Aaron Sorkin Teaches Screenwriting

Amy Tan Teaches Fiction, Memory, and Imagination

Armin van Buuren Teaches Dance Music

Bob Woodward Teaches Investigative Journalism

Dan Brown Teaches Writing Thrillers

David Mamet Teaches Dramatic Writing

deadmau5 Teaches Electronic Music Production

Es Devlin Teaches Turning Ideas Into Art 

Hans Zimmer Teaches Film Scoring

Herbie Hancock Teaches Jazz

Itzhak Perlman Teaches Violin

James Patterson Teaches Writing

Joyce Carol Oates Teaches the Art of the Short Story

Questlove Teaches Music Curation and DJing

Reba McEntire Teaches Country Music

R.L. Stine Teaches Writing for Young Audiences

Salman Rushdie Teaches Storytelling and Writing

Sheila E. Teaches Drumming and Percussion 

Timbaland Teaches Producing and Beatmaking

Tom Morello Teaches Electric Guitar

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Introduction

Making a Beat: Tweaking and Layering Drums

Creating A Groove, Part 1

Creating A Groove, Part 2

In the Studio, Part 4: Adding Groove and Bass

In the Studio, Part 5: The Big Payoff

Arranging

In the Studio, Part 8: Building the Drop, Reviewing the Track

Starting and Growing Your Career

The deadmau5 Process: Practice

Beats: Part 1

Beats: Part 2

Structuring Songs

Tom's Influences: EDM, the Blues, and Hip-Hop

Gathering Music: Organizing and Pruning

Craft Infectious EDM Beats

Editing

Film Story Arc

Rewrites: First Draft

Dramatic Rules (Cont'd)

Plot

Narration & Exposition

Writing the Story

Principles of Writing Short Fiction

Seven Useful Tips for Writers

Choosing the Right Words

Editing and Rewriting

Have Fun With Your First Draft

The Lehman Trilogy

Craft Pivotal Story Beats

Meet Your Instructor

Making a Beat: Adding a Topline

Approaching Your DJ Set

Hosting A Radio Show

Closing

The deadmau5 Process: Theory

Planning Your Set: Sequencing and Vibe Checking

Knowing Your Roots: The Art of Crate Digging

Musicology: Questlove’s Playlist

Curate Energetic DJ Sets

Templates and Organization in Logic Pro

Using the Decks: Basics

On Stage: The Technical Side

A Questlove Flow: Technology

Advanced DJ Techniques

Elevate Your Stage Presence as a DJ

Finding Your Rhythm 

"A Love Bizarre" Case Study

Playing the Congas 

Playing the Timbales 

Tempo

The Two Basic Jazz Forms

Jam Session: Two Approaches to “Watermelon Man”

Rhythmic Musicianship

Jam Session: Rhythm in “Actual Proof”

Practice Essentials

In the Studio, Part 3: More Leads

Excel in Advanced Jazz Rhythms

Singles, Club Mixes, and Edits

Building a Set: Edits and Mashups

Using the Decks: Armin's Techniques

Meet Your Instructor: Questlove

A Questlove Setup: Equipment

Hey Mr. DJ: DJ 101

Training Your Ears to Listen

Make Seamless DJ Transitions

Music

Lessons from Influential Black Voices

Black History, Black Freedom, and Black Love

Teaches the Art and Soul of Guitar

Carlos Santana

Carlos Santana Teaches the Art and Soul of Guitar

Teaches Music and Connection

Yo-Yo Ma

Yo-Yo Ma Teaches Music and Connection

Teaches The Art of Performance

Usher

Teaches The Art Of Performance

Usher Teaches The Art of Performance

Teaches Drumming and Percussion 

Sheila E.

