Music City Accelerator X City College of San Francisco
10% discount for ccsf students
If you’re finishing your production program at City College of San Francisco, you’ve laid the groundwork. Now it’s time to expand your edge.
Music City Accelerator is San Francisco’s premier music production school. Our programs combine hands-on studio training and real-world artist development — all inside the world’s first fully integrated music campus.
From beatmaking to sound design, recording, mixing, and Pro Tools Certification up to Expert Level, students learn in professional studios connected to live performance venues, rehearsal rooms, and a thriving community of artists.
Music City Accelerator is one of the only institutions in San Francisco where students can earn Avid Pro Tools Certification up to Expert Level.
Training is conducted in a professional recording environment where students learn on industry-standard hardware and software. The curriculum is designed to help you develop practical skills in recording, editing, and engineering using tools commonly found in commercial studios. If you’re interested in expanding your audio engineering abilities, this program offers structured instruction and guided hands-on practice to support your growth.
The Avid Certified Expert for Pro Tools (Music) certification represents the pinnacle in Avid’s Music credentials. Exhaustively exploring all advanced aspects of music production, the Expert courses will prepare you to work in a wide variety of musical situations and employ techniques that will distinguish you from the competition.
A Pro Tools Expert Music Certification provides:
Immediate industry recognition of proven expertise as a user who has reached the highest level and can operate a Pro Tools Ultimate system with HD-series hardware in a professional, fast-paced environment with above-average skill level. This certification also allows you to be listed in Avid’s searchable database.
Our music production school programs teach the complete skill set of a modern producer: building beats, programming drums, recording vocals, designing synths, arranging songs, mixing, and developing your signature sound. You’ll learn inside the same workflow used by professionals working in electronic music, hip-hop, pop, film scoring, indie production, and studio engineering.
We train students on Ableton Live, so you can become fluent in one of the most important DAWs in the industry. Whether your goal is beat-making, electronic production, vocal production, or becoming a studio engineer, your instructors help guide you toward the path that fits your creative identity.
Ableton Live Course
Instruction includes clip-based workflows, sound design basics, MIDI production, audio editing, and track building inside Ableton Live.
Audio Engineering Course
These classes introduce students to studio workflows, recording concepts, effects processing, and critical listening practices.
Songwriting & Arranging
Learn rhythm, scales and modes, harmony, and melody by producing percussion and drums, bass, leads, and other instruments
Sound Design & Synthesis
Learn the fundamentals of designing your own instruments and sounds for music. Learn how to describe sounds we hear, the building blocks of electronic instruments, synthesis and sampling techniques, and sound processing with effects.
Mixing & Mastering
Learn to mix music step-by-step, including volume leveling, stereo panorama, EQ, compression, creative effects, and automation.
OVER 25 YEARS OF WORLD-CLASS MUSIC EDUCATION & STUDIO EXPERTISE
Music City Accelerator is a creative hub for people who love making music. Whether you’re exploring beatmaking, mixing, DJing, songwriting, or live performance, our classes are designed for personal growth, artistic expression, and hands-on fun — all inspired by decades of experience.
A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT DESIGNED FOR MUSIC CREATORS
Music City Accelerator offers instruction in a professional creative setting. Our classrooms include studios, a DJ learning lab, and rehearsal rooms. Students use these facilities during workshops and supervised sessions where applicable.
Instructional spaces are equipped with tools relevant to each program’s curriculum, including:
• Digital audio workstations such as Ableton Live and Pro Tools and Logic Pro
• Studio microphones, interfaces, and monitoring systems
• DJ hardware and software
• Music production and sound design tools, including MIDI controllers and hardware synthesizers
• Access to our production studio
These environments are integrated within the Music City Starfactory campus, providing students with exposure to a wide range of creative spaces while completing their program.
THE MUSIC CITY ACCELERATOR LEARNING EXPERIENCE
Our curriculum emphasizes structured learning, repeated practice, and instructor feedback. Students engage in project-based coursework that develops familiarity with production software, recording workflows, and creative tools.
