workshops will develop your skills on guitar, bass, keyboards, vocals, drumkit - and any other instruments you want to bring to the mix - and help you to build your own band. We'll look at what makes a band work, what you need to do to make it hold together, and give you some time in the studio to get experience of playing and recording together.

If you're interested in this course, for which we're still pulling together tutors (dependent on what you're looking for) and dates, please get in touch straight away to register. Call Amanda on 07751 786315, or email her at apickering@humphry-davy.cornwall.sch.uk

And in the meantime, check this out to get your ideas flowing.
www.wikihow.com/Start-a-Rock-Band

If you are interested in putting on a course or workshop at the Penwith Music Centre please let us know. Contact us here.