Teaches Film Scoring

Hans Zimmer

Teaches Creativity in Choreography

Parris Goebel

Parris Goebel Teaches Creativity in Choreography

Teaches Filmmaking

Werner Herzog

Werner Herzog Teaches Filmmaking

Teaches Being a Band

Metallica

Metallica Teaches Being a Band

Teaches Producing and Beatmaking

Timbaland

Teaches Creativity and Songwriting

St. Vincent

St. Vincent Teaches Creativity and Songwriting

Teaches Music for Film

Danny Elfman

Danny Elfman Teaches Music for Film

A Documentary by Bess Kargman

Diane Warren: Relentless

Teaches Songwriting

John Legend

John Legend Teaches Songwriting

Teaches Jazz

Herbie Hancock

Teaches Poetic Thinking

Joy Harjo

Joy Harjo Teaches Poetic Thinking

Teaches Singing

Christina Aguilera

Christina Aguilera Teaches Singing

Teaches Violin

Itzhak Perlman

Teaches Country Music

Reba McEntire

Teaches the Voice as an Instrument

Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey Teaches the Voice as an Instrument

Teaches Dance Music

Armin van Buuren

Teaches Hip-Hop Storytelling

Nas Teaches Hip-Hop Storytelling

Teaches Electronic Music Production

deadmau5

Teaches Electric Guitar

Tom Morello

Teaches ʻUkulele

Jake Shimabukuro

Jake Shimabukuro Teaches ʻUkulele

Teaches Philosophy

Cornel West

Cornel West Teaches Philosophy

Teaches Drumming & Creative Collaboration

Ringo Starr

Ringo Starr Teaches Drumming & Creative Collaboration

Teaches Music Curation and DJing

Questlove

Teaches Songwriting and Producing

Alicia Keys

Alicia Keys Teaches Songwriting and Producing

Painter Devon Rodriguez grew up in the South Bronx in New York City and first became interested in art as a child. Now known for his portraits of everyday people—particularly NYC subway commuters—Devon is one of the most popular visual artists on TikTok. Devon’s self-marketing efforts on social media have garnered him more than twenty-seven million TikTok followers and landed him on the Forbes “30 Under 30” list for social media.
Marketing is a key component of pursuing a career as an artist. To market yourself as an artist means to “open up your art to a wider audience,” according to Devon. Consider these art marketing ideas:

1. __Attend gallery openings__. Market yourself in person by going to art shows and art fairs to meet gallery owners, curators, art lovers, and art world professionals. You can also meet potential clients and customers at events. It can be helpful to have business cards listing your website and contact information for networking opportunities.
2. __Build an online portfolio__. It is essential to have an artist website with an [artist statement](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-an-artist-bio), images of your work, pricing for your artwork, and perhaps an e-commerce store for your work. [Email marketing](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/email-marketing-explained) is another way to share information about your work with potential customers. You can have a sign-up option on your website and add contacts you receive from in-person meetings.
3. __Post on social media__. Through social media platforms, such as Instagram and TikTok, you can create a robust online presence and expose your work to a vast audience, building a pool of potential customers.
Devon Rodriguez has a strong social media presence. Learn how to build your personal brand and market yourself with this social media marketing strategy:

