Music and Sound Technology for Beginners

This is a practical course where you will be supported on an individual basis throughout the course based on your needs and ambitions. This will include help with:

• Music programming using a range of freely available software;
• Basic audio recording and editing;
• Sampling and sound synthesis;
• Songwriting tips;
• Mixing down and more.

We will be using Reaper software, which we have chosen as it is widely used and it is an inexpensive option that will allow you to continue your creative sound work at low cost after the course.

Headphones

In order to take this class you will need to purchase for yourself reasonably good quality headphones for the start of the course. We do not recommend in-ear headphones.

The following are options from www.amazon.co.uk (but feel free to use any seller you wish). Prices may vary from those shown here.

• Sony MDR7509 £89
• Sennheiser HD280 £77
• Audio Technica M30x £64
• AKG K52 £32
• Sennheiser HD206 £20

We do emphasise that these headphones are just suggestions and might not match your preferences or requirements. 

If in doubt, please ask before making your purchase, but do bear in mind you will need them for the first session.

Ashley Smith experienced and versatile music and audio specialist, with key industry
experience as an artist producer, professional audio engineer and live sound
technician.

He has extensive experience as a teacher of music and music technology to adult learners, and has a friendly and approachable teaching style.

Rate Categories and Discounts

Standard Rate

• Available to all except those who fall under the Internal Rate or Associate Rate category.

Internal Rate

• Current Imperial College students and staff (incl. Imperial NHS Trust, Imperial Innovations, ancillary & service staff employed on long-term contracts at Imperial College by third-party contractors)
• People enrolling under our Friends & Family scheme
• Alumni of Imperial College and predecessor colleges and institutes, including City & Guilds College Association members
• Students, staff and alumni of the Royal College of Art, Royal College of Music and City, UAL and the City and Guilds of London Art School
• Students, staff and Governors of Woodhouse College and the IC Mathematics School

Associate Rate

• Austrian Cultural Forum staff
• Co-operative College members
• Francis Crick Institute staff, researchers and students
• Friends and Patrons of the English Chamber Orchestra
• Friends of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens
• Friends of Leighton House/ Sambourne House
• Friends of the Royal College of Music
• Harrods staff
• Historic Royal Palaces staff
• Lycee Charles de Gaulle staff
• Members of the Friends of Imperial College
• Members of the Kennel Club
• Members of the London Zoological Society
• Members of the South London Botanical Institute (SLBI)
• Members of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
• National Health Service (NHS) employees
• Natural History Museum staff
• Residents of postcodes SW3, SW5, SW7, SW10 and W8
• Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council staff
• Royal Geographical Society staff
• Science Museum staff
• Staff of Exhibition Road Cultural Group (Discover South Kensington) organisations
• Students (non-Imperial College)
• Teachers and other staff of UK schools
• The American Institute for Foreign Study
• Tutors and other staff of institution members of the Association of Colleges
• Tutors and other staff of other universities and higher education institutions
• Victoria and Albert Museum staff

Late enrolment

It is possible to enrol on many of our adult education courses after the course has already started. For non-language courses this is subject entirely to agreement by the tutor. For language courses it is subject to agreement by the language coordinator conducting level assessment. If you want to join a course late do bear in mind there might be work you will need to catch up on, particularly in language courses.

Friends and Family Scheme

This course is eligible for allowing Imperial College students and staff to share their discount with their friends and family.

Enrolment via the blue booking link is open. Early-bird discounts are available until the end of 30 September 2024

Enrolment and payment run through the Imperial College eStore. When enrolling:

• Do check on the drop down menu above called "Course Fees and Rate Categories" to see if you are eligible for a discounted rate and also do make sure you select that rate when enrolling on the eStore
• If you are a first-time eStore user you will need to create an account before enrolling. You can do this by entering an email address and password. This account can then be used for any future enrolments via the eStore.

When you have enrolled you will be sent the following email notifications:

Questions regarding the content and teaching of this course should be sent to the Programme Manager, Dr Michael Paraskos, m.paraskos@imperial.ac.uk 

Questions about your enrolment and payment should be sent to the Programme Administrator, Christian Jacobi, eveningclass@imperial.ac.uk