Course Name: Certificate in Music Production
Duration: 4 terms | 1 Year
Tuition Fee: Ksh 39,000 per term
Department: School of Music Technology
Course Outline/Structure:
Term 1: DAW Architecture & Applied Music Theory
- Creative Industries Orientation: Portfolio setup, studio etiquette, and KECOBO digital asset protection protocols.
- DAW Mechanics & Workflow: Deep navigation, sequencing shortcuts, and optimization in FL Studio and Ableton Live.
- Applied Rhythm & Construction: Beats, bars, time signatures, and structural timing logic for commercial music, with practical labs focused on Arbantone, Gengetone, and regional Afro-pop grid layouts.
- Virtual Instrument Architecture: Advanced MIDI routing, sampler configurations, and step-sequencer sound selection for modern club loops.
Term 2: Audio Tracking & Vocal Production
- Microphone Foundations: Understanding polar patterns, dynamic vs. condenser hardware, and vocal tracking acoustics.
- Vocal Engineering Masterclass: Lead and background vocal alignment, manual pitch correction, and Auto-Tune processing loops tailored for clean pop and urban urban delivery.
- Arrangement Logic: Designing commercial transitions, verse-chorus dynamics, instrumentation buildup, and song hooks across localized genres like modern Afrobeats and fast-paced Kenyan fusions.
- Introduction to Signal Processing: Basic equalization (EQ) principles and dynamic control using software compressors.
Term 3: Commercial Mix Engineering & Monetization
- The Art of the Mix: Establishing gain structure balance, frequency spacing, stereo panning, and spatial effects (Reverb/Delay).
- Industry Business Studies: Registering intellectual properties with local CMOs (MCSK, PRISK, KAMP) and setting up digital distribution channels.
- Beat Licensing Systems: Architecture of online marketplace sales, contracts, splits, and commercial sample clearance.
- Synthesized Sound Design: Subtractive and wavetable synthesis setups to design heavy Amapiano log-drums, custom baseline leads, and signature synth plucks.
Term 4: Portfolio Project & Technical Exit Assessment
- Commercial EP Production: Creating, tracking, and mixing a 3-track radio-ready music portfolio from scratch.
- Collaborative Visual Sync: Producing custom background scores and specialized audio assets for School of Visual Arts student video projects.
- Technical Portfolio Review: Strict verification of individual technical asset submissions against international industry standards.
- Formal Pearson BTEC Exit Certification: Vocational assessment and practical board evaluation for formal graduation credentials.