1. __Create a good hook__. Find a way to immediately grab attention with your videos. The opportunity to hook the audience is very fast, “It's usually only three seconds,” he says. When posting videos of drawing strangers on the subway, Devon uses this hook: He starts with a shot of the person sitting down, then overlays the text, “Wait for the reaction” at the two-second mark to engage the audience.
2. __Do your research__. Studying viral videos from professional artists can help you create your own art content. Use popular art world hashtags, such as #artistsoninstagram or #artistsoftiktok, to find viral art videos. “Try to analyze why it went viral or how it was edited,” Devon says. “And try to copy it second-by-second, but insert your own artwork into it. Always try to keep stuff fast-paced, because it has to be entertaining.”
3. __Entertain the viewers__. Social media apps prioritize content that keeps people’s attention to drive ad revenue to make money. “One of the most important things to video on social media is having a good hook and keeping the viewer entertained throughout the video,” Devon says. “You have to find a way to keep people on the app while marketing yourself. [The apps] end up pushing your artwork for their own reasons—you could take advantage of that.”
4. __Keep it short__. “You need to learn how to edit video and have short form videos on social media in order to make it,” he adds. He’s found the optimal watch time for his videos is nine seconds. After he hooks the viewer at the two-second mark, he’ll present the finished product nine seconds later, at the twelve-second mark. “Most short-form content is, like, zero to twenty seconds,” he says. “Getting twelve seconds guaranteed watch time is a magic formula.”
5. __Plan a content schedule__. You want to create a robust online presence, so you should post on your social media account regularly, but not more than twice a day. “Two times a day annoys people and they end up unfollowing,” Devon says. “If you have a good quality post and a good quality formula, then you could post less.” 
If you want to learn to capture portraits on paper and canvas, start by building a toolkit of materials. Discover TikTok sensation Devon Rodriguez’s approach to drawing and painting realistic portraits, marketing yourself as an artist, [varnishing an oil painting](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-varnish-an-oil-painting), and more when you sign up for the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com/homepage).
To be a successful artist, you must learn how to share your work. Learn tips for marketing yourself as an artist from portrait artist Devon Rodriguez.

To be a successful artist, you must learn how to share your work. Learn tips for marketing yourself as an artist from portrait artist Devon Rodriguez.

Devon Rodriguez’s Tips for Marketing Yourself as an Artist

Painter Devon Rodriguez grew up in the South Bronx in New York City and first became interested in art as a child. Now known for his portraits of everyday people—particularly NYC subway commuters—Devon is one of the most popular visual artists on TikTok. Devon’s self-marketing efforts on social media have garnered him more than twenty-seven million TikTok followers and landed him on the Forbes “30 Under 30” list for social media.

Who Is Devon Rodriguez?

Marketing is a key component of pursuing a career as an artist. To market yourself as an artist means to “open up your art to a wider audience,” according to Devon. Consider these art marketing ideas:<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Attend gallery openings. Market yourself in person by going to art shows and art fairs to meet gallery owners, curators, art lovers, and art world professionals. You can also meet potential clients and customers at events. It can be helpful to have business cards listing your website and contact information for networking opportunities. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Build an online portfolio. It is essential to have an artist website with an <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-an-artist-bio' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-an-artist-bio","linkCopy":"artist statement","category":null}'>artist statement</a>, images of your work, pricing for your artwork, and perhaps an e-commerce store for your work. <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/email-marketing-explained' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/email-marketing-explained","linkCopy":"Email marketing","category":null}'>Email marketing</a> is another way to share information about your work with potential customers. You can have a sign-up option on your website and add contacts you receive from in-person meetings. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Post on social media. Through social media platforms, such as Instagram and TikTok, you can create a robust online presence and expose your work to a vast audience, building a pool of potential customers. </li></ol>

How to Market Yourself as an Artist

Devon Rodriguez has a strong social media presence. Learn how to build your personal brand and market yourself with this social media marketing strategy:<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Create a good hook. Find a way to immediately grab attention with your videos. The opportunity to hook the audience is very fast, “It&#39;s usually only three seconds,” he says. When posting videos of drawing strangers on the subway, Devon uses this hook: He starts with a shot of the person sitting down, then overlays the text, “Wait for the reaction” at the two-second mark to engage the audience. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Do your research. Studying viral videos from professional artists can help you create your own art content. Use popular art world hashtags, such as #artistsoninstagram or #artistsoftiktok, to find viral art videos. “Try to analyze why it went viral or how it was edited,” Devon says. “And try to copy it second-by-second, but insert your own artwork into it. Always try to keep stuff fast-paced, because it has to be entertaining.” </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Entertain the viewers. Social media apps prioritize content that keeps people’s attention to drive ad revenue to make money. “One of the most important things to video on social media is having a good hook and keeping the viewer entertained throughout the video,” Devon says. “You have to find a way to keep people on the app while marketing yourself. [The apps] end up pushing your artwork for their own reasons—you could take advantage of that.” </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Keep it short. “You need to learn how to edit video and have short form videos on social media in order to make it,” he adds. He’s found the optimal watch time for his videos is nine seconds. After he hooks the viewer at the two-second mark, he’ll present the finished product nine seconds later, at the twelve-second mark. “Most short-form content is, like, zero to twenty seconds,” he says. “Getting twelve seconds guaranteed watch time is a magic formula.” </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 5. Plan a content schedule. You want to create a robust online presence, so you should post on your social media account regularly, but not more than twice a day. “Two times a day annoys people and they end up unfollowing,” Devon says. “If you have a good quality post and a good quality formula, then you could post less.” </li></ol>

