Evening Courses

AIM

This course is for musicians and industry professionals who want to get to the next level and gain crucial knowledge about current practices in all music-related entertainment industries.

Certified Ableton Trainer & producer Dr Martin Clancy and professional mixing engineer and producer Vasileios Gourgourinins will take you through crucial elements of contemporary music production techniques and introduce the new features of Ableton Live 11: Take recording and comping, linked-track editing, using MPE-capable controllers, note expression view and exploring sound design within Ableton 11. 

Martin and Vasileios have run the Ableton Advanced class for the past  ten years and continually update its content to reflect the latest technological and creative advances. Many of Ireland’s leading DJs, remixers, producers and indie groups have attended the course. Meet new people and collaborate on new music projects in a framework designed to maximise creativity for all genres.

Course modules include:

• Mixing & Mastering
• Remixing approaches 
• Hardware Integration with Ableton 
• Controllerism (iOS/Android interactivity, MIDI &  MPE optimisation)
• Live Performance 
• Interactive Visuals  
• Online Collaborations 
• Modern Broadcast Standards for Content Creators 
• ‘How to’ Music Industry Content (Recording, Publishing, Live & Merch)
• Future Music technologies (AI, Blockchain & NFT)

THE TUTORS:

MARTIN CLANCY

Dr Martin Clancy is a Certified Ableton Live 11 Trainer. His specially designed evening courses combine the latest technological breakthroughs alongside his long-standing industry experience. Martin’s teaching approach aims to empower artistic creativity through technology without the musician becoming overwhelmed. Life is simply too short! 

Martin has worked internationally in a range of music genres and environments. As Artist in Residence in New York, Martin had a series of Top 20 Hits in the US Billboard Dance Charts. With In Tua Nua (Virgin/Island Records) he worked with Sinead O’Connor and Steve Wickham (Waterboys). In 2021, Martin’s electro-jazz outfit Embassy Gutters appeared at JazzaHead Convention, Bremen Germany, while the release of Pathos 11 by Vallerphone debuted on BBC Radio 1. Martin completed his doctorate in AI and Music from Trinity College, Dublin 2021. Martin is the manager of Jack Lukeman and works as a consultant to the international music industry.

VASILEIOS GOURGOURINIS

Vasileios Gourgourinis is a Dublin based Music Producer and Sound Engineer. He is a lecturer and tutor at Sound Training College (Dublin) in Degree and Diploma Courses. Vasileios, a member of the electronic music trio: Valleraphon - alongside DJ/Producers Martin Clancy and Giuliano A.L. Valleraphon has released multiple songs under labels such as Bonzai Progressive and Krafted Underground. Vasileios has also produced and engineered albums by Irish songwriter Jack Lukeman (27 Club, Great Wall of China & Magic Days). His work includes collaborations with Classroom Battles, Dammy Ari, Pugwash, Dashoda, Galia Arad and Gold Blooded Woman.

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Endorsements:

Cailin Power (DJ, Producer)

After completing Martin’s Advanced Ableton Course, I couldn’t be happier. I learned so much from it because there is so much to gain if you are willing to put in the effort. Over the 15 weeks, I acquired an in-depth knowledge of Ableton and how to get the best out of the programme. One of the great things about the course is that you don’t just learn about Ableton; you acquire a strong technical knowledge of production and creative techniques and also mixing and mastering. The weekly assignments get a creative flow going and get you into a good routine of making music regularly. Sitting down to work on a track becomes fun and less daunting because you see yourself improving each week, which in turn boosts your motivation. As well as the technical stuff, Martin encourages you to be creative and teaches you how to manage your time in the studio efficiently. And not only do you have Martin as a teacher, there is a second teacher called Vas. The way they deliver a class is excellent. It's very rare to find a course with two dedicated teachers who invest a personal interest in your work. Highly recommended 🙂

Sarah Keane AKA Rowlette (Singer, Songwriter, Producer)

I found the Ableton course brilliant. As a singer and songwriter with no previous production experience, it really widened my musical ability. Martin and Vas are both excellent (and patient!) teachers. The atmosphere was always lovely and it made for an educational and enjoyable experience. Highly recommended!

