Lush, Broken & Decayed
A four week course on sound, tones, tape, & texture. Starts Oct 27.
Transport audiences through sound
We've all experienced it — a sound or musical texture that completely transports us. It could be something organic-sounding but unplaceable. Maybe it's lush and unlike anything we've heard before — full of movement and character, warbles and grit, brilliance and vibrancy.
How do artists make sounds like that, sounds that are inspiring and unique? Especially in the age of AI-made music and push-a-button out-of-the-box sound-generating plugins, how do you stand out with sounds that are distinct, beautiful, and full of personality? That make an audience's ears perk up?
That's the goal of this course: To help you do that. We are going to get deeply nerdy about sound and tones. We're going to explore the fundamentals of sound, a full array of different effects, analog gear (and how it differs from digital substitutes), the power of tape, and how sound, pedals, and tape can help us compose.
How do artists make sounds like that, sounds that are inspiring and unique? Especially in the age of AI-made music and push-a-button out-of-the-box sound-generating plugins, how do you stand out with sounds that are distinct, beautiful, and full of personality? That make an audience's ears perk up?
That's the goal of this course: To help you do that. We are going to get deeply nerdy about sound and tones. We're going to explore the fundamentals of sound, a full array of different effects, analog gear (and how it differs from digital substitutes), the power of tape, and how sound, pedals, and tape can help us compose.
Course curriculum
Weekly workshops, feedback sessions, activities & experimentation, and community — kicks off Oct 27.
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Welcome
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Course Calendar
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Using Discord
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Week 1
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Week 1 Lesson Recording
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Week 1 Resources
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Week 2
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Week 2 Lesson Recording
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Week 2 Resources
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Week 3
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Week 3 Lesson Recording
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Week 3 Resources
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Week 4
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Week 4 Lesson Recording
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Week 4 Resources
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About this course
- $400.00
- 2 group calls a week, one for instruction, one for support
- A curated chat community
- Weekly activities & assignments to support growth
Course Calendar
We'll have group Zoom classes on Thursdays, from 1-2:30 pm EST, and group support & feedback sessions on Mondays, from 1-2 pm EST. Starts Oct 27.
FAQ
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Who is this course for?
This course is for people interested in using textures, tones, tapes, and ambient sounds in their music, as well as getting more control and understanding over their ability to shape sounds from all sorts of sources.
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What do I need gear-wise?
We will definitely be looking at a lot of gear in this course, but we don't expect you to have it all! Lots of gear operates on the same principles, so we're going to teach you how to figure out those principles so you can apply it to lots of different types of gear.
We encourage you to have a) some music making device (whether a keyboard or instrument), b) some recording device, and c) some way to store your recordings (whether DAW or tape). -
What if I can't make a group call?
All calls will be recorded and the recordings shared around afterwards. You can also share your questions in advance if you can't make it.
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Is there a Soundfly member discount?
Yes, Soundfly subscribers get a discount. Please email [email protected] for the specifics. You can subscribe here soundfly.com/subscription
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Can I get a refund?
We're always happy to consider a refund request within the first week after the course has started, or in cases of unforeseen exigencies.
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I've got more questions!
No problem! Email the course manager Ian Temple at [email protected], and he'll be happy to chat it through with you.
About Blankfor.ms
Tyler Gilmore, known as Blankfor.ms, is a Brooklyn-based artist who creates richly textured music with degraded tapes, analog synthesizers, and a spinet piano. His work includes two full-length albums, two EPs, and Refract, a collaborative project with Jason Moran and Marcus Gilmore. His next album is slated for release in Fall 2025.
Gilmore composes for film and video games, with contributions including Academy Award Best Picture nominated film Nickel Boys. He has provided remixes for The Cinematic Orchestra, Arthur Moon, and Para One, and partnered with Spitfire Audio to develop Tape Synths, a tape-based software instrument. With a dedicated following across social media, he continues to connect his innovative music with a global audience.
Gilmore composes for film and video games, with contributions including Academy Award Best Picture nominated film Nickel Boys. He has provided remixes for The Cinematic Orchestra, Arthur Moon, and Para One, and partnered with Spitfire Audio to develop Tape Synths, a tape-based software instrument. With a dedicated following across social media, he continues to connect his innovative music with a global audience.
About Ian Temple + Soundfly
Soundfly is a different kind of online music school, created and run by composer & pianist Ian Temple. It's perhaps most known for its 60+ on-demand video courses, made with some of the most creative artists working today like Kimbra, Com Truise, Son Lux, Jlin, Kiefer, Elijah Fox, and many more.
Ian will be hosting and facilitating this course, building on similar experiences he's run with Kimbra, Com Truise, and through Soundfly directly. He has a popular Substack newsletter on the creative process, performs as part of the experimental group Sontag Shogun, and is also a moderator for Ólafur Arnalds' OPIA Discord community where he hosts workshops and feedback sessions for an international community.
Ian will be hosting and facilitating this course, building on similar experiences he's run with Kimbra, Com Truise, and through Soundfly directly. He has a popular Substack newsletter on the creative process, performs as part of the experimental group Sontag Shogun, and is also a moderator for Ólafur Arnalds' OPIA Discord community where he hosts workshops and feedback sessions for an international community.