Devon Rodriguez’s 5 Tips for Marketing Yourself 

If you want to learn to capture portraits on paper and canvas, start by building a toolkit of materials. Discover TikTok sensation Devon Rodriguez’s approach to drawing and painting realistic portraits, marketing yourself as an artist, <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-varnish-an-oil-painting' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-varnish-an-oil-painting","linkCopy":"varnishing an oil painting","category":null}'>varnishing an oil painting</a>, and more when you sign up for the <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/homepage' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/homepage","linkCopy":"MasterClass Annual Membership","category":null}'>MasterClass Annual Membership</a>.

Build Your Artist Toolkit

To be a successful artist, you must learn how to share your work. Learn tips for marketing yourself as an artist from portrait artist Devon Rodriguez.

To be a successful artist, you must learn how to share your work. Learn tips for marketing yourself as an artist from portrait artist Devon Rodriguez.


marketing-yourself-as-an-artist

“Music lights up more parts of the brain than anything else,” Turry says. “Listening to music energizes, animates, activates us.”

This is partly the result of dopamine, a neurochemical the brain releases as a “reward.” It’s linked to behavior that promotes survival; when you eat or mate, you get a hit. Curiously, your brain will also dole out dopamine in response to more abstract, less primitive activities, like falling in love. Or listening to music.

Beats and melodies have other ways to alter your mental activity. For the duration of a song, you can enter into what some psychologists call “transient hypofrontality.” Areas of your brain that generate fears and anxieties become less active. Your inhibitions dissipate, leaving room for only the here and now—a state similar to those attained through meditation. And you’re not only engaged with what you’re hearing; you’re also captivated by the idea of what’s about to come.

“Our brains are great predicting machines, and when we’re listening to music, we’re not just listening to the notes,” says Turry. “We’re anticipating the next note.”
He adds that music can “bypass our defenses,” offering “a way to connect to things you’ve forgotten about.” Therein lies the efficacy of music therapy, stemming from a combination of mental hardwiring and socialization. Humans begin forging these connections in utero; they’re fostered throughout life by way of classroom sing-alongs, hymns at religious services, or chants at sporting events.

> “Listening to music energizes, animates, activates us.” —Alan Turry

Turry adds that large music events, like EDM festivals, can evoke an almost “oceanic communal feeling.” Neuroscientific data suggest that, when hearing live music in the presence of other humans, we experience a brain synchrony apparent in the delta range, which happens to be the area related to both enjoyment and a sense of oneness. This could help explain why a night at the club or a rollicking wedding reception provides a layer of bliss beyond spinning vinyl at home. 

