Ableton Live Intensive: private one to one lessons, in person
Wherever you are, I'll come to you. Months of weekly lessons, squeezed into a few days. We work in your studio, on your own gear, six hours a day, and the days are planned around you: new tracks from scratch, getting properly to grips with your controllers, getting your room set up the way it should be, or all three.
Who it's for
- You've got a folder of half-finished ideas and you want a big push, not a slow drip of weekly lessons.
- You learn best by doing, with someone sitting next to you.
- You've bought the gear (a Push, controllers, synths) and you want to actually use it, not just look at it.
- You'd rather take a few days off and properly level up than spread it over six months.
- You're any level. Beginners get a fast, solid foundation. Experienced producers get their workflow, mixdowns and finishing rate sorted.
Built around you
Every intensive is completely bespoke. Your needs come first, and no two producers need the same thing. Before we book anything, we talk through where you are and what you want, and I plan the days around that. For example:
If you're fairly new
We build the foundations fast. Most days start a new track from a blank session, and we pick up the core of Ableton as the track needs it: finding your way around, beats, basslines, arrangement, then your first mixdowns. Your controllers get set up early, so they feel like part of the instrument from day one.
If you're more advanced
We go straight at whatever's holding you back. That might be finishing, mixdowns, sound design, a faster workflow, or putting the Push and your hardware at the centre of how you work. New tracks are still where we learn best, but we'll also take your best unfinished ideas over the line.
The intensives that work best start online. If we haven't worked together yet, I'd suggest a few online lessons first. By the time I arrive, I know how you learn, what you're aiming for and how your setup works, so not a minute of the days goes on getting to know each other.
What stays the same: six hours of teaching a day, with proper breaks, and a short listening or practice task each evening, so the next morning starts from where you are, not from where we left off. I cap it at six hours on purpose: after that, new technical stuff stops sticking and the next day gets spent relearning the last one.
What you only get in person
- Your hardware, properly. MIDI controllers, synths, drum machines and the Ableton Push. We go deep, and set everything up around the way you work, so you stop reaching for the mouse.
- Your studio, set up right. Speaker placement, your listening position, and routing your gear into Ableton so it's ready to go when an idea hits.
- A plan for your room. Where sound treatment should go and what's worth buying first, so you don't waste money on the wrong stuff.
- Your unfinished tracks, if you want. Bring the folder of ideas and we'll pull the best ones forward too.
Online lessons can't do this bit. I can't stand behind you and hear what your room is doing to your bass over Zoom.
What you leave with
- New tracks, started from scratch with you in the driving seat
- Your controllers and Push set up for how you work
- A setup and sound treatment plan for your studio
- Recordings of the sessions to rewatch
- A follow-up lesson on Zoom about two weeks later, to keep the momentum going
Prices
From £550 a day
plus travel and accommodation outside Lisbon
- 3 days: £1,650
- 5 days: £2,750
Bringing a friend or two? Up to four people at a similar level can share an intensive, for £150 a day per extra person.
One day minimum in Lisbon, where I'm based. Two days elsewhere in Portugal and in the UK, three days everywhere else. Outside Lisbon, on top of the day rate you cover my return travel, a room near where we're working, local transfers and a £50 a day meal allowance. I'll give you a full quote, with everything in it, before you book anything.
How booking works
Free call
We talk about your music, your level, your setup and your goals, and I plan the days around them.
Quote and dates
I send a full quote covering the days and all the travel costs.
Deposit
50% secures the dates. Travel only gets booked after that.
The intensive
The balance is due 14 days before we start.
Questions about the intensive
Where can you travel to?
I'm based in Lisbon, and I travel anywhere in Portugal, the UK, the rest of Europe or further afield. Further away usually makes more sense as a longer booking.
Can I have in-person Ableton lessons near me?
If you're in Lisbon, yes, and you can book a single day with no travel or accommodation costs. Elsewhere in Portugal and the UK it's a two day minimum, and three days anywhere else. For weekly lessons, online works just as well and costs less.
Is this an Ableton bootcamp?
Sort of, without the crowd. A bootcamp packs a lot of learning into a few days, and so does this, but it's just you and me, working on your music rather than a set project.
Is it a music production retreat?
It can be. Some people book a few quiet days somewhere nice and make it a retreat. The difference is that I come to you, wherever you've chosen, rather than you travelling to my venue.
Do I need to have had lessons with you first?
No, but I recommend it. A few online sessions beforehand mean we're far better prepared: I understand what you need, and we can hit the ground running on day one. If you'd rather jump straight in, we'll do a longer planning call instead.
What do I need?
Your own setup: a computer with Ableton Live, and whatever gear you've got, from a single controller to a room full of synths. We work on your equipment on purpose, because that's what you'll be making music on after I've gone. If you're not on Ableton yet, I can help you get set up beforehand.
Can you mix or master my tracks for release?
That's separate production work, not tuition. Happy to talk about it, but it isn't part of the intensive.
Can I book it for two or more people?
Yes, for up to four people at a similar level: a production duo, bandmates or a few friends. It's still planned around you: I find out what each of you needs before we start. It's £150 a day for each extra person, and the travel costs stay the same however many of you there are. For bigger groups, workshops or talks, get in touch and I'll put something together.
What currency do you charge in?
Pounds. If it's easier for you, I can invoice in euros or dollars.
Enquire about dates
Thinking about it? Book a free call and we'll work out whether an intensive or regular lessons fits you better.