It seems as though everyone knows a story about a talented artist who started with a dream to "make it" in the record industry, gave it a shot, and ultimately failed. At the same time, we can all point to dozens of songs that were huge hits—for no discernable reason!
Why are some artists' records successful, while others fail?
In this course, you will have an opportunity to explore this, and many more questions about record production. For example: Who are the essential creative or technical personnel that must be assembled before any recording can begin? What exactly do producers DO when a record is made? How do Producers listen to works-in-progress and finished records—and what do they hear? How has Music Technology impacted the way that records are made? How will current changes in technology affect us down the road? Who decides which artists get the privilege to even make a record?
We will also scrutinize the popular song as an artform. Beneath the surface of its lyrical content, what is the inner meaning of a song? How does the production of the song support (or detract from) that meaning?