Song sequencing can play a crucial role, too. “What’s important with DJs is timing the intensity,” Turry says. “You’re pacing just as you would in a music-therapy session: having a sense of the beginning of the session, building to a very intense moment, bringing the session down so that there’s a sense of ‘We’ve completed something together...’ ”

With a great playlist, the DJ isn’t simply hyping the crowd. They could actually be guiding your brain chemistry, using mental priming and reward functions, and forming a neurological bond between a group of listeners. So if you’re playing a set and start feeling the vibe, dedicate the next one to your brain—and keep spinning.
There’s a reason for that euphoria you feel when the right song comes on the radio, plays during a party, or booms inside a nightclub. Alan Turry, the director of New York University’s Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music, is here to explain the neurological effects and wide-ranging benefits of listening to a good track—its power to decrease anxiety, induce meditative states, form neural connections, and help you bond with others.

There’s a reason for that euphoria you feel when the right song comes on the radio, plays during a party, or booms inside a nightclub. Alan Turry, the director of New York University’s Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music, is here to explain the neurological effects and wide-ranging benefits of listening to a good track—its power to decrease anxiety, induce meditative states, form neural connections, and help you bond with others.

Why Does Music Make You Feel So Good? It’s All in Your Head

“Music lights up more parts of the brain than anything else,” Turry says. “Listening to music energizes, animates, activates us.”This is partly the result of dopamine, a neurochemical the brain releases as a “reward.” It’s linked to behavior that promotes survival; when you eat or mate, you get a hit. Curiously, your brain will also dole out dopamine in response to more abstract, less primitive activities, like falling in love. Or listening to music.Beats and melodies have other ways to alter your mental activity. For the duration of a song, you can enter into what some psychologists call “transient hypofrontality.” Areas of your brain that generate fears and anxieties become less active. Your inhibitions dissipate, leaving room for only the here and now—a state similar to those attained through meditation. And you’re not only engaged with what you’re hearing; you’re also captivated by the idea of what’s about to come.“Our brains are great predicting machines, and when we’re listening to music, we’re not just listening to the notes,” says Turry. “We’re anticipating the next note.”

He adds that music can “bypass our defenses,” offering “a way to connect to things you’ve forgotten about.” Therein lies the efficacy of music therapy, stemming from a combination of mental hardwiring and socialization. Humans begin forging these connections in utero; they’re fostered throughout life by way of classroom sing-alongs, hymns at religious services, or chants at sporting events.<blockquote class="mc-text--italic mc-opacity--hinted mc-my-8 mc-mr-0 mc-ml-6 mc-pl-6">“Listening to music energizes, animates, activates us.” —Alan Turry</blockquote>Turry adds that large music events, like EDM festivals, can evoke an almost “oceanic communal feeling.” Neuroscientific data suggest that, when hearing live music in the presence of other humans, we experience a brain synchrony apparent in the delta range, which happens to be the area related to both enjoyment and a sense of oneness. This could help explain why a night at the club or a rollicking wedding reception provides a layer of bliss beyond spinning vinyl at home. Song sequencing can play a crucial role, too. “What’s important with DJs is timing the intensity,” Turry says. “You’re pacing just as you would in a music-therapy session: having a sense of the beginning of the session, building to a very intense moment, bringing the session down so that there’s a sense of ‘We’ve completed something together...’ ”With a great playlist, the DJ isn’t simply hyping the crowd. They could actually be guiding your brain chemistry, using mental priming and reward functions, and forming a neurological bond between a group of listeners. So if you’re playing a set and start feeling the vibe, dedicate the next one to your brain—and keep spinning.

There’s a reason for that euphoria you feel when the right song comes on the radio, plays during a party, or booms inside a nightclub. Alan Turry, the director of New York University’s Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music, is here to explain the neurological effects and wide-ranging benefits of listening to a good track—its power to decrease anxiety, induce meditative states, form neural connections, and help you bond with others.

There’s a reason for that euphoria you feel when the right song comes on the radio, plays during a party, or booms inside a nightclub. Alan Turry, the director of New York University’s Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music, is here to explain the neurological effects and wide-ranging benefits of listening to a good track—its power to decrease anxiety, induce meditative states, form neural connections, and help you bond with others.


