Homeschool Program
Music Tech Morning Programming for Homeschool Students
Semester 1: January – March 2026
Start date: January 12/15 2026
End Date: March 26/30 2026
(no class Mon Feb 16, Mon Mar 16, Thurs Mar 19)
Cost per program: $250 for 10-week semester
Location: HMC Centre for Performance and Education (The Gasworks) – 141 Park St. N. Hamilton
Class Size: For Beats By U! 8-12 students; All other classes: 6-10 students
Questions?
Contact annie@hamiltonmusiccollective.ca or call 905-807-2187
Schedule:
Mondays (Thursdays to be added if enough interest)
10:00am – 10:50am – Beats Jr. (6 – 10yrs)
10:00am – 10:50am – Jambassadors – Senior rock band (11 – 18yrs)
10:00am – 10:50am – Songwriting (14 – 18yrs)
11:00am – 12:15pm – Beats by U! (11 – 18yrs)
11:00am – 11:50pm – Jam 101 – Junior rock band (6 – 10yrs)
Programs
Beats Jr. (6 – 10yrs)
A special tech class for younger students to explore different styles of music including DJ culture, remixing, and programming music. Students get to experiment with Garageband for iPad, microphones, groove boxes, synthesizers and keyboard controllers in a playful environment.
- Explore music technology as a class
- Learn to respect and care for music hardware
- Participate in cooperative games
- Explore the history and culture of different genres (rock, hiphop, latin, disco)
- Make new beats and songs using iPads, Novation groove boxes, and pocket synthesizers
Beats By U! Level 1 – Introduction to Electronic Music Production (11 – 18yrs)
Students will learn the basics of making electronic music from scratch in this hands-on course, where you’ll be making your own beats from Day 1. Prerequisite for most semester 2 music tech programs.
- Learn the basics of Ableton Live 12.
- Build your own drum kits and start programming beats.
- Create your own tracks using loops and virtual instruments.
- Build a Live Set and prepare for a real performance
Songwriting (14 – 18yrs)
This course targets teens who wish to channel their creativity through the power of music and songwriting. We know that songwriting and the creative arts can help relax students, improve their self-esteem, and leave them with a finished product that they are proud of, which may help them overcome some of their obstacles.
As part of this course, students will get to work with both a songwriting mentor as well as a professional studio engineer to create an original recording of their song!
- Learn tricks for coming up with great song ideas
- Write interesting melodies and chord progressions
- Find inspiration for lyrics and concepts
- Record your original song at the end of the term
- Meet other songwriters and make friends!
Jam 101 (6 – 10 yrs)
JAM 101 is a fun-filled ensemble-based class for budding musicians who would like to explore different styles of music and techniques without committing to a single instrument. We incorporate improvisation and jam sessions in a rock band setting, and strive to build confidence and musical awareness in new players.
- Foster creativity and musical expression
- Learn about strong musicianship
- Cooperate and communicate with classmates
- Learn to respect and care for instruments
- Have fun!
Jambassadors (rock band) (11 – 18yrs)
(For students some experience with an instrument or a very keen interest in learning quickly!)
This unique performance-based program exposes students to the “ins and outs” of being in a band, with hands-on instruction and music industry insights from professional musicians. We provide rehearsal gear including microphones and drum kits, and our instructors lead the bands through learning songs and preparing for gigs. This program takes a student-centric approach which encourages cooperation, teamwork, discipline, and professionality.
Bands meet weekly, rehearse and perform in live professional settings. Our bands have performed at Supercrawl, Sound of Music Festival, Liuna Station, Hamilton Public Library, Collective Arts Brewing, the Kiwanis Boys and Girls Club, and other venues.
- Rehearse and practice weekly with bandmates
- Build technical proficiency on an instrument of choice
- Build strong musicianship and stage presence
- Cooperate and communicate with bandmates
- Learn to respect and maintain primary instrument and all related gear
Semester 2: April – June 2026
Start date: April 9/13 2026
End Date: June 4/22 2026
In addition to the continuation of classes from the winter semester, the following “elective” programs are available to be added to the schedule by student interest:
(Weekly schedule TBD)
Intro to DJing (11-18yrs)
Students will explore the art of beat matching, mixing, setting up for a show, and building a record collection. Students will use a combination of vinyl turntable hardware and software to begin their DJ journey.
- Learn the basics of a DJ mixer
- Understand signal chain and how to set up for DJing
- Learn to beatmatch and EQ
- Study song form and transitions
- Explore how to engage a crowd and curate a set
- Advocate for yourself as a freelancer and independent musician
Beats By U! – Level 2 – Advanced Beatmaking (11-18yrs)
(Previous experience making electronic music with Ableton Live or other music production software is required.)
Students move beyond loop libraries and create original music in this course that focuses on modern styles like dub, hip-hop, trap and future bass.
- Craft breakbeats, rhythms and syncopated grooves.
- Learn to write your own original melodies, harmonies and bass lines.
- Get creative with song structure in Ableton’s Arrangement View.
- Explore producing music for Visual Media
- Replicate some of your favourite beats with tools and advice from our instructors.\
Intro to Recording (13-18yrs)
Students learn the basics of using microphones, mixing, mastering, and creating original music in our recording studio and production lab Soundhaus Studios. Our studio manager shows how to record different instruments and styles of music, and combine it into a finished song for release.
- Understand the basics of Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) including Garageband and Ableton
- Learn to mix different genres of music
- Explore microphone techniques and recording styles
- Experiment with layering and tracking different instruments
- Create a cover of a song, including tracking, editing and mixing
- Apply MIDI parts to songs, such as drum programming and sampling
Music for Visual Media (13-18yrs)
(Prior Education/Experience with a DAW required)
Film, Television, Video Games – learn how professional composers write, record, produce, and release music for various forms of visual media. Create your own themes, learn to sequence with virtual instruments, arrange scores of many different genres and styles, and learn how to compose dynamic music that draws in the audience and enhances the visual experience.
Songwriting (11 – 18yrs)
This course targets teens who wish to channel their creativity through the power of music and songwriting. We know that songwriting and the creative arts can help relax students, improve their self-esteem, and leave them with a finished product that they are proud of, which may help them overcome some of their obstacles.
As part of this course, students will get to work with both a songwriting mentor as well as a professional studio engineer to create an original recording of their song!
- Learn tricks for coming up with great song ideas
- Write interesting melodies and chord progressions
- Find inspiration for lyrics and concepts
- Record your original song at the end of the term
- Meet other songwriters and make friends!