Things to do · Arts and crafts
Learn to make music on a computer
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Music software lets you build a whole track yourself, layering drums, bass, chords and recordings and then mixing them until they sit together. You can start free in a web browser, and beginners' courses assume no musical background.
GentleUnder £100 / $130A few weeksIndoorsAlone or with othersUK and US
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Free ways to start
Ableton, which makes the Live music software, runs a free website called Learning Music. It teaches beats, melodies, basslines, chords and song structure in your browser, needs nothing installed, and is aimed at beginners. What you make can be exported to carry on in Ableton Live, which has a 90-day free trial, according to Case Western Reserve University's course notes.
GarageBand is listed as free on the Mac App Store. It comes with built-in instruments and loops, a virtual session drummer, and piano and guitar lessons, and you can plug in a USB keyboard, a guitar or a microphone.
A beginners' course adds a tutor and a deadline. City Lit's introduction covers building tracks from instruments and recordings, playing and editing MIDI (the data a keyboard sends to the computer), recording audio and basic mixing. Portland Community College's intro class says no music background is needed.
Ways in and what they cost
| Provider | Format | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| Ableton Learning Music | Interactive lessons in a web browser, any device | Free |
| City Lit, London | Four Sunday afternoons in person, using Logic or GarageBand on the college's Macs | £229 (full, senior and concession) |
| University of the Arts London, London College of Communication | Music production with Ableton, 25 taught hours, for beginners with little or no Ableton experience | From £980 (starts January to March 2027) |
| Portland Community College, Oregon | Intro to Audio and Music Production with GarageBand, four Wednesday evenings in person (autumn 2026 run, now past) | $65 |
Portland asks students to bring a Mac with GarageBand installed and headphones. City Lit recommends a laptop or desktop for work at home and says a tablet can be used but has more limited functions.
How to start
- Try Ableton's free Learning Music lessons in your browser, or open GarageBand if you have a Mac, to see whether you enjoy it.
- Book a short beginners' course at an adult education college or community college; check which software it uses and whether you need to bring your own computer.
- Get a pair of wired headphones so you can hear the detail in what you make.
Where to go
- City Lit: Introduction to music production (London) UK
- University of the Arts London: Music production with Ableton short course UK
- Portland Community College: Intro to Audio and Music Production with GarageBand (Oregon) US
- Ableton: Learning Music, free lessons in your browser
- Apple: GarageBand for Mac
We opened these links on 12 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
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Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Courses and classes have start dates and can fill up, so the plan begins with finding and booking one. Kit comes after the first session, once you know what you need.
Questions people ask
Can I learn music production for free?
You can make a start. Ableton's Learning Music site is free in a web browser, and GarageBand is listed as free on the Mac App Store.
Do I need to play an instrument to make music on a computer?
No. Portland Community College's intro class says no music background is needed, and Ableton's Learning Music is aimed at beginners.
What do I need to start music production?
A computer and headphones are enough for a beginners' class. Portland asks for a Mac with GarageBand, and UAL asks for good wired headphones and a copy of Ableton Live (Suite recommended).
Is Ableton Live free?
No, but there is a free trial. Case Western Reserve University's course notes say the trial gives full access for 90 days and that Live comes in three versions, Intro, Standard and Suite.
Where this comes from: City Lit, Introduction to music production; University of the Arts London, Music production with Ableton short course; Portland Community College, Intro to Audio and Music Production with GarageBand; Ableton, Learn music for free in your browser; Apple, GarageBand for Mac; Apple App Store, GarageBand; Case Western Reserve University, Digital music production FAQs. Opened 12 November 2026.
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