Raymond Hill (Composer, Producer)

I enrolled on the Ableton Live Advanced course with the intention of consolidating and expanding my skills and knowledge of Ableton Live. However, what I received was much more than this. Martin and Vas have a wealth of knowledge and experience to impart to anyone willing to listen and learn. I came away with an understanding of how Live can be used in a variety of different settings from composition and production to performance and also how Live can be used to complement a number of different scenarios. In addition, I got a strong grasp on the basics of music theory, a topic which had eluded me for a number of years. By the end of the course 15 weeks later, and following a conversation with Martin, I felt confident enough in my new abilities to undertake a full-time Masters program in Music & Media technology in Trinity. Having begun this journey with the intention of improving my music-making as a hobby, I instead made the choice to shift the focus to attempting to begin a new career in Music and Technology. For that, a large amount of thanks must go to Martin and Vas and the Ableton Live Advanced course in STC.

Gavin McDermott (Songwriter, Performer):

I was a total novice in terms of music production in the world of DAWs before I took Martin’s Ableton course at the Sound Training College, Dublin. However, my introduction to Ableton has changed the way I write my music, offering infinitely more possibilities for sonic adventure than, say, one voice and one guitar did. With Martin’s guidance, I have seen a rapid development in my understanding of recording as a craft and the ability to make the sounds I hear in my head actually come to life in Ableton. Ever since I first set foot in a studio, I have always wanted to be the guy at the controls. I wanted total control over my music from pen and page to the finishing touches of the mix. Martin and Vas have helped me get the ball rolling in this regard and I am seeing some real results. I am confident I will be able to release my own self-produced EP in the coming months of 2015. Moreover, Martin’s encouragement, positive attitude and pragmatic criticisms have helped me to reaffirm my love of writing music.

Sarah Byrne (Singer, Songwriter, Producer):

I could not recommend the Ableton courses more highly. Thanks to the stellar work of Martin & Vas, I went from being a singer in an electronic band, to writing & producing my own music. I've released two singles in the last year, and that wouldn't have happened without my participation in this course. The method of teaching combines step by step demonstration with practical application, that's easy to follow and build upon. The guys also provide invaluable direct support & feedback for each individual, that shows a deep understanding & appreciation of different musical styles to suit all students.

Giuliano AL (DJ, Producer)

I completed the Advanced Ableton course in 2015. I have been DJ-ing full time for several years and in the last few years I have started to produce music. I decided to take the course as I wanted to learn more about producing and in particular producing with Ableton. I went to an “Open Day” with Martin and straight away I felt that this was the “place to be” for all I needed. Martin has a unique way to teach and a talented method that helps you to bring out your creative side and not get caught only at the technical level. This for me works great. I signed for the 15 week course and with the teaching of Martin and Vas, the experience brought my skills to another level. During the course we really covered a lot. From basic use of Ableton up to mastering, mixing and using Visuals Live, Ableton Push and more. We also covered a section on time management when producing a track, which has helped me a lot because the majority of my work is “on the go” with short timelines. The extra benefit of this course is that many of the skills learnt have become of great use to me in producing my own tracks and with my own edits for my DJ set and radio show. I would really recommend the Advanced course to anyone that is ready to improve their Ableton knowledge and have some fun along the way. I loved the class atmosphere with a mixed alumni from different backgrounds and that helped all of us to open to each other’s point of view.

Olivia Corless aka ARTGIRL (artist, producer)

Delighted I did the Ableton Advanced Course with Martin and Vas. We covered a lot of ground in a short space of time. I learnt many new techniques and ways to approach mixing and creating in general. Both Martin and Vas are very enthusiastic and passionate about what they do and this made the learning experience all the more enjoyable. They were always on hand to answer any specific questions and give more tailored advice. I would definitely recommend this course for anyone who would like to learn more about Ableton and what you can get from it as a creative tool.

Finance:

This is a private course.

Fees include a €300 deposit which secures a place on the programme.

Places are limited so early application is recommended.

Sudents enrolled on the course can avail of a 40% student discount off the cost of purchasing Ableton Live.

Please contact Sound Training College for later course start dates.