A collage, including a brain and two hands forming a heart shape, against a yellow background.

neurological-benefits-of-music

Creativity is the ability to conceive new or imaginative ideas and turn them into reality. All creative work emerges from two actions: thinking and producing. Thinking is activating your imagination, allowing your mind to forge new connections between ideas, and exploring problem-solving approaches to an idea. The second is producing, which is the hard work involved in bringing those creative thoughts to fruition. 

Creativity is a necessary skill for those in the arts, but it has application in other areas, too. For example, creativity is the foundation for many modern businesses and industries. Many industries and entrepreneurs value inner creativity, empathy, and understanding more highly than analytical thinking. Creative thinking helps businesses find new and inventive ways to stand out from their competition and add value to their goods and services.
Creative thinking is not limited to naturally creative people. Research shows creativity is less of a gift than it is a skill you can learn through regular practice. Regularly engaging the creative process can even [improve creativity](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-improve-creativity) over time.
If you want to [be more creative](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/st-vincents-tips-for-honing-your-creativity), try dedicating time each day to:

- __Daydream__. Mind-wandering, or daydreaming, might feel like procrastinating, but it frees the mind to explore creative problems to its furthest limits. Researchers suggest setting aside time to daydream by reducing distractions, relaxing, and letting ideas flow for a set number of minutes.
- __Doodle__. Many creative geniuses, including Pablo Picasso and Steve Jobs, stimulated their creative juices by doodling—creating a simple drawing without much effort or attention. Doodling provides a subconscious workspace for the brain to explore new problems and create new ideas.
- __Exercise__. Brainstorming during thirty minutes of exercise often helps break down creative blocks and fuel new ideas. Research shows moderate exercise has a positive impact on both creativity and cognitive thinking. 
- __Freewrite__. Busy schedules can leave us feeling in a rut and unable to free up space in the brain for creative thoughts. To get started with [freewriting](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/freewriting-prompts-to-help-break-your-writers-block), simply grab a piece of paper and let your words flow. The results might help you gain perspective and clarity. Many online sources provide daily [writing prompts](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/writing-prompts) if you need ideas.
- __Play video games__. It might surprise you to learn video games help many young people develop their creativity and problem-solving skills. Research shows better social skills, improved concentration, motivation, and spatial skills are all linked to playing video games.
Grab the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com) and plumb the depths of your creativity with the help of modern artist Jeff Koons, abstract artist Futura, and stage designer Es Devlin. Our exclusive video lessons will teach you to do things like utilize color and scale, explore the beauty in everyday objects, and so much more.
Creativity is a skill everyone can learn. Discover new and unique ways to spark creative thoughts.

Creativity is a skill everyone can learn. Discover new and unique ways to spark creative thoughts.

How to Be Creative: Activities That Boost Creative Thinking

Creativity is the ability to conceive new or imaginative ideas and turn them into reality. All creative work emerges from two actions: thinking and producing. Thinking is activating your imagination, allowing your mind to forge new connections between ideas, and exploring problem-solving approaches to an idea. The second is producing, which is the hard work involved in bringing those creative thoughts to fruition. Creativity is a necessary skill for those in the arts, but it has application in other areas, too. For example, creativity is the foundation for many modern businesses and industries. Many industries and entrepreneurs value inner creativity, empathy, and understanding more highly than analytical thinking. Creative thinking helps businesses find new and inventive ways to stand out from their competition and add value to their goods and services.

What Is Creativity?

Creative thinking is not limited to naturally creative people. Research shows creativity is less of a gift than it is a skill you can learn through regular practice. Regularly engaging the creative process can even <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-improve-creativity' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-improve-creativity","linkCopy":"improve creativity","category":null}'>improve creativity</a> over time.

Can You Teach Yourself to Be Creative?

Creativity is a skill everyone can learn. Discover new and unique ways to spark creative thoughts.

Creativity is a skill everyone can learn. Discover new and unique ways to spark creative thoughts.


Learn to DJ & Make Compelling Beats