01
Complete Theory & Analysis
From first principles through advanced harmonic analysis—so you can hear why a choice works and make it on purpose.
For aspiring musicians, composers & recording engineers
Master the Craft of Music: Personal Mentorship Across All Disciplines
CHRIS McDERMOTT
International touring musician · Former Berklee instructor(18 years) · Warner Chappell songwriter(5 years), Full Sail Professor (5 years).
A comprehensive, master-level intensive combining elite instrumentation, music theory, songwriting, and professional studio production.
The connected practice
Study stops being fractured when the craft is taught as one.
Most music education is fragmented: guitar with one teacher, songwriting with another, then the lonely work of making a DAW recording sound professional.
Here, every skill connects. Your instrument, your ear, your arrangement, your time, and your mix become one durable professional language.
The intensive curriculum
The Intensive Curriculum: Six Movements Toward Personal Mastery
02
Technique & Ear Training
Build physical fluency on your instrument, tactile precision, and the professional listening skills that turn instinct into control.
03
Song Structure & Mechanics
Understand the components of song form and their interchangeable uses to break through creative blocks. Develop cohesive themes in both lyric writing and musical sections.
04
Professional Production
Learn the essentials of EQ, compression, spatial effects, vocal tuning, and mixing techniques in your DAW. Execute the decisions that make a recording feel focused, dimensional, and competitive.
05
Time, Counting, Groove & Pocket
Everything in music is time-based. Master the essentials of groove, pocket, and precision editing to completely transform your tracking, performing, and editing workflows.
06
From Idea to Finished Record
You are the complete art form. Connect the whole practice—instrument, composition, and DAW—to set yourself on a path of lifelong learning in the pursuit of sonic magic.
Inside the Studio: Teaching Style & Methods
Mentorship shouldn't be confusing. These short walkthroughs show exactly how we break down complex harmonic theory, guitar fluidness, and precise DAW workflows in our 1-on-1 sessions.
A Unified Method: One Integrated Practice
The path to creative freedom becomes effortless when every single discipline begins to speak to the next.
I
Play it, Say it, Bring it to Life
Develop the vocabulary and command to capture, translate, and express an active musical idea in real time on your instrument.
II
Develop Ideas into Complete Forms
Master harmony, structure, and arrangement across all genres so you can make sophisticated composition choices instinctively.
III
Translate Artistry into Finished Productions
Learn to map your musical decisions directly into your DAW, ensuring your final recordings feel fully realized, dimensional, and polished.
The Output: Original Works & Production Standards
Give a listen to three of 10 albums by Chris McDermott
For Artists Ready to Focus on Their Craft
Whether you are looking to break through technical plateaus, find your voice in songwriting, or finally make sense of your recording software, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Mentorship simply begins with a relaxed, no-pressure conversation.
Claim Your Free 10-Minute Zoom ChatFor Artists Ready to Focus on Their Craft. Whether you are looking to break through technical plateaus, find your voice in songwriting, or finally make sense of your recording software, you don’t have to figure it out alone. If you are ready for personal, supportive guidance tailored completely to your musical journey, mentorship simply begins with a relaxed conversation.
Claim Your Free 10 minute Zoom Chat