On September 12th, I ran an online workshop on behalf of the Australian Music Therapy Association for registered music therapists and music therapy students.
The aim was to introduce Ableton Live, and show off all its unique sound and music production features.
Over the 2 years of studying music therapy, I have had many conversations with students, music therapists, clients and musicians about their perceptions of music production in 2019. Digital audio workstations (DAWs) have not only changed how we produce and design music, but offer new and engaging ways to approach music making, creativity and mastering those creative thoughts. Apps give a bright and colourful interface for musicing too, and you will see many musicians and sound designers using iPads and computers in their live sets.
Ableton Live is one of many platforms for creating music, it is one I learned at DBS music, and from a musician's point of view, it just stuck. 'Created by musicians, for musicians' I once read, and I believe it to be a very true statement.
Whether you like electronic music or not, DAWs are an integral part of the modern recording studio and if you want to create music like everyone else and keep up with modern production, we need to learn how to use them.
Most of the comments I had received from current RMT's is that they don't know enough about how to use technologies in practice. Which one to use? Is it compatible with work computers? How do I use it clinically without losing momentum and the 'musical moment'.
I thought now - being the end of my second and final year of the masters - would be the best time to share some of my knowledge with music therapists about DAWs and in particular, Ableton Live.
Music therapy has the potential to transform the lives of so many individuals, and I worry that if music therapy doesn't keep up with digital consumers, then many people will be lost to a system which hasn't yet adapted to the modern times.
Ableton Live has a lite version which you can access for free - offering 8 tracks and audio and MIDI features and FX. It's a great place to start if you don't know if it will suit you.
Students and Teachers can also get 40% off:
and there are 25% off multi-licenses for institutions:
I say let's embrace technology, let's explore, let's have some fun, let's try something new.
You never know what you could create if you just try....