The goal is to provide a realistic and supportive environment where students can learn by doing, observing, and practicing in spaces oriented around music creation.
A CREATIVE CAMPUS IN THE HEART OF SAN FRANCISCO
Music City Accelerator is located inside the Music City Starfactory campus, a multi-room creative building that supports a variety of artistic activities. In addition to classroom and studio spaces, the campus includes rehearsal rooms, a DJ lab, collaboration environments, podcast rooms, and performance spaces. This provides students with exposure to a broad ecosystem of musical activity while they pursue their studies.
The campus environment encourages interaction, collaboration, and community building among students and artists, which can support their educational experience.
Student Notice/Disclaimer: All courses offered by Music City Accelerator are for avocational and personal enrichment purposes only. We do not offer degrees, diplomas, or certificates intended to qualify students for employment. No course or program is represented to lead to job placement, licensure, or occupational credentialing.
Experience the vibrant rhythms and captivating melodies of Latin music as we feature live bands and electrifying DJ sets, showcasing a diverse array of genres from Brazilian Rhythms/Salsa/Cumbia/Latin Jazz/Spanish Rumba/Latin Rock/ Forró & global beats. Feel the energy as talented musicians take the stage, bringing their unique flair and passion to every performance.
Enjoy DJ sets spinning Latin Jams with Disco 80s/90s Funk/Hip Hop/Tropical Bass/Rock/Breaks & more.
Doors Open: 6 PM
Live Performances Begin: 7 PM-10PM
Step into the rhythm and soul of the city at Music City SF every Tuesday for an unforgettable night of live jazz! Wheter you’re a jazz aficionado or just looking to unwind, our talented musicians will transport you through the smooth, sultry sounds of Classic Jazz, Soul Jazz, and Jazz Fusion.
Door Opens: 6 PM
Live Performance Begin: 7 PM – 10 PM
Step into the unexpected at Music City SF’s Eclectic Night, where musical boundaries are meant to be crossed! Every Friday, we bring you an exciting mix of artists, from funk to jazz, hip hop to rock, and everything in between.
Doors Open: 6pm
Live Performances Begin: 7 PM-10PM
Every Thursday night, dive into the heart of the underground with weekly rotating performances featuring a fresh mix of musicians, cyphers, and DJs that keep the energy alive. Whether you’re here for smooth R&B vibes, soulful vocals, or fire hip-hop beats, The Music City Underground has it all.
Doors Open: 6 PM
Live Performances Begin: 7 PM-10PM
Step into a time machine of music and let the decades take you on an unforgettable journey! Relive the hits from the ’60s to the ‘2000s with incredible tribute performances that’ll have you dancing all night long.
Doors open at 6 PM.
Performances kick off at 7 PM.
From timeless classics to deep cuts that defined an era, keep the dance floor alive with the irresistible rhythms and smooth sounds that made Motown legendary. Don’t miss a night of soulful vibes and nonstop energy!
Door Opens: 6 PM
Live Performance Begin: 7 PM – 10 PM
Experience a thrilling variety of Rock, Folk, Blues, and Country music every Wednesday night! A high-energy event featuring live bands and DJs across six stages! From rock anthems to country classics and everything in between, this night promises non-stop entertainment and unforgettable performances.
Doors Open: 6 PM
Live Performances: 7 PM – 11 PM
The Singer-Songwriter + Performance Program is coming to Music City Accelerator, housed inside Music City Starfactory — a seven-stage live music hub in the heart of San Francisco. Step into a bustling ecosystem of artists and bands, rehearse in real studios, perform on stages streamed live to the world, and even stay on-site while you train. This is a one-stop launch pad for aspiring artists ready to grow fast inside a community that lives and breathes music every day.
Deborah Barsotti
Education director
deb@musiccitysf.org
More info coming soon!
Aprill Lacey
Executive Director
Aprill@musiccitysf.org
Contact Aprill for booking inquiries!
