April 03, 2015

Ableton, the Berlin-based company that creates the unique music software Live, hosts an annual global tour that brings top-level artists to universities for music production workshops. Through student sessions, performances, and public presentations with Ableton experts, the tour opens up a world of music-making approaches with a focus on urban and electronic music production. The Ableton University Tour will visit campuses around the world this spring, including a stop at Drexel on April 10. By participating in the tour, Drexel’s Music Industry program joins a worldwide network of dedicated musicians, composers and DJs. Student breakout sessions in the afternoon will be followed by a free-to-the-public presentation at 6:30pm (URBN Annex Screening Room, 3401 Filbert Street), featuring performances, tips and tricks, and unique approaches for music-making from artists and Ableton experts. Click here to register for the free event.

Guest speakers at the public presentation will include Brian Funk (AfroDJMac and Ableton Certified Trainer) and Abelton’s Ben Casey. During the afternoon breakout sessions, which are open to all Drexel students from 2:00pm to 5:00pm in URBN Room 124, students will join Ableton representatives and Certified Trainers to explore composition, sound design and production.

In addition to Live, which allows users to create, produce and perform in real-time, Ableton makes Push, a hardware instrument for playing and composing with Live. Experts will speak to the use of software in live performances as well as in composing, recording, mixing and mastering.

Ableton University has traveled to the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Germany, Australia, South Africa and Mexico, and last year’s United States tour stops included NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, University of Miami, Harvard University and others. For more information about the event, please contact Music Industry Professor Ryan Schwabe at rjs22@drexel.edu.