Poland Central School · Instrumental Music
Recording &
music production.
From your first take to a portfolio
you’re proud to share.
Turn a musical idea or live performance into a finished recording. No recording experience is required. We’ll start with the basics.
Plan. Record. Listen. Revise. Finish.
The foundations
What you’ll learn
Use your musicianship.
Build a new set of skills.
- Recording
Set up approved equipment safely, position microphones, check levels, and capture usable performances.
- Production
Build arrangements, combine recorded parts, edit recordings, and create a balanced final mix.
- Live sound
Help prepare equipment and complete supervised soundchecks.
- Listening & delivery
Compare versions, use feedback, explain your choices, back up your work, and credit everyone’s contributions.
Your final portfolio
Three projects. Make them count.
Open each project for the brief.
Acoustic recordingA complete short solo or duet2–5 minutes
Make a natural-sounding recording of a solo or duet. You may record yourself on clarinet or piano, or work with another approved performer.
Focus on microphone placement, clean capture, take selection, and an intentional beginning and ending.
Multitrack productionAn original piece or approved arrangement2–4 minutes
Combine separately recorded musical parts into a complete production. Draw on your clarinet, piano, and drum-set skills where they serve the music.
Build an arrangement, record your parts, edit thoughtfully, and create a balanced final mix.
PCS ensemble recordingA rehearsal, recording session, or concertOne selection*
Produce one complete selection or a 6–12-minute program excerpt from an approved PCS ensemble. Plan, test, capture, edit, and prepare the recording for presentation.
For this project, focus on being the recording producer rather than performing at the same time. Mr. Brown will supervise the setup and recording arrangements.
*One complete selection or a 6–12-minute program excerpt.
Room for a fourth or fifth project
If time and readiness allow, produce a small-group artist session or an original short score/sound-design piece. Three excellent projects can earn the highest grade; extra projects are not required.
A year of making
How we’ll work
Demonstration, supported practice, independent work, and feedback.
Meetings, workdays, and deadlines will be scheduled with Mr. Brown. Asking for help is part of learning.
- Early year
Learn the equipment and software. Begin the acoustic recording.
- Middle of the year
Finish the acoustic project, develop your multitrack production, and practice live-sound skills.
- Later in the year
Complete the ensemble recording, revise your portfolio, and present your work.
The expectations
Progress, not perfection
You’re learning to make thoughtful production decisions, not expected to arrive as a professional.
Arrive prepared, set one goal for each workday, and keep a brief record of what you completed. Save and back up your files, meet agreed checkpoints, and revise thoughtfully.
How your work is assessed
- Required productions
- 60%
- Practical skill checks
- 20%
- Work habits & documentation
- 10%
- Final presentation
- 10%
Planned grading balance, subject to school approval.
Safety, respect & privacy
- Work safely. Use only approved setups, keep listening levels comfortable, and ask before changing unfamiliar equipment.
- Respect others. Arrange performers and recording sessions through Mr. Brown.
- Protect recordings. Do not post or share recordings outside the course without teacher/administrator approval and required permissions.
What counts as finished?
A portfolio-ready project is complete, carefully recorded and edited, revised after feedback, and checked by listening to the final file.
Submit the organized GarageBand project, finished audio, credits, and a short explanation of your decisions.