Don't give up on your songs. GET HELP! And...
BE HEARD
PRIVATE MUSIC PRODUCTION TRAINING
- Helping musicians make sound decisions since 2013 -
Hello. My name is Damon.
I'm a recording artist and private instructor, located in San Diego and Scottsdale, Arizona.
For over 13 years, I've been helping people learn how to create & improve their own music in private, 1-on-1 sessions, through a service called Be Heard Lessons.
I work with a wide range of artists & musicians - from complete beginners to touring professionals.
After teaching almost 300 people - all individually, I have assisted with every stage of the song-creation process - from nurturing initial song ideas to developing full live performances and helping people move their first (or next) album from a vision into reality.
I enjoy helping people experience breakthroughs - wherever they are in their creative journey.
All training is 1-on-1 and customized to your situation.
You can receive personalized guidance as we work directly on your songs.
If you’re looking to advance your musical ability & creativity, I offer 3 different tiers of training, designed to meet you where you currently are and lead you forward.
What stage are you at?
Brand new to making music?
Learn the basics from the ground up!
CONQUER YOUR TOOLSET
Aspiring songwriters don't (typically) have a burning desire to nerd out on gear. They want to CREATE & express themselves! But knowing how to wield the power of your tools is essential to making that happen.
When you’re just getting started, knowing what to focus on can become overwhelming fast. If you repeatedly find yourself stunned & frozen by all the steps to take & things to learn, this training is for you.
Working together, you can be transported from guessing & experimenting to making confident decisions.
In one concentrated session, we will walk through the steps involved in any one of these subjects:
STUDIO SETUP - installation, connections, routing, signal flow, templates, workflow optimization
LOGIC PRO - learn your DAW: audio, MIDI, instruments, effects, plugins, loops, samples, & more
ABLETON LIVE - learn your DAW: audio, MIDI, instruments, effects, plugins, loops, samples & more
SYNTHESIS - elements of sound, waveforms & harmonics, synth modules, signal flow, various types
SOUND DESIGN - editing, effects, layering, time & pitch manipulation, noise, modulation
Stop wasting your time, energy, and enthusiasm. See how it’s done, and start having fun making music!
Learn the fundamentals. Skip bad habits. Jump ahead now.
• • •
Experienced but still struggling?
Get unstuck and (finally) start bringing your ideas to life!
EXPAND YOUR SKILLSET
Many musicians contact me for help because, even though they have been working on music for a long time, they are simply stuck. They have songwriting or production experience, but… something is missing.
Your studio sessions don’t need to be a series of false starts - repeating a cycle of excitement, confusion, discouragement. The whole process can be broken into concepts & skills - which you can learn!
This training is designed to help you embrace and move beyond whatever is slowing you down.
Over the course of one month, we will focus on any of these skillsets:
SONGWRITING - melody, harmony, rhythm, lyrics, composing, song structure, story / energy arc
RECORDING - performances, takes & comps, gain staging, monitoring, presets & custom chains
PRODUCING - editing, arranging, effects & processing, fills & transitions
MIXING - ear training, balance, compression, EQ, routing, time-based, stereo width, automation
MASTERING - levels, loudness, dynamics, EQ, compression, limiting
It's one thing to know the concepts. It's another to apply & develop proficiency at the skills.
We will implement them together, working on your music.
Gain awareness. Refine your skills. Hear the results.
• • •
Already writing songs but looking to go further?
Get the support & guidance you need to excel!
DEVELOP YOUR MINDSET
Some artists show up fully capable - maybe with an existing body of work & a string of accomplishments. But they are stalled out. Their dreams & desires clash with fears & doubts, causing a lot of internal friction.
If you’re spinning your wheels - with one foot on the gas and the other on the brake, private mentorship can provide the guidance & accountability you need to find your focus and start gaining traction.
Through structured coaching and reliable frameworks, we put your existing skills & knowledge to use. With the right follow-through, this leads to hitting deadlines & completing projects; and even more transformative, it causes a perspective & identity shift into becoming an artist who makes things happen.
For 2 months, we will fixate on your specific objective, whether that is to:
FINISH SONGS - assess roadblocks, systematize workflow, set standards & benchmarks, repeat
COMPLETE A RELEASE - EP or album track list, structure & flow, mix / master prep, art design
LIVE PERFORMANCE - setlist order, stem preparation, performance style, controllers & triggers
REMIX / COLLABORATE - contest submissions, requests, contracts & splits, file management
ARTIST DEVELOPMENT - positioning, strategy, promotion, merchandising, sync licensing
By this point, you have already sacrificed a lot for your passion.
Learn how to harness & leverage that effort to give your work the attention & potential it deserves!
Define your goals. Embody the discipline. Take action.
• • •
Get personalized guidance with your...
TOOLSET
Studio Setup
Logic Pro
Ableton Live
Synthesis
Sound Design
Meet for 1 extended session
Typically 2 to 3 hours
+ 1 follow-up call
$500
with 0% interest financing possible *
* * *
SKILLSET
Songwriting
Recording
Producing
Mixing
Mastering
Meet once a week for 4 weeks
Do 2-hour sessions
+ 2 follow-up calls
$1,000
with 0% interest financing possible *
* * *
MINDSET
Finish Songs
Complete a Release
Live Performance
Remix / Collaborate
Artist Development
Meet twice a week for 8 weeks
From 1- to 3-hour sessions
+ 4 follow-up calls
$5,000
installment payment options available *
* All financing subject to approval from PayPal.
Follow-up support -
After completing your sessions, optional follow-up call(s) are available, to ensure that you are comfortable with the material and are making progress.
Retaining the information -
It is common to deep dive into very technical subjects during the sessions. While I encourage taking notes as needed, you are also welcome to record the sessions for your own personal use & future reference.
Previous experience -
Because the training is customized for each person, it is not necessary to have any previous musical experience. I work with people of all ages, in all different musical styles & genres, and at all skill levels.
We start where you are and build from there.
Songs ownership -
I am not a collaborator or co-writer. We work on YOUR music. But I simply guide, inform, and facilitate the process of creating & completing your work. Your songs always remain entirely yours.
Working with you -
Unlike an online course (where you have access to many videos but are left to digest & implement them by yourself) or a group setting (which follows a predetermined curriculum or lesson plan, while you wait your turn for a chance to ask your specific question or concerns), we work together - on what you want! The subjects, pace, and focus all cater to what you personally need to learn and grow.
In your case -
While the training I provide is largely clustered into 3 distinct phases of musical experience & evolution (learning the tools, building the skills, and applying the mindset), not everyone fits cleanly into just one of these categories. Depending on where you are and how far you'd like to go, we can discuss your specific situation to determine what the best course of action is for you.
Payment options -
Financing options are available with PayPal's "Buy Now, Pay Later", with 0% interest in 6 weeks and / or monthly installment payment plans. Subject to eligibility and approval. Details are provided after applying.
