Across all Building Beats programs, students gain hands-on experience with music, media, and creative technology while building skills that support academic success, career exploration, and personal growth.

Through project-based learning, students:

• Learn the fundamentals of music, media, and creative technology, including digital production, storytelling, and creative workflows

• Use accessible tools to create original work across music, podcasting, DJing, and other creative disciplines

• Explore a wide range of genres, formats, and creative styles while developing their own artistic voice

• Build creative problem-solving, collaboration, communication, and self-expression skills

• Develop confidence by sharing, presenting, and showcasing their work in supportive, inclusive learning environments

Every Building Beats program centers creativity and skill-building—helping students see themselves not just as consumers of culture, but as creators, collaborators, and emerging leaders.

bbWorkshops classes serve school-aged youth and are adapted by age group, setting, and student experience level. Programming is beginner-friendly and accessible, with opportunities for deeper exploration for students who already have an interest in music or technology.

Our classes are especially well suited for schools and organizations seeking engaging, culturally responsive creative programming.

We intentionally serve students who have had limited access to music education, creative technology, or arts programming.

We bring bbWorkshops directly to you. Programs can be delivered as part of:

• In-school programming (during the school day)

• After-school or extended-day programs

• Community center and youth organization programming

• Summer and enrichment programs

Classes are designed to be flexible and easily integrated into existing schedules and program structures.

We aim to make all Building Beats workshops as accessible and easy to implement as possible.

Students use creative technology tools (many are browser -based) provided by Building Beats that allow them to create, edit, and produce original work across music, audio, and media. The tools we use are:

• Easy to learn for beginners

• Appropriate for school and youth program settings

• Transferable to future creative, technical, and career-focused learning

To learn more about the specific tools used in our programs, we invite partners to explore our Toolbox, which highlights the platforms and resources we use in the classroom.

We ask that partner sites have access to the following equipment, if possible:

• A computer, Chromebook, tablet, or smartphone with reliable internet access

• Google Chrome (our recommended browser for optimal performance)

• Headphones for each student

• Zoom or Google Meet (for remote programming only)

If your site does not currently have this equipment available, Building Beats can support equipment rental or purchasing options. Our team will work with you to develop a plan that fits your program’s needs and budget—because access should never be a barrier to participation.

No prior experience is required. Classes are designed for students who are completely new to music technology, as well as those who may already have some familiarity.

Instruction is scaffolded to support a wide range of skill levels within the same group.

Workshops can be offered in a variety of formats, including:

• One-day workshops

• Short-term or multi-week residencies

• Weekly after-school classes

• Summer and enrichment programming

We collaborate with partner sites to design a program structure that aligns with their goals, capacity, and schedule.

Classes are led by Building Beats teaching artists—professional music producers, DJs, and creatives who are also trained educators. Our teaching artists reflect the communities we serve and are experienced in classroom management, youth development, and culturally responsive teaching.

Our music production classes support key outcomes many schools and youth-serving organizations prioritize, including:

• Digital literacy and creative technology skills

• Student engagement and motivation

• Social-emotional learning and confidence-building

• Collaboration, communication, and problem-solving

If a school or program has a specific instructional goal, youth development priority, or thematic focus, our team can adapt the curriculum to align with those needs. Custom curriculum packages are available, and we work closely with partners to ensure programming meaningfully supports their students and broader program objectives.