AMP ONLINE
The music production course that amplifies musicians’ prospects
CONTEXT
Digital technologies have transformed the music industry. Audio and video production costs have dropped as tasks once reserved for expensive studios now take place on personal computers.
As a result, more artists compete professionally, promoting themselves independently. For musicians, self-promotion is no longer optional: labels and booking agents rely heavily on follower counts as a first filter.
Today’s digital music landscape demands that musicians master skills beyond performance. This is recognised even in classical circles. Researchers at the Royal College of Music emphasise that musicians must be self-sufficient, controlling the entire recording and publication process.
But technology can help, too. AMP Online makes music production accessible to any musician: no equipment needed beyond a smartphone, no prior knowledge, no expensive costs. Participants are guided step by step through the process, producing a song, a video clip, and a promotional package along the way.
BENEFITS
Acquiring skills in music production delivers many benefits, including:
- Enhanced performance: Music production skills enable artists to review and refine their craft, deepening their musicianship.
- Improved communication: Confidence in content production strengthens musicians’ artistic and communication impact.
- Heightened professional prospects: Music production training opens professional pathways beyond performance, including audiovisual production, communication, and marketing roles.
Among past participants of our AMP programme in São Paulo:
A resource for institutions
IRMA is a Swiss NGO that believes every musician deserves a fair chance to build a sustainable career. AMP Online serves that purpose. It is a practical, career-building programme that equips students with the skills the music industry now demands. Institutions committed to their students’ futures beyond graduation will find it a meaningful complement to what they already offer.
If you are interested in bringing the programme to your students, IRMA works with partner institutions to find the best arrangement possible according to context. Let’s start a conversation.
Why Trust AMP Online?
AMP Online was developed by Julien Fehlmann for the Swiss NGO IRMA. Julien is an audio engineering expert (Audio Engineering Society) with advanced degrees in international relations and development. He founded the award-winning recording facility Studio Mécanique in 2005 and worked on hundreds of live and studio projects. Julien taught several recording and mixing courses in the past 20 years, and rooted his personal experience in evidence-based research to create AMP Online.
WHAT IS AMP ONLINE?
AMP Online is an accelerated and accessible music production programme. It comprises 10 modules providing artists with essential skills for today’s music market and relies entirely on freely available resources.
The only requirement is a smartphone, though the content will benefit home studio owners as well. Although developed for aspiring professionals transitioning into the job market, the course suits anyone in their teens and older.
AMP Online affords aspiring music creators access to the foundations of music and video production step by step. It works as a bridge for musicians to later grasp specialised YouTube content with confidence.
Overview of AMP’s content
- Introduction to Music Production: Where the industry is heading and how to find your place in it.
- Introduction to Sound, Acoustics & Digital Audio: Learn to work with your acoustic environment.
- Introduction to Audio Recording Techniques: Get familiar with the mono, stereo, and blended approaches used in most professional recordings.
- Recording Audio: Practical guidance to record any instrument or voice, whatever your setup.
- Recording Video: Achieve professional-looking results with the smartphone you have.
- Introduction to Audio Editing: Shape raw recordings into compelling performances.
- Introduction to Video Editing: Build stories that hold attention.
- Introduction to Mixing & Mastering: Develop your sonic signature.
- Introduction to Music Business & Promotion: The strategies to connect with your audience.
- (Mental) Health Management & Career Advice: Practical tools for protecting your wellbeing while building a life in music.
Each module includes a practical exercise. By the end of the course, participants will have produced a song, a video clip, and a promotional package. They will be ready to launch and advertise their work. Along the way, they will learn sampling, programming, audio/video recording and editing, and more.
Professional mentors are available for personalised feedback by email or one-to-one video call. Bookable as a paid option at any time during the course.
Here is what former AMP participants had to say:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who is this Course for?
This course has been designed for musicians seeking to earn a living through their art. If doing art for art’s sake is the best reason for creating, for most people, art is not enough to pay the bills.
Nowadays, successful musicians master a multitude of skills. They promote their work with online content and nurture their audience. They produce high-quality demos, if not professional recordings. They excel in communication and self-promotion. And more.
The course suits anyone aged 16 or older.
Music educators and school administrators looking to enrich their offering are warmly invited to explore a partnership with IRMA. See the dedicated FAQ entries below for more details.
How to Get the Most out of the Course?
We recommend students to:
- Work through the chapters in order, as they build on each other.
- Go at their own pace. The platform accommodates different learning speeds and styles. The core texts provide quickly accessed essential knowledge on a given topic. The optional further learning sections offer students the opportunity to dig deeper into their topics of interest. The exercises transform theory into material outcomes.
- Read, then practice. Each chapter has two parts: A core text that covers theoretical foundations and a practical exercise. Although the exercises are optional, we believe completing them is the best way to learn, as practice anchors knowledge better than reading only.
What Does the AMP Course Offer?
- A certificate. The successful completion of all exercises is rewarded with official recognition.
- A complete portfolio. The completion of all exercises leads to the production of a song, a video clip, and a promotional package. In sum, everything you need to release a song.
- Essential music production knowledge to successfully navigate today’s music industry.
- Peer support. A discussion forum enables students to connect and share feedback and advice.
- Expert feedback. Professional mentors are available for personalised feedback by email or one-to-one video call.
Can my school or institution offer AMP Online to students?
Yes. AMP Online is available to any institution through a partnership with IRMA. We work with each partner to find an arrangement that fits their context, whether that means integrating the course into an existing curriculum, offering it as a complementary resource, or running it as a standalone programme. Scholarships are available for students of partner institutions.
Please get in touch and we will take it from there.
What does a partnership with IRMA involve?
Every partnership is different. Conditions depend on the institution’s context, size, and objectives, and we prefer to discuss these directly rather than offer terms that may not reflect your situation. We are building a network of pioneering institutions and value each partnership as a long-term relationship.
If you are curious, let’s start a conversation.
What Equipment Is Needed to Complete the Course?
AMP Online can be completed with a smartphone only. For some music styles, and to experiment with some of the recording techniques presented in the course, having access to an audio interface and a pair of professional microphones is recommended, but not necessary.
Do I need any prior music production experience?
No. AMP Online provides the foundations of music and video production and promotion. It is intended to serve musicians who seek to learn how to record and promote themselves.
I have previous experience. Will I still learn anything meaningful in this course?
It depends. If the terms ‘inverse square law’, ‘phase cancellation’, and ‘signal-to-noise ratio’ have no secrets for you, then this course is not for you. However, if you have been recording for a while but the concepts of decibels, frequencies, and sample rates are still not crystal clear, then this course will teach you what they mean in practice, without detours.
How long does it take to complete the course?
The core content can be browsed in a matter of hours. However, completing the exercises and studying the further learning sections is likely to require several weeks.
In which languages is the course available?
The course is currently available in English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish. We will add new languages as soon as possible when they are requested.
Are scholarships available?
Yes, scholarships are available to students of partner institutions. Please get in touch with your school administration. If your school is not yet a partner, ask them to contact us. We will be happy to discuss a potential partnership.
Can I get a refund if I'm not satisfied?
Yes, refunds are available. Simply write us an email explaining why you are dissatisfied.
How do I get help if I am stuck on something?
If you encounter a technical issue with the platform, contact us and explain the issue with as many details as possible. But please note that we do not provide support related to your equipment, whether devices or software. In such cases, please contact the manufacturers.
IRMA
IRMA (International Relations & Music Association) is a Swiss apolitical and non-religious non-profit NGO.