This beginner-friendly class bridges the gap between traditional rhythm training and modern beat-making. Students will learn how classical rhythmic concepts—notation, subdivisions, and groove—translate into digital drum programming. By the end, students will be able to create simple, effective drum patterns using a DAW or MPC.
Agenda
Welcome & Setup
- Overview of course structure (notation → digital)
- Quick DAW/MPC orientation
Classical Rhythm Foundations
- Whole, half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth notes
- Simple time signatures (4/4, 3/4)
- Reading & application exercises
Translating Notation to the Grid
- MIDI grid as modern “notation paper”
- Placing kicks on beats, snares on 2 & 4, hats on 8ths/16ths
- Understanding quantization
Activity: Students program a basic rock/pop groove in their DAW/MPC.
Groove & Feel
- Swing vs. straight rhythms
- Classical syncopation vs. modern backbeat
- Triplets vs. dotted notes in MIDI grid
Activity: Students take a classical syncopated rhythm and re-create it digitally.
Genre Applications
- Pop/rock groove (straight)
- Funk groove (syncopation)
- Hip-Hop boom-bap (MPC roots)
- Activity: Each student programs 2 bars of a groove in one genre.
Creative Workshop
- Students combine notation + grid knowledge to make their own 4–8 bar loop.
- Class listens to 2–3 examples.
Wrap-Up & Homework
- Homework: Write a rhythm on paper → translate to DAW/MPC.
- Preview of 102: advanced programming, fills, and modern styles.
