Rap & MC Pathway Lyrics, bars, bass, education Welcome to ACM You already know how to rap. We’re here to help you do it better. Write better • Record better • Perform better Understand the music business, so you can build your brand and reputation and create a sustainable, long-term career. You’re not a country singer. You’re not a metal band. We get it, and we’re not trying to treat you like something you’re not. We’ve got tutors who know what they’re on about; masterclasses from successful rappers and MCs; and opportunities to learn beatmaking and engineering, to network, and also to get attention from record labels. We’re just trying to make you… 2 Contents Foreword ...................................................................................... 5 Study In A One-Of-A-Kind Environment ..................................... 6 Course Overview ......................................................................... 7 What Can You Expect To Learn ..................................................... 8 Learning Points ........................................................................... 9 Songwriting Camps .................................................................... 10 Benefits Of Collaboration .......................................................... 11 Leadership Team ....................................................................... 12 A Message From ShaoDow .......................................................... 13 Metropolis ............................................................................... 14 A Message From Metropolis CEO Richard Connell ..................... 15 Metropolis Blue / Metro Sound ................................................. 16 Collab .......................................................................................... 17 MC / Rapper Career Options ..................................................... 18 World-Class Facilities ................................................................ 19 3 4 Foreword As ACM has grown from a single campus to nine buildings across three cities, we have focussed really hard on listening to our students as well as working deep inside industry in real time. So I could not be more proud of the team at ACM that has put together this incredible programme for lyricists, rappers, MCs, and those of you who want to make beats. You know that you can really only get to where you want to be by collaborating – so that is what this is all about, and I cannot wait to see what happens next. For you to be part of it, you have to get on board – and I hope that when you read about what we are putting together, it inspires you to come and see us, see what we can do for you, and be part of the next chapter of this journey, which will underpin your future as a professional in this incredible industry. Remember: whether you say you can or think you can’t, you are going to be right – so say you can, know that you are as incredible as anyone else, and let us help you build that platform for you to be the very best you could be. I am looking forward to meeting you. With Best Wishes, Kainne Clements Executive Chairman, ACM 5 Study in a one-of-a-kind environment. When you choose to study with us at ACM, you can look forward to an immersive, award-winning education that matches the highest quality of teaching with unparalleled student experiences. We work with the biggest names in creativity and technology, such as Ableton, Roland, and Pioneer, to provide state-of-the-art performance, recording, and learning environments designed to fulfil your creative ambitions and get you inspired. When we’re not using the facilities for our own teaching purposes, students are able to book them for their own performance and recording needs via our mobile app, myACM. You’ll be surrounded by likeminded and supportive friends who are equally dedicated to pursuing a career in the creative industries. You’ll get to work together, learn by doing, and build lasting relationships with fellow students across a wide range of complementary study disciplines. Our courses represent every corner of the industry that you one day want to work in, making ACM the perfect environment in which to build a network that’ll have your back as you enter the creative industries, together. 6 Course Overview ACM’s Technical Studies for Rappers and MCs course investigates each strand of a rapper’s profession, including the study of the “4 Weapons of Rap” (lyricism, flow, delivery, and originality). You’ll get to analyse music theory, study the ideologies behind skilful artistry, develop your analytical skills for long and lyric writing, and receive integral guidance on how to hold audiences through effective performance and how to captivate listeners with the art of freestyle. Study at ACM and press play on your success story, master the art of dominating stages with flawless bars, and learn how to turn what you do for fun into a professional career. 7 What you can expect to learn Mastering Your Craft Artistry • Being the best MC you • Performance skills can be • Stagecraft and presentation Songwriting How to Navigate the Industry • Lyrics • Rhythm • Entrepreneurship • Theory • Creating and developing • DAWs your brand • Arrangement • Networking • Collaboration • Merchandise 8 Learning points Level 4 to Level 6 journey • Intro to DAWs Giving you the • Songwriting tools you need LEVEL 4 • Business Skills to succeed • Vocal Studies Find yourself as an artist • Advanced Songwriting Developing LEVEL 5 and Artistry your own • Performance Skills sound and artistry Craft your own pathway and • Exit Specialism create your own • Advanced Techniques LEVEL 6 professional • Entrepreurship and portfolio for Career Development industry 9 Songwriting Camps Songwriting camps are held each term mic, stage piano, guitar and writing as standard across all campuses. materials. A typical ACM songwriting camp would During the day and breaks, industry be held over one or two days, often guests are invited to meet our students with a theme or specific genre focus. to give advice and critical feedback, Sometimes we would be working to and the day ends with a playback up-to-the-minute industry briefs for celebration, with final comments from the world’s leading artists looking for the ACM team and industry panel to new songs; on other days, we would help the teams assess and reflect, encourage experimentation, mixing and actions given to continue fine- diverse genres and vocal styles. tuning their work, some of which would hopefully be at a level high enough to For one-day camps, the order of actually pitch to industry opportunities. the day would start with a welcome and introduction, setting out the Business students would be involved in parameters, etiquette, and schedule, the planning, links to industry, artist/ and placing the students into small producer/songwriter liaison, and groups of artist (singer/rapper), following up the results and possible producer, and songwriter (lyricist/ placement. topliner). Musician students would help on the The groups will then move to their writing day as session musicians, or breakout spaces, set up by Technical in other workshops connected to the Services students, which would include camp, preparing live arrangements a Mac equipped with the latest versions for additional studio recordings or live of industry standard DAWs, a condenser performances. 10 Time management skills Benefits of As every project has a specific deadline, writing camps help instill the importance Collaboration of time management in the creative mind. They also provide the perfect framework Inspiration for students to develop a disciplined work Collaboration allows us to feed off ethic and crucial organizational skills. others’ inspiration and creative energies, which act as catalysts for our Commitment own creativity. Dependability and commitment to a shared creative endeavour can promote Learning harmonious workflow, and create a sense There is no better way to develop of balance in terms of the distribution your craft than actively learning from of input, making it more likely that an others in a practical and hands-on ongoing partnership will be formed in the environment. People will give their process. tricks away during a session – and you can learn to master those tricks too. Decision-making skills During collaborative sessions, decisions Communication skills must be based on the bigger picture and The ability to communicate with others not one’s personal preference. This is in a non-aggressive way, and adapt particularly important when working to your style of communication in order a specific brief that requires a specific to connect with different personalities, outcome. Decisiveness itself is equally is intensified in creative collaboration. vital; a group’s inability to make decisions Precious ideas and big egos can call can quickly lead to a lack of flow and a for great diplomacy. Furthermore, loss of collective confidence. the musical language of the extended collaboration group enhances Flexibility communication skills across all Flexibility and adaptability are not always disciplines, helping students internalise inherent skills in the songwriter’s toolbox the 360-degree language of project – but they are valuable when aiming to development. achieve a defined goal in a collaborative environment. Diversity Collaboration increases your chances Politics of creating completely new material, Songwriting camps expand your industry and can enable you to work in different network by helping you