NATICK, MA, June 4, 2020 — Genelec recently announced the launch of G SongLab, an initiative that forms part of the Genelec Academy and offers young people free access to a safe online learning community through which they can collaborate and engage with others in developing their skills in songwriting and music creation. The G SongLab concept has been developed by a team of songwriters and music educators led by Petter Korkman and Anna Kuoppamäki. Webinar sessions are held in English. The project provides an international online learning community for all young songwriters aged between 13 and 29, allowing them to participate from the comfort of their homes and share their songs with others – which is particularly beneficial in view of the recent COVID-19 outbreak.
June G SongLab webinar dates are upcoming and include the following:
“Introduction to G SongLab”
6th June 2020
Time: 13:00 to 18:00 EEST (UTC+3) [6:00 to 11:00 a.m. EDT]
Anybody can write a song! In this ‘getting to know you’ session, we’ll start off gently and show you how writing a song can be organized into a set of simple steps. Join us and learn how to start with a blank sheet of paper – and finish with a demo recording! Between 13:00 and 15:00 [6 a.m. to 8 a.m. EDT] we’ll get you started, then from 15:00 to 17:00 [8 a.m. to 10 a.m. EDT] you’re free to work offline and develop your ideas. Finally, at 17:00 [10 a.m. EDT] we’ll meet again online for a one hour wrap-up session.
Register here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4430234021712380940
“Perfecting your arrangement”
10th June 2020
Time: 16:00 to 18:00 EEST (UTC+3) [9:00 to 11:00 a.m. EDT]
Having recorded your basic demo, this session will show you how to use your recording software to develop and improve the arrangement of your song.
Register here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/3765804642605691660
“Recording vocals the easy way”
17th June 2020
Time: 16:00 to 18:00 EEST (UTC+3) [9:00 to 11:00 a.m. EDT]
In this session you’ll learn how to capture your vocals using whatever equipment you have available. The voice is a key element in any song, so we’ll show you how to get the best possible results.
Register here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/3101600663382519564
“The basics of mixing and mastering”
24th June 2020
Time: 16:00 to 18:00 EEST (UTC+3) [9:00 to 11:00 a.m. EDT]
Having recorded your song, you can really make it shine during the mixing and mastering stages. We’ll show you the basics of mixing and mastering your songs, using a range of free software tools.
Register here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/7614281157286862860
Based in Helsinki, the G SongLab initiative is a collaboration between Genelec and a number of operators including the Tiuku Public Information Cultural Factory, the City of Helsinki, University of the Arts Helsinki and the ArtsEqual research initiative, all of whom have joined forces to encourage and support young people’s active participation in music creation – and the sense of social integration and companionship that this brings. Genelec themselves will contribute to the educational program by teaching some of the basics of sound and audio monitoring, so participants can learn how to evaluate and improve the quality of their work.
All participants will need to join in is a computer, tablet or smartphone with a recording app (a digital audio workstation) already installed. Session leaders will be using Pro Tools and Reaper (www.reaper.fm), but participants should feel free to use their own app. If a setup includes an audio interface and a microphone that’s great, but not essential. Other useful tools will include an instrument for those who play one and a pen and paper for writing lyrics. Over the next few months the G SongLab team will be sharing some songs via the G SongLab playlist, so it’s recommended that users open a SoundCloud account (it’s free) before the first webinar. Participants under 18 should get parental permission.
Each month G SongLab will announce a monthly challenge – and provide four weekly online webinars to help participants achieve their goals. Subjects will include writing music and lyrics, polishing song arrangements, and home studio recording and production. The aim is that everyone will have written and produced a new song each month – either on their own or part of a team – and all participants will get to share some of their songs with each other and celebrate the month’s success. At the end of the year, Genelec will reward the three most creative songwriters with a fantastic home recording package with products from Genelec and other top brands.
Questions can be directed to gsonglab@genelec.com.