Ableton Live is used by professional producers around the world, but it can feel intimidating in a classroom setting. New music tech teachers may not know where to start, and even experienced teachers may struggle to make a professional DAW feel accessible for beginners.
This hands-on session shares a student-friendly framework developed over 11 years of teaching Ableton Live to upper elementary, middle, and high school students. Teachers will learn simple, guided workflows that help students create drums, chords, basslines, melodies, and arrangements, even if students have no traditional musical training. The session emphasizes early success, student choice, creative confidence, and practical ways to make Ableton Live approachable for a wide range of learners.
Attendees will also see how web-based tools, including Ableton’s Learning Music site, can introduce key concepts before students move into Live, and how the same beginner workflows can grow into deeper production skills.
Target Audience
Elementary, Middle, & High School Music Teachers
Additional Notes
Clinician Info
Eric Jao
Mix Major
Eric Jao (aka DJ Enferno) brings 20+ years of music industry experience into the classroom. He is a DJ Champion who has toured with Madonna, made music for Linkin Park and Cirque du Soleil. Eric has taught K-12 music production since 2015. He is the founder of Mix Major, co-creator of Electronic Music ELEMENTS, and an Ableton Certified Trainer.