How to Compose... EDM

Teach Electronic Dance Music Production with Confidence — No Prior Experience

Electronic dance music dominates Spotify charts and speaks directly to today's students, yet many music teachers feel unequipped to teach it. EDM Composition bridges this gap with a comprehensive 40-lesson curriculum that transforms any secondary school music department into a modern production studio. Designed specifically for teachers without an EDM background, this resource provides everything you need to deliver engaging, hands-on lessons where students create professional-quality tracks from day one. 

Key Features:
 

• Complete 40-Lesson Curriculum: Four progressive phases covering Foundation Skills, Advanced Techniques, Integration & Refinement, and Portfolio Development
• No Specialist Knowledge Required: Detailed teacher guides with precise timing, demonstrations, and troubleshooting — teach with confidence even if you've never produced EDM
• Hands-On From Lesson 1: Students work in their DAW immediately, learning by creating actual tracks rather than studying theory in isolation
• Multiple EDM Genres: House, dubstep, trance, drum and bass, and future bass — giving students breadth and creative choice
• Works With Your Equipment: Compatible with Ableton Live, Reaper, or Soundtrap, plus free VST recommendations for budget-conscious departments
   

Designed for any Curriculum

No matter where in the world you are teaching, this resource can easily be incorporate into your teaching plan.

• Content scaffolded for students aged 14–18.
• Portfolio-Based Assessment: Students complete substantial original compositions demonstrating full production mastery which can be used for NCEA or other assessment systems
• Spiral Learning Approach: Skills developed concurrently across beat-making, synthesis, arrangement, and mixing
   

What's Included?

Each of the 40 lessons includes:

• Teacher Guide: Comprehensive lesson plan with learning objectives, equipment lists, precise timing for 45–50 minute lessons, demonstration scripts, circulation strategies, and differentiation for all ability levels
• Student Handout: Practical 4–5 page resource with step-by-step checklists, reference materials, and genre-specific guidance
• Flipped Videos: every lesson is supported by a video where I demonstrate key concepts in Ableton Live Intro (free for schools).
   

For Teachers

• Professional Reference Tracks: Curated YouTube examples with specific timestamps showing techniques in context (Skrillex, Daft Punk, Avicii, Martin Garrix, and more)
• Common Mistakes & Troubleshooting: Anticipate student difficulties with detailed guidance for every lesson
• Extension Activities: Challenge advanced students while supporting those who need more time
   

Download includes:

• 40 Teacher Guides
• 40 Student Handouts
• Links to 40 videos created to support the learning in each lesson
• Curriculum Overview & Scope and Sequence