Berklee

Propellerhead Software has joined forces with Berklee College of Music’s online extension school, Berkleemusic.com, to develop four accredited certificate programs based on Reason, the popular electronic music application.

The programs are Propellerhead Software certified and mark the beginning of formalized education surrounding the award winning software. The certification will enable existing Reason users and those new to the software to gain an industry recognized certification with courses developed and taught by the renowned faculty at Berklee College of Music.

The four certification programs; Sound Design using Reason, Electronic Music Production using Reason, Music Creation using Reason and Music Production using Reason offers students a directed study plan that addresses practical approaches to music production, sampling, sequencing, sound design and arranging in various genres. The online courses enable students to study with Berklee College of Music’s production faculty and collaborate with other musicians and producers from anywhere in the world. In addition, Berkleemusic offers nine individual online courses using Reason and has taught over 5000 students worldwide over the past four years.

“This certification provides an excellent learning platform for existing Reason users as well as musicians new to the software,” says Barry Kelly, Director of Marketing, Berkleemusic.com. “Not only will they gain industry recognized proficiency but they will walk away from these programs with core skills and new music production techniques. The online courses also bring Reason users far and wide together in an collaborative environment to share and exchange ideas.”

“We are excited to be working with Berklee College of Music and their innovative approach to teaching music theory, engineering, and production,” comments Robert Pointer, Propellerhead’s Director of U.S. markets. “The Reason certification program will enable artists around the world to get closer to their creative potential by acquiring the certification. One of our goals as a company is to provide the tools and the path towards making music a reality for all artists, and the Reason certification program is a valuable step towards that goal. We can’t wait to see this be available to Berklee’s online students.”

The Music Production using Reason program consists of eight courses, five core and three elective courses that let students customize their own specific educational goals in music. Elective courses are offered in songwriting, film scoring, remixing, arranging, performance, composition, orchestration, music theory, production, and music business.

Berklee College of Music has introduced a new class, Hip-Hop Writing and Production. Students learn the techniques that hip-hop producers use to create hit songs.

“Learn writing and production considerations unique to hip-hop, how to analyze and recreate different styles of hip-hop, and how to use this foundation to produce your own songs using Propellerhead’s Reason software.”

Students learn to:

• Use writing and production criteria to analyze and recreate hip-hop songs
• Program drum beats and loops using Propellerhead’s Reason software
• Create bass, guitar, keyboard, and horn parts for hip-hop arrangements
• Use proper mic placement and production techniques for recording rap vocals
• Apply hip-hop mixing and mastering techniques to songs

The class is a 12-week, 3 credit class.

More information is available at the Berklee site.