With GarageBand, creating any audio project is rewarding and fun. Learn to record vocals, produce ringtones, multi-track songs and even podcasts! Powerful inbuilt instruments and effects make your laptop a portable recording studio! Sign up to master the basics, create original projects and understand the requirements for home recording.
Introduction to GarageBand
Course Description
GarageBand transforms your Apple laptop into a powerful, portable recording studio, making audio creation accessible, enjoyable and endlessly creative.
In this hands-on beginner course, you’ll learn how to record vocals, layer multiple tracks, create ringtones, experiment with virtual instruments, and produce everything from podcasts to original songs.
Designed for absolute beginners, the course breaks down audio production into simple, practical steps, allowing you to explore GarageBand’s intuitive interface and impressive library of loops, presets and sound effects.
Over six weeks, you’ll learn how to build and shape your own projects while discovering the creative possibilities of digital audio.
You’ll explore editing techniques, mixing fundamentals, and GarageBand’s automated tools, including virtual drummers and smart instruments, to bring your ideas to life.
The course also includes guidance on essential home-recording hardware, setting you up to continue confidently beyond the classroom.
By the end, you’ll walk away with a completed audio project of your choice and the skills to keep creating.
Course Structure
The course begins with an introduction to GarageBand’s layout, tools and templates, giving students a clear understanding of how to navigate the software and start simple recording projects.
As confidence grows, the class explores audio recording techniques, smart controls, loops, software instruments and multi-tracking, with plenty of time to experiment and develop original content.
Midway through the program, students shift toward building their own chosen project, whether a short song, narration, podcast intro or other creative piece.
Later sessions introduce editing, mixing and basic mastering concepts, with practical demonstrations of EQ, compression, automation and effects.
Students also learn how to export and share finished projects. Before the course concludes, a dedicated session covers recommended hardware for home studios, from microphones and audio interfaces to monitoring options, ensuring students understand how to expand their toolkit as their skills grow.
The final week focuses on refining individual projects and celebrating creative progress.
Course Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Navigate GarageBand’s interface and core features
- Start new projects using built-in templates
- Record and edit audio using microphones, loops and software instruments
- Use presets, effects and virtual drummers to enhance recordings
- Mix tracks using basic EQ, volume balancing and automation
- Export completed audio projects in suitable formats
- Identify essential hardware needed for a simple home-recording setup.
Course Requirements
Students must bring:
- An Apple MacBook Pro or MacBook Air with charger
- GarageBand installed (pre-loaded on most Macs or free from the App Store)
- Headphones or earbuds
- Notebook and pen
Optional: Students may bring a USB microphone or audio interface if they already own one.
Your Tutor is Karl Zander
Karl Zander is our new songwriting tutor, starting in 2025.
Karl is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter and tutor.
He is one half of the country music duo, The Southern Byways.
He teaches songwriting, guitar, bass, ukulele and basic piano to a range of students of all ages and abilities.
Karl has a Certificate III in Music Therapy and Diplomas in Music Theory and Songwriting.
His songs are full of authentic characters, unique storylines and memorable hooks.
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