Anyone 18+ with an interest in music techology (see prerequisites below). Parents may request a waiver for students under 18.
What concepts do you cover?
When all three 100-level seminars are taken in order over the course of a school year, the program is designed to give students a basic grounding in modern music production. Concepts covered include the science of acoustics & electronics, analog & digital audio engineering, music on computer, musical synthesis & sampling, scoring for film & TV, project management, career development. Courses may also be taken individually with no pre-requisites.
200-level courses (offered in the summer) are meant to supplement this basic understanding in some specific areas.
How are you equipped?
The PSU Music Lab is equipped with 25 computer music work stations, each with its own Macintosh Intel iMac, MIDI keyboard, headphones, and software.
Are there pre-requisites?
No pre-requisite courses or skills are required for any of our courses.
None of our courses require any prior training, and they may be taken in any order.
MTS 113 Digital Music Production utilizes some skills covered in MTS 112 MIDI Music Making.
For that reason, students often prefer to begin the program with MTS 111 Audio Recording Techniques or MTS 112 MIDI Music Making, a session of which is offered in all terms except Summer.
Do I need to be enrolled at PSU?
No. Oregon Music Technology Seminars are held on the PSU campus, but do not carry college credit and do not require enrollment through PSU. Registration as described below is all that is required.
How do the Seminars compare to music technology courses offered through PSU?
For information on music technology courses offered by the PSU Department of Music, please visit the music technology information page.
The OMTS Seminars are designed to be less academic than college courses typically are, and more targeted directly towards those who want to develop music production skills.
Can I use college Financial Aid to pay for the Seminars?
No. The Seminars are offered independently of PSU, and are not affiliated with any college's admissions office.
Can I get Certification via the Seminars?
Yes. Students completing all three 100-level seminars will receive certification from Oregon Music Technology School.
Registration
Registration forms (in pdf form) can be downloaded from the links at the top of the page.
Mail registration forms to the address listed on the forms.
We require a $50 advance deposit, payable with your registration, for any course. If you are registering for multiple courses in a single term, a single deposit will cover it. See below for information on discounts for PSU students & advance payment.
Please make checks payable to Oregon Music Technology School.
Discounts
Registrations mailed before the advance payment deadline for any course may elect to pay the full tuition and receive a 5% discount.
For some courses, students who are registered at PSU for 8 or more credits in the same term as the OMTS course is offered and who pay in advance receive a 15% discount.
Introduces students to the science, tools, and techniques involved in the field of audio engineering. Topics include acoustics & electronics, microphones, mixing board set up and operation, and signal processing. Applications used include Digital Performer, ProTools, and some synthesis applications.
Studies how MIDI technology is used by today's music producers to create exciting music tracks entirely with computer software. Includes extensive instruction on sequencing application Digital Performer. Additional focus on software instruments, and "boutique" applications like Ableton Live.
Puts MIDI and audio together in a computer editing environment. Topics include digital audio recording & editing, virtual sound modules, music on the Internet, and project studio setup. Special emphasis on music mixing and mastering. Applications used include Digital Performer, Pro Tools, and various signal processing applications.
Gives you a first look and a thorough introduction to this difficult but powerful notation software. Strategies for understanding the interface, getting started quickly, making music look "professional," and avoiding pitfalls are covered in detail. Some little known power-user concepts are also introduced. Highly recommended for anyone seeking to create great-looking sheet music.
Exposes students to basic music theory concepts, while employing music notation software to created sheet music that shows those concepts in a concise "course-pack" form. Ideal for students who want to patch holes in their understanding of music theory while getting some experience with the complex notation application Finale.
