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This beginner-friendly course offers a practical and engaging introduction to the creative possibilities of digital music and sound production. Combining technical guidance with imaginative exploration, it is designed for anyone curious about how contemporary sound is made, shaped, and shared.

Working with the professional audio software Reaper, you will be introduced to the core techniques used across music, media, and digital production. You will learn how to programme and arrange sounds, record and edit audio, experiment with sampling and synthesis, and bring your ideas together through mixing. Along the way, the course will also introduce key concepts in how we listen to and understand sound, encouraging you to think as well as create.

Teaching is structured and supportive, with step-by-step demonstrations, guided exercises, and opportunities to develop your own short projects. Whether your interest lies in music, podcasts, sound for film and media, or simply exploring a new creative skill, you will gain a practical foundation in working with digital audio.

By the end of the course, you will be able to produce and edit your own sound files with confidence, and will have a clearer understanding of the tools and techniques that underpin contemporary sound design and audio production.

No prior experience is required, just curiosity, a willingness to experiment and an interest in discovering what can be created through sound.

Term dates

•  Autumn/Michaelmas Term: week beginning 19 October 2026 until week ending 11 December 2026

•  Spring/Lent Term: week beginning 4 January 2027 until week ending 26 March 2027

For content enquiries: Contact the tutor, Paul Chauncy, at p.chauncy@imperial.ac.uk

For enrolment and booking enquiries: Contact Christian Jacobi at c.jacobi@imperial.ac.uk

Class recordings

These classes are not recorded.

Imperial certificates

This course has no exams or assessments, so you can focus on enjoying your learning. Regular attendance may also lead to the award of an Imperial attendance certificate. (T&Cs apply).