Course Details
Time:
Mondays, 6.30pm-10pm at MESS (Week 12 held off-site)
Class dates: July 17, July 24, July 31, August 7, August 14, August 21, August 28, September 4, September 11, September 18, September 25, October 2, October 9 2023
Places:
Course places are limited to 12 people. Attendance is by application only.
Price:
This course is fully subsidised (free) for all 12 participants. No fees apply.
Applications are open to participants who are aged 18+. Ideal candidates will be available to attend all of the course dates.
Tracks from previous PD participants
MESS’s Professional Development Course is back for 2023!
13 weeks of free classes delivered by established artists and industry professionals, created to transform emerging practitioners into established artists.
The MESS Professional Development (PD) course is a wide-ranging program designed for electronic sound and music artists looking to move their practice into a profession. Each week, experienced people share their practical skills and knowledge to provide the inspiration and confidence that comes with understanding.
At its heart, the MESS PD course aims to develop both the artist and their artwork.
From listening skills to applying for grants, using MIDI to royalty collection, playing synths to booking shows – each week, an eclectic mix of topics will consolidate existing knowledge and skills while providing new avenues for growth and expansion.
Along with each week’s class are time and resources to create new work. Each week’s class includes 2 hours of access to the extraordinary MESS Studio collection, with an additional 4-hour weekly, self-directed studio session. Each participant is expected to present a new piece at the conclusion of the course, along with an opportunity to present their work-in-progress to their peers in the cohort.
Check out the work from previous PD classes via the embedded albums on this page or at MESS’s SoundCloud page.
Course Information
See the links below for the full course outline, including the selection criteria & process and the full class schedule.
Classes will be held in person at MESS in North Melbourne (map) on Monday nights from 6.30 pm – 10.00 pm, from July 17 to October 9, 2023. These sessions will be split between approximately 1.5 hours of lecture presentation and 2 hours of practical studio time.
During the course, participants can book 12 free, self-directed sessions (1 per week) at MESS during regular studio session hours. These sessions must be booked between Week 1 – Week 12 classes. These free sessions cannot be used after the course has finished.
Application Details
Course participation is by application only. Applications close 5 pm, Friday, 30th June 2023. All applicants will be contacted with their application outcome by the end of Friday, 7th July, 2023. Please note: due to the number of applications we anticipate, we cannot offer feedback on unsuccessful applications.
There are 12 places available in the course. All 12 places are fully subsidised (free), with no course fees.
This course is not suitable for beginners. For beginner-friendly programs, see our annual Foundations in Electronic Sound Course, SYNTHSTART Course (returning later this year) and year-round Weekly Workshops.
For any questions or if you require assistance completing the application form, please contact us.
Class Schedule
Week 1, Jul 17 – Electronic Sound Fundamentals: consolidating and outlining your knowledge about electronic sound creation
Week 2, Jul 24 – Analog Synthesis Automation: how to use computers to control and manipulate analogue machines
Week 3, Jul 31 – Eurorack Modular Synthesis: a survey of the tools and techniques used in contemporary synthesis & sound design
Week 4, Aug 7 – Forms & Structures: an overview of the methods used in musical composition to organise and arrange sonic material
Week 5, Aug 14 – Generating passive income: licensing and royalties
Week 6, Aug 21 – Presentation – participant’s work in progress
Week 7, Aug 28 – Creating opportunities: Fundraising and grant application for electronic sound & music artists
Week 8, Sept 4 – Electronic sound and music events: inside the curatorial process of how festivals are programmed
Week 9, Sept 11 – Immersion: Creating work for multichannel diffusion and installation contexts
Week 10, Sept 18 – Working with Vision: Music and Sound creation for Screens
Week 11, Sept 25 – Performing with Electronics: methods for creating and delivering live electronic music & sound
Week 12, Oct 2 – Finalling: polishing and finishing your work
Week 13, Oct 9 – Presentation – final presentation of participant’s work
Please note, the above schedule is subject to change.
Read the Course Overview
Learn more about the course, prerequisites, requirements and class schedule.
Apply Now
This course is by application only. Click the button below to apply. Applications close at 5pm, 30th June 2023.
All applicants will be contacted by end of day 7th July, 2023.
