frequently asked questions

Slam Academy is an Ableton Live Certified Training Center based in Minneapolis, MN with online and in-person classes, as well as Self-Guided music production courses so you can learn at your own pace. We specialize in electronic music and teach industry-standard tools like Ableton Live, Serato, and Rekordbox.

With Self-Guided courses, you work through the content at your own pace, independently online. These courses are included with your Membership at no additional charge, and are easily accessible upon login via your Dashboard.

With Live Instruction courses, you learn the content in real-time with an instructor and fellow classmates! Live Instruction courses meet either online or in-person for 12-weeks; each class is 2-3 hours long. These courses are purchased a la carte and include Membership Plus.

Yes! You are welcome to take more than one course at a time. Each Live Instruction Course will be billed separately. We generally advise not taking more than two courses at a time so that you can properly absorb the material and have time to practice the concepts in each course. 

Yes! As long as your Membership is active, you can access the our library of Self-Guided courses to work through at your own pace.

You also get the full range of Membership benefits.

Live instruction courses are 12-weeks long and typically take place weekday evenings from 7-10pm CST, and weekday afternoons from 11am-2pm CST. Visit our Courses page to see the current schedule!

Every Live Instruction class meets weekly for 2-3 hours and is a mixture of interactive lectures and hands-on lab time. This format allows for you to immediately practice the concepts discussed in the lecture and then regroup with your instructor and peers to address any questions on the spot. 

Outside of class time, we encourage you to spend up to 10 hours per week putting your new knowledge into practice. Naturally, time varies widely from student to student depending on personal schedule, and students can complete our courses regardless.

Sign up for the course and get instant access to our entire self-guided course library! You'll keep this access throughout your live instruction courses.

Slam Academy offers industry-leading music production education with programs specializing in DJing, electronic music production, sound design, mixing and mastering, vocal production, music business and more. Founded by one of the world's first Ableton Certified Trainers, we remain one of the few Ableton Certified Training Centers in the midwest region of the United States, and offer our full course catalogue online as well.

Yes! Slam Academy is designed to support complete beginners as well as intermediate and advanced music producers. Our step-by-step approach helps students learn the foundations of music production quickly and confidently.

Absolutely. Slam Academy was one of the first Ableton Certified Training Centers in the U.S., and our founder James Patrick was one of the earliest Ableton Certified Trainers. Our Ableton Live program teaches you how to produce professional tracks from scratch.

We offer both! Slam Academy offers online classes that you can take from anywhere in the world, as well as in-person classes at our Minneapolis, MN location in the United States.

No prior music experience is required. Our programs are designed to guide you through everything from basic music theory to advanced production techniques — all in a supportive and creative environment.

Yes! Students receive personalized feedback from instructors and peers through Mentorship Sessions, community channels, and class time in Live Instruction courses. Your active participation is the best way to improve quickly.

Slam Academy instructors are professional producers, DJs, and engineers who work in the music industry. Our team includes Ableton Certified Trainers, label-released artists, and seasoned performers. Click here to learn more about our instructors.

Yes! We offer a free mini-course that teaches you how to create your first track in Ableton Live. It’s a great way to get started before committing to a full program.

Check it out and get started here: https://slamacademy.com/course/beginners-guide