Creating a free online platform to teach web design to musicians is something that musician and designer, Joe Marconi, has been dreaming about for a while. But, as many dreamers before him, he didn’t quite know how to make it happen.
After a six-month working partnership with composer and producer, Kevin MacLeod, the result of which can be found in the form of a complete online course, Designing for Musicians, is now available for anyone interested in pursuing a career in the arts. With over 50 lessons and over 20 hours of content, this is one course you don’t want to miss.
Whether you’re a classical musician looking for repertoire or a jazz musician searching for arrangements, here’s what you’ll learn from Joe’s course.
HTML, CSS, AND JAVASCRIPT
While many web designers opt for a Mac or Linux-based workspace and use Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator for their graphic design needs, Joe feels that web design is as much about knowing your tools as knowing what you want the website to look like. So, in order to make the most of this course, you’ll need access to a PC or a Mac.
Fortunately, both of these are readily available and, in fact, you’ll need one in order to take the course. But, in case you don’t have your own personal computer, you’ll still be able to follow along as you learn and, at the end of the day, everything you need to know will be online.
What’s more is that, unlike a lot of other web design courses, Designing for Musicians does not require you to have any previous knowledge of graphic design or web design to get the most out of it. Beginner friendly, yet still packed with valuable information, this is a course you can really shine on.
WHAT TO EXPECT
When it comes to online courses, there are a few cardinal rules you need to know and follow. First, make sure you’re looking at a reputable source. It would be best to find a source that has a positive reputation in the industry. Next, make sure you’re always doing your homework.
To prepare for this course, you’ll need to have access to a computer or a mobile device. You’ll also need to have a good internet connection in order to access the resources needed for the course. Finally, make sure you have everything you need before you begin. The last thing you want to do is to start the course and discover that you don’t have access to the tools or resources needed. So, make sure you’ve got your workspace set up ahead of time.
After you’ve prepared your workspace, you’re ready to begin. When you log in, you’ll see a welcoming page full of helpful links to materials you may need. Then, you’ll be taken to your dashboard, which will show you your progress so far and let you know when each lesson is due. Finally, you’ll see a questionnaire at the end of each lesson that will evaluate your knowledge and progress. Completing all of this is going to take you well into the next lesson, and it’s time to get started.
THE COURSE META-DATA
A few of the things you’ll learn in Joe’s course include:
- The anatomy of a website
- How to create a portfolio of work
- How to design for musicians
- HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
- What to expect from this course (lectures, milestones, and more)
- Tips for being a better designer
- Resources, including a comprehensive bibliography and a professional contacts directory
- An outline for an in-depth study of web design for musicians (optional, but highly recommended)
MY OWN EXPERIENCE
As someone who has taught myself CSS and built my own websites from the ground up, I can vouch for the fact that Joe’s course is a complete and valuable package. So, for those who are considering pursuing a career in web design for musicians, I’d advise them to sign up right away. Not only will they gain invaluable knowledge from this course, but they’ll also be able to build a portfolio that will stand them in good stead when applying for jobs. In fact, after taking this course, I was able to secure myself a full-time job as a web developer, entirely through online applications. So, if you’re looking to break into web design for musicians, this is the course for you.
CONCLUSION
To succeed in this field, you need to be passionate about and committed to what you do. Further, you need to be open to new ideas and willing to learn new things. Finally, it’s important to develop a good working knowledge of your tools and be able to put this knowledge into practice. With Designing for Musicians, you can be sure that you’re investing in a course that will help you gain these vital skills and equip you to begin your career in style.