Electronic music performance with Ableton Live (weekend course)

This weekend crash course will help demystify the process of building a custom live electronic music performance system that is based around use of Ableton Live. We will explore the various hardware and software options to enable live sequencing, arrangement, sound design and mixing. You will be encouraged to design and build your own bespoke setup, with opportunities for tailored feedback.

Dates:
Saturday 22 - Sunday 23 November 2025
2 day course from 10.30-16:30 each day.

Cost: £120 (£70 for unwaged/student concessions - relevant ID to be shown)
+ Eventbrite fees

Participants: Max 12 people sign up – no prior experience and background required.

Tutor information:

Nick Feldman has designed this weekend crash course based on years of teaching live performance classes. He has been producing and performing electronic music across a wide range of genres since 1998, playing across Europe and Japan and at festivals such as Boomtown Fair, Glastonbury and Shambala.

He has been teaching since 2012 and currently holds lecturer positions at ICMP, BIMM and Guildhall School in London and has a Master’s degree in Audio Production from the University of Westminster. His first book, Sound Signatures: Crafting Your Electronic Music Identity, will be published by Routledge in December 2025.

Alongside his musical career, Nick has worked as a graphic designer, VJ, and audiovisual artist, with projects and installations that explore the intersection of sound and image. He curates and manages Crux, a series of audiovisual live performance events and electronic music/video jam sessions, which also hosts an annual festival in London. He previously led the London Ableton User Group, supporting and connecting the city’s electronic music community.

Course details:

We will be using industry-standard software Ableton Live, which remains focused around a non-linear and live performance paradigm. The development path for performance can run in parallel with production work, so you are welcome to join this course at any stage of your music production journey. You do not need to be proficient in using Live but are expected to be familiar with the software – learning resources from Ableton, first steps guide.

The course is designed as a holistic overview of building a live performance system from the ground up, mirroring the progression from a reliance on playback through to more complex and improvisatory workflows. We will learn about using the Ableton Push controllers, as well as other physical control devices, to construct an ergonomic and intuitive system for real-time music creation. There will also be discussion around a hybrid or hardware-only system too, with a chance to try out different setups.

What you will learn

• An explanation of different live performance systems
• Designing and building a bespoke system using Ableton Live
• Working with audio for live remixes
• Integrating MIDI for more flexibility and improvisatory options
• MIDI mapping and working with controllers
• Integrating external instruments and effects
• Building and refining a full live show

What you need to bring

• Your own laptop (PC or Mac) and power lead
• A version of Ableton Live installed on your machine – at least the 30 day trial
• Your own musical material to adapt and work with, otherwise resources will be supplied
• Wired headphones (and any adaptors)

Optional: your own audio interface, MIDI controllers or sound sources

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Host or Publisher Nick Feldman