About the Program

Delve into music production techniques with our world-renowned Music Production and Engineering Department faculty and facilities. Choose from classes covering topics such as modern record production, multitrack recording and mixing techniques, and DJ production skills. The weekend culminates in a keynote address and presentation featuring a noted industry professional.

How to Enroll

This program has limited capacity. Submission of registration materials alone does not guarantee participation. You will secure your spot by paying in full.

Step 1Submit your registration
Begin by submitting your registration online. If applicable, you may need to submit additional supporting materials.
Step 2Make your tuition payment
All programs have limited capacity, so be sure to complete your full tuition payment to reserve your space in the program.
Step 3Request housing
If you will be age 15 or older by the start of your Boston-based program and require on-campus accommodations, complete the Residence Hall Agreement in the Next Steps tab of your registration portal.
Step 4Complete your next steps
Visit the Next Steps section of your program to view and complete any additional requirements. Review the checklist to make sure you are on track.

Curriculum

Throughout the workshop, several concurrent breakout sessions are offered in each time slot. You can self-select which session to attend in any given time slot over the course of the weekend, as space allows. Offerings range from introductory to intermediate levels of skill and preparation. Participants have limited hands-on opportunities, and most seminars are demonstration-based.

The following list of classes gives you a sense of what to expect:

Critical Listening: Explore techniques used to analyze popular recordings from a variety of perspectives, both technical and musical.
Business of Music Production: Discuss licensing, publishing, royalties, contracts, and distribution.
Demystifying Mastering: Even for those who have heard of it, mastering is a discipline shrouded in mystery. Every song on the Billboard Top 100 has been mastered, and every record made by a major artist gets mastered. So, what is it?
Making and Selling Your Own Recordings: Learn how mastering can enhance your final product, how to prepare for manufacturing, how to design your package, and about the most successful marketing methods for independently released albums.
Multitrack Mixing Techniques: Explore the aesthetic choices related to the balance, dynamics, arrangement, preparation, and realization of a successful mix.
Multitrack Recording Techniques: Participate in an accelerated workshop covering many aspects of recording, including microphone selection and placement, equalization, and dynamic signal processing.
Project/Home Studio Design and Setup: Learn about basic equipment requirements, budget considerations, affordable acoustic modifications, and the formation of appropriate expectations.
Turntable Techniques: Learn about the historical development of the turntable, from its origins in Jamaican music to its prominence in hip-hop and contemporary music. Develop basic skills using the turntable for performance/live expression and as a production tool.
Vocal Production: It’s all about the vocals; ask any established producer. This session will focus on how to help your vocalist give you the best, truest vocal performance, and how to enhance that performance by “comping” (combining parts of different vocal takes), context-based level-riding, and phrasing adjustment to augment emotion.
Keynote Presentation: The weekend culminates in a presentation by a noted industry professional.
Evening Sessions: Enjoy open recording and mix sessions, demonstrations, and lab time.

Schedule

Check out a sample of a typical day in the program. Schedules are subject to change.

Each Day

8 AM–9 AMBreakfast
9:15 AM–11 AMBreakout Sessions
11:15 AM–1 PMBreakout Sessions
1 PM–2:15 PMLunch
2:15 PM–4 PMBreakout Sessions
4:15 PM–6 PMBreakout Sessions
6 PM–7 PMDinner
7 PM–10:15 PMExtended Evening Breakout Sessions or Open Time in the DJ Lab or Virtual Reality Space

Requirements

All students who meet the minimum age requirement and older, with six months of playing experience on electric or acoustic bass are welcome to attend.
Participants must possess a proficient level of English to enroll in this program. We do not require proof of English language proficiency (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo) as part of the enrollment or application process; however, you are expected to have a sufficient command of the English language to understand class material and assignments.
Bring a laptop with access to digital audio workstation (DAW) software (i.e., Ableton Live, Pro Tools, Logic, etc.) and a MIDI Keyboard

Program Director

Class of 1983
Rob Jaczko
"I really respond to students who are eager to learn and willing to go all out to achieve their goals."
Read Full Bio

Once You’ve Enrolled

The Berklee Summer Programs Team is excited that you’ve taken the first step! Now that you’re enrolled, here’s what you need to know to be prepared before check-in, and what to expect afterward.

Please regularly check the email you used to enroll in your program for important updates. A detailed check-in email, containing information about your assigned arrival location, housing assignment (if applicable), and program schedule, will be sent one to two weeks before your program's start date.
On-campus housing is limited, and spaces will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis based on the completion of the following steps:
1. Read, sign, and submit the residence hall agreement on the registration portal.
2. The Summer Programs team will review your signed residence hall agreement within 3-5 business days. After review, we will send you an email inviting you to return to the registration portal to view your on-campus housing decision letter.
3. If your request has been approved, secure your spot by accepting your offer and paying the housing fee in full.
Important Considerations
- For students enrolled in multiple programs, please complete a separate residence hall agreement (along with the accompanying housing fee payment) for each program.
- To be eligible to request on-campus housing, a student must be 15 years of age before the start of their program.
- If a student is under the age of 18, the request for on-campus housing must be filled out by a parent/guardian, and both the student and parent/guardian must agree to all the terms and conditions.
- Applicants for Musical Theater Acting Intensive (MTAI) and Vocal/Choral Intensive (VCI) must first be offered admission and accept their offer before their residence hall agreement submission will be considered.
- Since space in our residence halls is limited, a spot in our residence halls will only be guaranteed once a student has fully registered for their chosen program and paid the program tuition in full. Any housing requests or payments made before the completion of both these steps do not ensure a guaranteed place in on-campus housing.
Learn more about housing and campus life by exploring the Help Center.
Accommodations are provided for students with documented medical needs, offering services such as academic accommodations, academic coaching, special housing arrangements, dietary adjustments, and referrals to on-campus support, including adaptive technology and tutoring.
Accommodations are determined through an interactive process involving the student, faculty, the Office of Housing and Residential Education, a dietitian, and Accessibility Resources for Students staff. Requests for academic, housing, and dietary accommodations can be made by following the steps outlined in this Help Center article.