Foundations of House Music Production

This course introduces students to the history, aesthetics, and production techniques of house music from its emergence in Chicago in the early 1980s through later developments in New York, New Jersey, Detroit, and Europe. Combining hands-on studio practice with discussion of selected readings, the course examines how club culture, social conditions, and recording technologies shaped the sound of house music across different eras and regional scenes. Students learn historically grounded approaches to drum programming, sound design, sampling, remixing, effects processing, arrangement, and mixing through a combination of imitation studies and original creative work. By the end of the semester, each student will complete an original house track that demonstrates technical control, stylistic awareness, and historical understanding.