Verso University: GarageBand Music Lab for Tweens

Course Details

Ready to make your own music? In this fun, hands-on GarageBand workshop, tweens will learn how to create original songs, beats, and soundtracks using Apple’s popular music-making software. Whether you love pop, hip-hop, electronic music, movie soundtracks, or you simply enjoy experimenting with sound, this class is for you!

GarageBand is a free program designed for beginners, including virtual instruments, drum tracks, sound libraries, loops, and simple recording tools that let users create and mix their own music.

Learn the basics of digital music production, including how to build songs using loops and beats, play virtual instruments, layer sounds, record audio, add effects, mix tracks, and create their own unique musical style. No musical experience is required — just curiosity and creativity!

Course Schedule

This four-day course meets Monday, August 3 through Thursday, August 6 for 2 hours each day, with a short break midway through each class.

What to Bring

• Your own Apple laptop (MacBook) with GarageBand already installed and updated
• Be sure your laptop is running on a recent version of macOS (generally from the last 5-7 years) with adequate storage for project files
• Headphones

Need to borrow equipment? Limited library computers and headphones may be available. Please contact Joanne Connon at [email protected] in advance to make arrangements.

About the Instructor

Joe Brady has been a musician and educator in the NYC Metro area for the past 30 years. He currently teaches eMusic in grades 6, 7 and 8 at the Hommocks Middle School for the Mamaroneck Public School District, Mamaroneck, NY, where he has been for 26 years. Joe also has a full schedule as a freelance drummer/ percussionist in and out of the recording studio. Performance highlights include Broadway shows (Miss Saigon, Chicago, Urinetown), Off-Broadway shows (Shout! The Mod Musical, Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding, Reunion, and many others), Tada! Youth Theater in NYC, concerts with the Shireinu Choir of Long Island, cabaret shows with Broadway vocalists John Egan and Alison Fraser, and many original and cover bands over the years. Joe has a Bachelor’s Degree in English from the University of Notre Dame, as well as Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Music from Lehman College. He is very excited be a part of the Library's programming this summer!

About Verso University Classes

• Classes are usually structured as a consecutive series.
• Class size is often limited.
• Each series has a one-time fee registration fee covering all classes in the series.
• Registration is mandatory.
• The Westport Library wants to ensure that all interested students are able to participate in Verso University courses. If the registration fee is a barrier to entry for you, please contact [email protected].

Verso University is the Library’s lifelong learning and education initiative, serving up year-round offerings of classes, workshops, and lectures designed to further education and learning. Offerings run the gamut of educational opportunities, ranging from one-time lectures to ongoing courses to classes that meet weekly or perhaps monthly.

Verso University programs are made possible by the generous support of the Nancy J. Beard Lifelong Learning and Education Fund. 

Refund Policy

Programs, prices, and dates are subject to change. Tickets are non-transferable between events but may be passed along to another attendee. All sales are final. Refunds are issued only if The Westport Library cancels an event outright. In the case of a postponement or reschedule, refunds are not guaranteed provided the event takes place within 12 months of the original date. Refunds, when applicable, are issued in the original form of payment.