A yellow hexagon with a laptop and headphones on it.

Online

Music Production Program

ICON’s Online Music Production Program prepares students to become music producers, composers, performers, recording artists, professional DJs, and entrepreneurs in the entertainment industry.

Participate from anywhere in the world

ONLINE MUSIC PRODUCTION PROGRAM


In ICON’s 18-month Online Music Production Program, you’ll dive progressively deeper into production, synthesis, arrangement, and mixing & mastering. You’ll receive regular lessons via HD videos, submit your corresponding assignments, and get online feedback from instructors. Weekly mentorship sessions with an industry producer keep you on track and let you get a professional’s take on your evolving music.

GET STARTED
A black and white icon of a cell phone with a speech bubble on it.

VIRTUAL 1:1 MENTORSHIP

Weekly sessions with a professional producer.

A black and white icon of a certificate with a ribbon.

LESSONS &PROJECTS

Learn from the pros and tackle new challenges.

A black and white drawing of a speedometer on a white background.

SELF-PACED PROGRAM

Work on lessons when you’re ready.

A black and white drawing of a person with an exclamation point.

Q&&&&A with

GUEST ARTISTS

Interact with top music talent online.

As a graduate of the ONLINE Music Production Program, you'll be able to:

Produce professionally mixed music

Master Ableton Live, Pro Tools and other platforms essential for mixing and producing music.


Protect your intellectual property

Navigate contracts and ace the legal aspects of setting up a business.


 

Overcome writer's block

Keep the creativity flowing, no matter what.
 

Build your brand

Develop an original sound and define your unique brand.


Develop your trademark sound

Create original sounds, tones and melodies that deliver an emotional impact.


Master the keyboard

Easily play intervals, scales and chord progressions.


18 Months

of music production education

(see curriculum below)

60 Hours

1-on-1 with a professional producer

800 plus+ Hours

of office hours available

(optional)

LIVE Q&A

with guest artists

CURRICULUM

The Online Music Production Program is an immersive educational experience that provides students a well-balanced study of modern music production guided by working professionals. Coursework includes studio production techniques, digital audio workstation operation, songwriting, arranging, music business, and synthesis. One-on-one weekly mentoring sessions, ear training, and personal development courses inspire creativity and round out the skill set necessary for artists to thrive in the 21st century music and entertainment industries. 


The program is designed as a self-paced program, taking 18 months (six quarters) to complete at the pace recommended by Icon. Clock hours shown are representative of the time required if maintaining the recommended pace. Actual time to complete the program for an individual student may be more or less, depending on the time it takes for the student to achieve the required level of mastery in each Unit. 


  • Level 1: Music Production with Ableton Live I

    Recommended time to complete- 11 weeks

     

    Ableton I & Groove Theory I

    Coursework explores the fundamentals of Ableton Live and its non-linear approach to music production, including many of the ways Ableton can be user-configured for studio music production and live performance. Projects and lessons include how to create, open, and save projects, use hot keys, import, edit, and warp audio, work with MIDI clips, understand the session view and the arrangement view windows and manipulate software instrument tracks and synths. Groove Theory topics include the fundamentals of rhythm, introduction to the drum kit and drum programming, as well as an introduction to rhythm transcription.


    Arrangement

    Coursework focuses on the analysis of real world examples in popular music and develops an understanding of song structure and standard arrangement techniques that form the foundation of compositional studies.

     

    Keyboard Techniques I

    Introduction to the basic concepts of music theory and its applications in songwriting using the keyboard. Topics include motor skills, hearing and identifying intervals, and playing major and minor scales and chords.

     

    Studio Mentor

    A weekly mentoring session with a professional producer. Mentors provide guidance in the production of the student’s original music and monitor the student’s progress in other courses, provide assistance and tutoring where needed. The Studio Mentor courses provide a constant source of support to help ensure academic success.


  • Level 2: Music Production with Ableton Live II

    Recommended time to complete- 11 weeks

     

    Groove Theory II

    Coursework explores the construction of beats and tracks in different rhythmic styles and genres, along with some historical context, covering the gamut from rock and soul to techno and dubstep.

     

    Keyboard Techniques II

    Continuing keyboard topics include playing and writing chords, inversions, and harmonic progressions,  as well as hearing and identifying minor scale intervals is also covered. 

     

    Studio Techniques I

    An exploration of the principles of digital recording and the best practices of professional music production. Presentations and exercises include signal processing, recording, mixing, and editing.

