Workshop 1: Making Music in Ableton Live

These two stand alone workshops introduce community members to Ableton Live as a creative tool - one focused on music production fundamentals, the other on producing radio content. Together they give participants practical, hands-on skills they can use immediately, whether they want to make music or run a better show. Summary: Participants build a track from scratch - beat, melody, and chords - then arrange and mix it into a finished piece, learning the core building blocks of production along the way through a hands on tutorial. A good ableton workflow can save you hours over the lifetime of a show. Beats & Melody • Program a drum beat using MIDI basics and rhythm roles (kick/snare, hats, percussion, fills) • Write a melody using simple, emotion-based music theory • Build a chord and explore basic sound design (ADSR, synths) Arrangement • Structure a track using bar phrasing (8/16/32 bars) • Use macros, automation, and FX for transitions • Add and edit an audio track (warping, cutting up loops) Mixing • Balance levels across tracks • Apply basic EQ • Use sends and groups for a cohesive mix What to bring: • Laptop • Headphones • a curious spirit • Copy of Ableton Live (available as a free trial for 30 days)