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The Beat Lab - Electronic Music Production for Kids

Class Details:

  • Date: January-May 2026 – Demo Session on Jan. 12; Official Start Jan. 26
  • Class Times: 1 class per week – Mondays from 4:00 – 4:45 PM
  • Location: Fort Collins Boys and Girls Club – 1608 Lancer Drive Fort Collins, CO 80521.

The Beat Lab is a brand new, innovative music technology program designed to introduce children to the exciting world of electronic music production. We are moving beyond traditional instruments by using accessible technology with beginner-friendly apps like GarageBand, Auxy, and Koala Sampler. This isn’t just about passive learning; it’s a dynamic, hands-on class where every child is empowered with the opportunity to become a digital composer.

In The Beat Lab, creativity is the curriculum. Students can dive into building drum loops, layering complex melodies, and record their own unique voices and sounds. Through a blend of guided tutorials, fun rhythm games, and group demonstrations, children develop crucial skills in digital literacy and creative exploration. They aren’t just pushing buttons; they’re learning the fundamentals of arrangement and sound design in a vibrant, interactive environment.

The core purpose of The Beat Lab is to foster creativity, collaboration, and confidence through music-making. By working together on projects, students naturally develop critical thinking and teamwork skills.

Many thanks to our sponsors Fort Collins Breakfast Rotary and William & Sheri Welch!

Beat Lab Registration Form

  • Please fill out a separate form for each student.

  • Off the Hook Arts Educational Programs Media Release

    Photo and Video Waiver for Meadowlark Music Program, Chamber Music Academy, Adult Academy Orchestra, Cello Choir participants. I grant permission to Off the Hook Arts, its agents, and its employees the irrevocable and unrestricted right to produce photographs and video taken of my child, myself, and members of my family while at the Meadowlark Music Program, the Chamber Music Academy, the Adult Academy Orchestra and/or the Cello Choir for any lawful purpose including publication, promotion, illustration, advertising, trade, or historical archive in any manner or in any medium by Off the Hook Arts. I hereby release Off the Hook Arts from liability for any violation or claims relating to said images or video. Furthermore, I grant permission to use the statements of my child, myself, or my family members given during an interview or evaluation with or without my name for the purpose of advertising and publicity without restriction to time limit or geographic area. I waive my right, my child’s rights, and my family’s rights to any and all compensation stemming from the use of these materials.

Help us make it happen!

To bring The Beat Lab to life, we need your support! A budget of $5,700 will cover essential equipment like iPads, headphones, and a Bluetooth speaker, also with goals for MIDI controllers and USB mics. Every dollar helps! 🧡

If you’d like to donate or learn more, please contact director@offthehookarts.org. Together, we can give kids the tools to create, innovate, and shine.

Donate Here