     

    Synthesis I

    A step-by-step approach to understanding the basics of subtractive synthesis and its components. Coursework includes an exploration of waveforms, oscillators, filters, Low Frequency Oscillators (LFO), modulation, envelopes, and waveform parameters.

     

    Studio Mentor

    A weekly mentoring session with a professional producer. Mentors provide guidance in the production of the student’s original music and monitor the student’s progress in other courses, providing assistance and tutoring where needed. The Studio Mentor courses provide a constant source of support to help ensure academic success.


  • Level 3: Intermediate Music Production

    Recommended time to complete- 11 weeks

     

    Ableton Live II

    Advanced Ableton Live production techniques, including the use of clip envelopes, arrangement tools, and slice to MIDI functions. Coursework will also explore the use of Ableton’s mixing and mastering tools.

     

    Keyboard Techniques III

    Introduction to the concept of melodic development. Projects involve creating simple melodic phrases and melodic transcription. Coursework topics also cover harmonic and non-harmonic tones including suspensions, anticipations, passing and neighboring tones.

     

    Synthesis II

    Intermediate synthesis concepts. Topics include Frequency Modulation (FM), physical modeling, sampling, and additive synthesis techniques.

     

    Studio Mentor

    A weekly mentoring session with a professional producer. Mentors provide guidance in the production of the student’s original music and monitor the student’s progress in other courses, providing assistance and tutoring where needed. The Studio Mentor courses provide a constant source of support to help ensure academic success.


  • Level 4: Advanced Production and Mixing

    Recommended time to complete- 11 weeks

     

    Keyboard Techniques IV

    Coursework explores melodic and harmonic complexity, the use of rhythm in harmony and melody as well as the arranging of sections within songs to create full-length compositions. Projects and assignments involve combining parallel scales, diatonic substitutions, modal interchange, and harmonic rhythm. Students expand their musical vocabulary and their ability to combine different sections of music into complete compositions.

     

    Music Business I

    Establishes a foundation of general business practices for music industry entrepreneurs. Coursework includes how to navigate the entertainment industry, protect intellectual property, and function within the ever-evolving music industry.

     

    Studio Techniques IV

    Mixing and mastering music to achieve commercial grade results. Projects involve creating mixes that are rich in dynamics, an appropriate frequency/tonal balance, and three dimensional in depth and imaging. Coursework includes setting up groups and stems, using automation, and mastering digital audio files for distribution.

     

    Studio Mentor

    A weekly mentoring session with a professional producer. Mentors provide guidance in the production of the student’s original music and monitor the student’s progress in other courses, providing assistance and tutoring where needed. The Studio Mentor courses provide a constant source of support to help ensure academic success.


  • Level 5: Songwriting and Music Business

    Recommended time to complete- 11 weeks

     

    Keyboard Techniques V

    Continue working with extended harmonies and compositional techniques.

     

    Music Business II

    Students will work on bios, branding and other techniques of self-presentation in the contemporary music industry.

     

    Songwriting I

    Examines the core components that make up great songs. Songwriting is examined and demystified as both a career and a process. Instills a greater command of writing lyrics, melodies, and hooks, writing for vocalists, and the collaborative songwriting process.

     

    Studio Mentor

    A weekly mentoring session with a professional producer. Mentors provide guidance in the production of the student’s original music and monitor the student’s progress in other courses, providing assistance and tutoring where needed. The Studio Mentor courses provide a constant source of support to help ensure academic success.


  • Level 6: Advanced Songwriting and Music Business

    Recommended time to complete- 11 weeks

     

    Ableton Live III

    Creative approaches to creating live performances in Ableton. Coursework develops the ability to map MIDI controllers and plan out a live set.

     

    Keyboard Techniques VI

    Introduction to alternative scales, fully extended harmonies, secondary harmony, and modulation. Students play one of their own compositions on the keyboard at the end of the Level, utilizing all of the concepts they have been exposed to throughout the program.

     

    Music Business III

    In-depth study of the role of marketing in the music business. Coursework explores social media, advertising, and public relations.

     

    Songwriting II

    Advanced lyric and songwriting concepts. Classwork focuses on writing vocal harmonies, re-harmonizing existing melodies, developing hooks, and how to break free from norms and clichés.

     

    Studio Mentor

    A weekly mentoring session with a professional producer. Mentors provide guidance in the production of the student’s original music and monitor the student’s progress in other courses, providing assistance and tutoring where needed. The Studio Mentor courses provide a constant source of support to help ensure academic success.


TALK TO ADMISSIONS