Applications Open! Enroll for Summer 2027 at 2026 Tuition Pricing Until Sept 30
Record, mix, and master original tracks in this 2-week music production program for high school students at UCLA.
Rated 4.7 out of 5 for classroom experience by students who took this course in 2026.
Course Description
How does a musical idea become a track that sounds intentional from the first note to the final mix? Students learn the language and workflow of music production while developing original material with digital audio tools. They examine how recording choices, arrangement, editing, effects, and levels influence the sound and emotional impact of a piece.
Hands-on work introduces digital audio workstations and production software, including Ableton Live, Pro Tools, and Adobe Creative Cloud tools. Students record musical material, organize sessions, edit performances, experiment with sound design, and shape a mix through balance, processing, and revision. The emphasis is on making purposeful choices rather than applying effects without a clear reason.
Each student develops original music and moves it through recording, editing, mixing, and mastering. Listening sessions and feedback help students compare approaches, identify technical problems, and refine their own production style. By the end, they can better explain both how a track was built and which parts of the production process they want to study more deeply.
This two-week high school program takes place at UCLA in Los Angeles, California. The program is developed by UCLA and offered in partnership with Summer Discovery. It is available to residential and commuter students. Beyond class, students connect focused academic work with campus life, growing independence, and clearer direction about what they may want to study or pursue next.
What Will You Do?
• Learn music production terminology and a digital audio workstation workflow
• Record musical material using available microphones, instruments, and digital tools
• Arrange and edit audio into a structured production session
• Experiment with sound design, effects, and processing choices
• Balance levels and refine a mix through focused listening and feedback
• Master and present an original finished track
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
• Apply a digital audio workstation workflow to record and organize a project
• Edit, process, and mix audio using purposeful technical choices
• Complete and explain an original track from initial idea through mastering
Students will leave with an original finished track, stronger production and listening skills, and greater clarity about further study or possible pathways in music, audio technology, or media.
Why Music Production Skills Matter
Music production combines artistic judgment with technical control. A producer must listen closely, identify what a track needs, and choose tools that support the musical idea. Recording quality, arrangement, timing, editing, processing, and balance all affect whether the final result feels clear and intentional.
Working through revisions teaches students to diagnose problems instead of changing settings at random. They also learn to explain creative choices, organize a complex digital project, and use feedback without losing their own point of view. Those habits support creative collaboration and disciplined work across many forms of audio and media.
Who Should Attend?
This course is for high school students who have completed 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade and want to understand how original music is recorded, edited, mixed, and prepared as a finished track. It is a strong fit for students interested in songwriting, beat making, audio technology, performance, or the production decisions behind the music they hear.
Students should be ready to experiment, listen closely, revise technical and creative choices, and develop an original project over time. Familiarity with music can help, but advanced performance or production experience is not required. A completed program application is required.
Recommended by More Than 4 out of 5 Students
Based on students surveyed in Summer Discovery’s 2026 UCLA high school program.
Why UCLA?
UCLA gives high-school students the opportunity to explore an academic interest while experiencing university life in Los Angeles, a city where entertainment, technology, business, science, and culture constantly intersect. The campus has its own community and rhythm while connecting students to a wider environment built around creativity and new ideas.
Students learn alongside peers, navigate a large campus, and gain independence through everyday choices and responsibilities. Time outside class expands the experience through friendships, campus life, and opportunities to notice which subjects and settings hold their attention. For families, UCLA offers a valuable combination of substantive academics, personal growth, and clearer direction about what a student may want to study, experience more deeply, or pursue next.
Summer Discovery Certificate of Completion
After successfully finishing this course, you will be awarded a certification completion for your accomplishment.
*This is a preview, not what you will receive