liberation sounds is a three month music production course and community learning space specifically for QTBIPOC (queer and trans Black, Indigenous, and people of color). The aim of this course is to provide the technical tools you need to start producing your own music, as well as to build a fun, safe, and engaged community of QTBIPOC artists who want to support one another on our journeys of music-making as a tool for self and collective healing; radical world-building; and self expression.

To integrate both technical instruction and community building, the class will implement a variety of activities such as:
- Demonstrations on music production techniques such as sampling, beat-making, synthesizing sound, and using audio effects.
- Deep listening: learning to deconstruct the different elements in music we love, and drawing inspiration to try new techniques.
- Journaling prompts and group/partner shares about the music that inspires us, the role music plays in our lives, the kind of music we long to create, and the way we dream of sharing our music.
- Group sharing/listening sessions: listening to the work folks are creating as they learn new skills!

Note that some of the content will be tailored to what the group is interested in exploring! A google form will be sent out to each participant after registration and we will ask for feedback throughout the course.

FORMAT:
In hopes of making the course accessible while also honoring the desire to connect with each other IRL, the course taught in a hybrid style with alternating virtual and in-person classes.

In hopes of making the course accessible while also honoring the desire to connect with each other IRL, the course taught in a hybrid style with alternating virtual and in-person classes held at Mayday Space. The course will meet once a week starting on June 9th and culminate in a collective EP release party at Mayday Space on September 1st.

For in-person sessions, folks will be asked to take a COVID test 24 hours prior. Free COVID tests will also be available to participants at Mayday Space. Participants are encouraged to remain masked during in-person sessions.

The course will meet once a week starting on June 9th and culminate in a collective EP release party at Mayday Space on September 1st. The course schedule is as follows:

Friday June 9th, 7pm-9pm TBD (either zoom or in person at a local park)
Friday June 16th, 7pm-9pm, ZOOM
Friday June 23th, 7pm-9pm, ZOOM
Friday June 30th, 7pm-9pm, IN PERSON at Mayday Space
Friday July 7th, 7pm-9pm, ZOOM
Friday July 14th, 7pm-9pm, IN PERSON at Mayday Space
Friday July 21st, 7pm-9pm, ZOOM
Friday July 28th, 7pm-9pm, IN PERSON at Mayday Space
Friday August 4th, 7pm-9pm, ZOOM
Friday August 11th, 7pm-9pm, IN PERSON at Mayday Space
Friday August 18th, 7pm-9pm, ZOOM
Friday August 25th, 7pm-9pm, IN PERSON at Mayday Space
Friday September 1st, 6pm-9pm, IN PERSON RELEASE PARTY! At Mayday Space

If you have any questions about the course itself, please email juliarochanava@gmail.com.

EQUIPMENT:
The course will require participants to download a free trial of Ableton Live, although the skills we will learn in this course will be applicable across different music-making platforms. Each participant will need to have access to a laptop.

This workshop is only open to folks who identify as Queer, trans, or gender expansive Black, Indigenous, People of Color.

WORKSHOP COST:
This course is offered at a sliding scale. If you are financially stable and/or have disposable income, please consider selecting the Pay-It-Forward rate to subsidize our sliding scale tiers. Payment plans are also available.

- Sliding Scale 1: $240
- Sliding Scale 2: $300
- Sliding Scale 3: $360
- Pay-It-Forward: $480

If you are interested in a payment plan, please email ienna@maydayspace.org.

FACILITATOR BIO:
Julia Rocha (they/them), who performs under the stage name Chispa, is a non-binary first-generation Chicanx vocalist and music producer. With influences ranging from electronic music to acoustic music traditions across Latin America, Chispa’s experimental pop explores queer liberation, love and friendship.

Julia is a facilitator, organizer, and educator who is dedicated to creating spaces for Queer and Trans BIPOC folks to gather, express and create. In addition to creating music, they are a student of Farm School NYC, and a budding urban farmer and food justice organizer. They enjoy science fiction, making food for loved ones, and riding their bike <3