Duncan Sutherland - Teaching

Song Writing | Digital Music Production

New York City

Hi I’m Duncan!  Here’s me performing music from an album I wrote and produced funded my Creative Scotland.

I offer lessons for young people and adults in both Song Writing and Digital Music Production (or both combined).

I’ve recently moved to NYC from Glasgow in Scotland where I was Head of Education for a prominent classical music ensemble, but I also work as a sound engineer and have written and produced multiple albums.  I’m now combining these experiences to offer private lessons with a unique approach to music making.   Making music seems complicated when you start out but we’ll create little song writing challenges each week to introduce a new concept and getting you creating right away. Together we’ll build up your tools to express whatever you want to express.

I always start with a free session to establish if we’ll get on as student and teacher and what style(s) of music you want to work on.   I’m enjoy both working with complete beginners or as a sounding board for more experienced musicians looking to expand their ideas. If you’re interested or want to find out more, please get in touch using the form below.

Lessons are $50 an hour and can take place either at my small home studio in Carroll Gardens or at your home for a small travel fee.

Song Writing & Arrangement - Lesson Outline

  • Harmony and chord progressions

  • Lyric writing

  • Song/composition structures

  • Arrangement and writing for different instruments

  • Translating emotions and ideas to music 

Digital Music Production - Lesson Outline

  • Basics of synthesised sounds and playing Synthesisers

  • Recording basics (microphones, audio-computer interfaces)

  • Editing, mixing & mastering tools & techniques

  • Working with samples

  • Building songs in a digital space (getting creative)

 

It should be noted that Sound Production does require a Digital Audio Workspace, a software application that allows you to work with audio and digital music data.  There are so many options for this now, but the cheapest (while retaining the required functionality) is Reaper which is $60 for a permanent licence.

I can provide a microphone, digital audio interface & headphones for lessons, but as you advance you may want to get your own and again we can discuss good inexpensive options.