Digital music composition opens up whole new world

AP

DARING: Miley Cyrus arrives at the 2012 Billboard Awards at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Picture: AP Photo/John Shearer

If you’re into music, you probably know who won what award as well as who wore the most daring outfit at the Billboards Music Awards held in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 20.

But do you know that it has become relatively simple to carve a career in the music industry? This, even if you cannot play a musical instrument, read music or keep a tune.

Digital music composition and production has opened a whole new world of opportunities and those who have the passion and the know-how can earn a living in this relatively new field of music.

At the beginning of this year, Boston City Campus and Business College teamed up with Africa’s largest independent dance record label, Soul Candi to offer a course in digital music composition and production.

Though it is better known for its Bump series – the biggest selling dance CD series in SA history – Soul Candi has an educational and development division. Well known names that have come through Soul Candi training in the past include Cuber, Shimza and DJ Whisky.

Ryan Murgatroyd of Crazy White Boy fame worked for many years as a Soul Candi lecturer and was instrumental in developing course content for the digital music composition and production courses that are now offered by Boston City Campus and Business College/Soul Candi.

These course entails short learning programmes that provide the skills needed to enter the exciting and ever-expanding industry of music production.

The course enjoys industry recognition as they encompass the latest music production techniques being used by the world’s hit-making producers. According to Andrew Cross of Soul Candi, the course is distinctly contemporary in content and approach.

Students undergo both theoretical and practical training and receive a certificate once they pass their theoretical and practical assessments.

It’s important to note that though it involves studio work, the training is specifically focused on producing music in the digital space; it must not be confused with sound engineering as such.

Core subjects covered in the Boston/Soul Candi digital music composition and production course are:

lMusic production with Reason software.

lMusic theory.

lCubase and audio engineering theory.

lAdvanced production and post-production.

Careers that you can consider upon completion of training include: DJ/music producer; film score composition; sound and music design for games, TV, Film and other multimedia applications; record producer; post production and mastering engineer; recording engineer; and live sound engineering.

Over the last decade, music, together with technology, and music education have made huge leaps forward – digital music has become serious business.

Consider that nowadays the SA Music Awards (SAMA) have a category for Best Selling Mobile Music Download, which this year was won by DJ Cleo with his hit called Facebook. Not only are people making music via digital means but they are also making the digital world the theme of their music.

It is an awesome industry to be involved in, yet it is also highly competitive and dynamic – what’s cool the one day may be outdated the next day. It is suited to personalities that welcome change and can adapt to change with ease.

Besides the right training, to get to the top like Crazy White Boy and others, you need to love music, be creative and dedicated.

Due to the nature of the training, the Boston City Campus and Business College/Soul Candi course in digital music composition and production can accommodate only a limited number of students.

The course is offered at selected Boston campuses, namely Arcadia in Pretoria, Durban City, Joburg CBD and Umhlanga Rocks.

Applications are open for the 2012 full-time course, which kicks off in February next year. Those who wish to study part-time can start their studies sooner. For details, you can contact the call centre on 011 551 2000, e-mail info@boston.co.za, visit www.boston.co.za, or Facebook.

Boston City Campus & Business College offers over 80 dynamic career qualifications over 40 branches nationwide. Unisa degrees and media studies are also available at selected branches.