EQPD (Equipped) is an engaging music class designed to teach youth and aspiring young artists the basics of music production, songwriting, and recording. Throughout this 2-4 week class, participants will learn how to use a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) and professional recording studio equipment to create songs, focusing on Hip Hop, RnB, and popular music. From start to finish, beats will be made, lyrics will be written, and songs will be created in a collaborative environment. We will use the latest professional recording equipment to achieve a unique sound, highlighting and celebrating the personalities of our young artists as we lift their voices through creativity. This collaborative project aims to build lasting memories and strengthen our sense of trust and kinship as we create together artistically.

The Process

 

The production of songs is a process that involves many engaging steps. It’s an exciting and fun atmosphere, allowing our young people to express themselves artistically, work together as a team, and face their fears. The song production process involves three phases: beatmaking, songwriting, and recording.

Beatmaking & Producing: Where Technical Skills Meet Creativity

During the first portion of the workshop, we will create beats. For more introverted artists or those who prefer not to be in the spotlight singing or rapping, audio production can be the perfect "behind-the-scenes" form of expression. It allows artists to be creative with minimal pressure and fewer people watching them. For some, being front and center can cause anxiety, which is why making beats is a skill many thrive in, as it can be done without an audience.

We start off with introductions on the first day of the Beatmaking & Producing phase, establish boundaries and expectations, and then spend the duration of this portion of the program working on new beats every day.

In most cases in popular music, the beat is the foundation of a song. The students will learn how to use a DAW to sequence beats. Through the music language of MIDI, they will record drums, virtual instruments, bass, and more to layer and create fully produced beats. We will also cover the process of creating an arrangement for a song, including parts such as the intro, verse, chorus, bridge, and outro. This piece emphasizes the importance of going beyond the "beatmaker" phase, truly encouraging the visionary "producer" role. A music producer leads the song creation process and oversees the project from start to finish. Students will learn beatmaking as it relates to producing and how they work together in studio. Tufawon is trained in Ableton Live and will use it to create with students. It's an incredibly intuitive program to create with. 

Songwriting & Recording:

Vocals & Poetry Blended Over Beats

Songwriters come in many forms. They are powerful voices globally and deliver profound messages to the world. The healing power of songwriting dates back to our ancestors, who sang songs traditionally to heal, uplift, and guide. In a contemporary setting, today’s songwriters create songs in various forms. Some write and sing their own songs, while others write songs for other artists to sing or rap.

We will begin with introductions during the first day of the Songwriting & Recording workshop, establish expectations, and then dive right into the creative process. We will spend the duration of this time making and completing songs in the studio.

During this part of the workshop, our youth will learn how to write lyrics. We will cover writing to a beat and utilizing the beats created during the beatmaking phase. We will delve deeper into the vibe and energy of the song, defining the feel we want to achieve and the themes we want the song to reflect. Students will learn how to count bars, write verses, choruses, bridges, intros, and outros. They will incorporate poetry and emotion into their writing, learning how to sing melodies and rap about topics relevant to their experiences. They will discover how to use their natural voice in a song and how cadence and rhythm work over beats. Some will even collaborate to help each other write lyrics. My role is not to write songs for them but to facilitate and help them find what is meaningful and genuine, teaching them how to express this in their lyrics. I am here to empower and showcase their voices, guiding and coaching our young artists as they develop their skills and confidence throughout the entire process.

After writing lyrics, we move into the recording phase. It’s time for students to get on the mic, be brave, and witness what their voices sound like in a recording.

“My first time recording was weird and awkward. I didn’t like the sound of my voice initially, but I grew to love it and learned how to use it in a way that sounds brilliant. I love my voice now. Your voice is an instrument, and it should be used in a way that sounds best.” - Tufawon

We aim to find strength in our youth's voices during this process. This is what I teach during the recording sessions. We will record all parts of the song, with students recording their own original piece. They will learn the process of recording vocals, techniques on how to record with a studio microphone, layering their vocals, and completing their parts in the song(s). Once every part is recorded, the song recording phase will be complete, and we will successfully finish the songwriting and recording workshop.

**Skills Learned**
-Assembling a recording studio setup
- Creating beats on a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)
- Producing
- Writing song lyrics; structuring a song; poetry

-Using a MIDI controller
- Using your voice through singing and rapping
- Recording vocals in a professional recording studio
- Working in a collaborative environment/team building
- Creating an entire song(s) from start to finish

For more information about EQPD or inquiries, email info@tufawon.com.