Take the guesswork and frustration out of learning music production! I'll help you compose, record, and produce your own music that you're proud of.

Find out more about Steven

• 1) When did you first develop a passion for music and your favorite instrument?

  I began playing music in my school's band program. Experimentation with piano led to dabbling to recording and production when I wanted to layer different keyboard parts together. The infinite possibilities of production really interested me, whereas I was confined to a fixed set of sounds on a keyboard. That's why my DAW is my favorite instrument. Truly limitless!

• 2) Is there a particular type of music or artist that you listen to on a loop without it driving you crazy?

  I'm captivated by the mellower side of progressive house. Artists like Ben Böhmer and Sultan + Shepard have my whole heart.

• 3) Explain to us the most difficult or riveting course you could personally give to a student of music.

  The most difficult thing I teach students is doing less than they think they need. The endless possibilities in the DAW present a huge challenge to producers. It's very easy to do too much and end up with a busy, shapeless, and muddy track. When you can do anything, you need to learn how to pick what's important and say no to everything else. I'm always getting better at this, so I'm learning alongside my students!

• 4) What do you think is the most complicated instrument to master and why?

  It might not be the most difficult, but the DAW is certainly the most complicated. Every instrument has layers of nuance. The difference with a DAW is that its nuance spans everything from composition, sound design, dynamics, and tone; the list goes on. It's very difficult to reach a proficient level in all of these disciplines, let alone master them.

• 5) What are your keys to success?

  I only have one: show up. If you commit to making music every single day, I can almost guarantee you that after five years you'll be at a professional level.

• 6) Name three musicians you dream of meeting in your favourite bar in the early hours of the morning. Explain why.

  One is Moby. He has such a wide range of talents and genuine artistry. It would be a treat to connect with him. His music reveals himself so clearly and I want to meet the man behind it.
  
  Another is Porter Robinson. His music really created a new era of EDM and captures a powerful sense of joy. Sharing a night out with him would be huge.
  
  The last artist I'd pick is Skrillex. Of course, he broke a whole new style of dubstep, but what makes him special to me is how he's matured as an artist. A lot of artists lose the plot after their heyday, but Skrillex has done a great job of evolving his brand and sound. I think that makes him an outlier in the music world, and I want to see in what other ways he's unique.

• 7) Provide a valuable anecdote related to music or your days at music school.

  One of my most memorable musical experiences was a DJ set where I tried stuff I wasn't ready for. I was spinning breaks: syncopated, shifting music without the long intros and outros of house music. It was a train wreck - missed transitions, tracks unsynced, silence as I failed to load up the next track in time. I was really embarrassed, but after I wrapped up, people told me they loved the artistic vision of my set. They thought my mistakes were intentional, artistic choices. This really suprised me and taught me a lesson: Our mistakes often form our best artistry, as long as they are done with enough confidence.

• 8) What are the little touches that make you a Superprof in music?

  The most special thing I bring to students is going on their artistic journey with them. This means taking the time to understand why they make music, not just the music itself. This helps me guide budding artists through the process of finding their sound and genuinely expressing themselves through it.