Designed for high school students who already compose their own electronic music using software applications and have a music theory background, the Electronic Music Production Camp provides a deeper dive into composing electronic music and using music technologies.
Who is it for?
Our camps are open to rising 9th graders through rising 12th graders in high school. The electronic music production camp is perfect for students interested in:
- Learning how technology impacts the ways we create, produce and consume music.
- Composing their own electronic music using Ableton Live and other software and hardware tools.
- Increasing their knowledge of digital music software, composition, and music theory in order to become better songwriters or composers.
What will you learn?
- Camp faculty will work closely with each student to learn concepts and skills related to electronic music production, including composing electronic music with Ableton Live, complex effects and mixing, creating sounds from scratch, and more.
- In every class, students will work hands-on to develop an understanding of the concepts underlying modern music technology.
- By the end of the camp, they will have composed their own original score for a short film.
- Students will also be engaged in hour-long seminars offered by media specialists at the D.H. Hill Library or faculty from the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering on various topics and learning objectives involving music and technology.
If you’re new to composing electronic music or music theory, start with our Introduction to Electronic Music Camp.
Sample schedule
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8:30-9:00 | Drop off |
| 9:00-11:30 | Recording live sounds for lyrics, samples or effects |
| 11:30-12:45 | Lunch |
| 1:00-2:00 | Daily project-based learning (e.g. how to make a speaker, sound engineering, etc.) |
| 2:00-4:30 | Mixing techniques |
| 4:30 | Pick up |
Registration
Registration is open from January 1 through June 1 or until all spaces are filled. A limited number of spaces are available so please register early.
You will need to create a Brickyard account in our Reporter system in order to register for the camp. Visit the Reporter parent account guide for setup instructions.
Cost
$450 per camper (includes lunch, camp t-shirt, instruction, supplies and activities)
What to bring
Raleigh is typically hot during the month of June (avg. high 89*F). All NC State buildings will have air conditioning for the duration of camp, but some activities and transitioning between sessions will be outdoors.
- Comfortable clothes (shorts and t-shirts) and closed-toe shoes for walking around campus
- Light jacket/sweatshirt for cool indoor spaces
- Rain gear for inclement weather
- Water bottle
- Pens/pencils and notebook
- Backpack
- Media storage device such as a USB thumb drive
Please make sure all of your belongings are marked with your name, address, and school.
The instuctors were very kind and helpful. I enjoyed having an instructor who understood that the important thing with music technology was creating something that was interesting to each individual and not just learning what all of the buttons did.
2019 camp participant
Faculty & Staff
Director of Camps
Lecturer | Director of Music Camps | Conductor of Symphonic Band
Camp Clinician
Get to know our guest clinician, Howie Ledford!
Howell “Howie” Ledford is in his seventh year of teaching Music Production at Weaver Academy for Performing & Visual Arts and Advanced Technology in Greensboro, NC. At Weaver, his students have enjoyed success at the national level winning the NAfME Electronic Composition Contest, State winner and national contestant with the National PTSA Reflections Contest, and Youth Arts Award Winner from the Youth Arts Foundation.
Previous to this Mr. Ledford taught Electronic Music at Career Center High School in Winston-Salem, NC. Mr. Ledford has taught band and orchestra in some form for twenty-one years. He serves as a Marching Band Instructor for East Forsyth High School and has been an Associate Conductor for the Wachovia Winds Youth Wind Ensemble. He also has been a clinician at the NC State Summer Music Technology Camp.
Mr. Ledford graduated from Mars Hill College/University in 2001 with a BME and a Minor in Computer Science. Mr. Ledford earned a Master’s Degree in Music from UNC-G in 2010, and is presently the chair of the NCMEA Music Technology Committee.
Camp Instructors
Teaching Professor | Director of Jazz Studies | Conductor of Jazz Ensembles