Oval Creative Coaching 4-Week Online Course FAQ
So what's the story behind season two?
Since I started my online courses, I've had more than 25 artists taking my group seminars & 1-1 mentoring. Every course was a real deep dive, pushing my range on so many levels...hugely inspiring! And now I have worked this massive influx of data into the next level of my courses.
What does this mean content-wise?
Season two offers a brand new YouTube segment (persona, content agenda, formats) & an extensive chapter on how to unlock and min-max your creative core...plus lots of updates to all content sections, interviews, evaluation docs, the character creator, wild cards, musical tasks etc.
OK, so what's basically happening in a typical 4-week online course?
Anything you want, really. It can be a total makeover of your tech setup, tools, live set, theme agenda, image or social media approach. We can finish your next album or prototype a completely new musical project. Also, musical soul-searching. A LOT can get done in just four weeks.
Why is there no precise content outline for this course?
I think that a “one size fits all”-initiative can’t be my answer to the countless challenges a musical content creator can be facing today. Instead, this course is thoroughly designed to get to the bottom of YOUR music, approach, creative mission, workflow, public persona & messaging.
How do these interviews work exactly?
Don’t worry - I won’t interrogate you live on Skype. The interviews are basically a number of questions that I put in shared Google Doc which you will answer offline = more time for you to come up with vastly superior answers.
So what IS the Skype part then?
What happens over Skype is the analysis / discussion of the interviews and your progress with the musical challenges. In these conferences, we will not only talk about abstract topics or strategies, but listen to tracks, screen-share your Ableton Live set, tweak instruments / plug-ins etc.
What about those challenges?
This could be a musical assignment meant to lead you out of your musical and conceptual comfort zones. Think of them as ambitious pieces of homework that are actually fun to do. Plus, I'll make you track your progress in a Google Doc, which we discuss via comments, dev-diary-style.
Are there any parts of the 4-week-course that are fixed?
The only fixed parts are the comprehensive introductory Q&A before the course starts and - from 05-2018 - an additional, free 5th Skype session where you (hopefully) put me on the spot with your questions - of course you can AMA anytime prior to this 5th session, too.
Is there a set number of Skype sessions?
There is going to be five extensive Skype sessions - and on “your day”, you’re free to skype with me as often as you like to discuss stuff, for example different iterations of what you’re working on etc. In between the Skypes, I’ll be available to you practically 24/7 via text chat.
Is there a time limit for every Skype session?
No. Every conversation will have a slightly different arc, but I’m a very thorough person and won't let you go until I see substantial progress every week. I never clock my commitments, neither as an artist nor as a mentor - my priority is to get you results that solve your problems.
What if I am not in town or at my PC for four weeks in a row?
No problem - let’s adjust the schedule then. Content-wise, this program should ideally be completed within 4 weeks, and on a recurring, fixed day of the week, as this ensures the best balance between focus, motivation & results - but we’ll definitely find a solution that works for you.
How about payment...and any eventual discounts?
In fact, I’m not asking you to pay the full course fee up front, but typically, you'll pay one rate shortly before the course and the 2nd rate after its completion. I will also grant you a sizable bring-a-friend discount if you convince a fellow musician / colleague to take the course.
Is this really personal, 1-1 mentoring?
Yes, it is. “Content modules” might sound very systematic, but this program isn’t some ingenious method that allows me to juggle dozens of clients in parallel. The opposite is true: I accept only a small number of participants each month & all content will be tailored to each project.
This is a 4-week course - why are we not on Skype every day?
To my experience, these weekly intervals work best. You will need time "off mic" to allow for making actual progress and to develop ideas that are actually new. But of course I will be reachable for you and open to your input every day, no question about that.
Well, this all sounds great - when can I start?
Since I only take on 1-2 artists per month, it might take a little while. In fact, there is a waiting list right now. But the sooner you give me your schedule, the sooner will I be able to give you a slot.
I will start my course in 2 months - can you send me all the interviews in advance?
This course adapts entirely to your progress in various, yet-to-be-determined areas. In other words: There are no pre-scripted interviews. Instead, every online course is unique and paced differently for every client.
Hey, I’m trying to get my act together for YEARS...and this course is just 4 weeks long?
First of all, this course is really designed to shake things up - and it will. Secondly, don’t underestimate the reach and impact of a highly specific / qualified outside perspective with an agenda completely different from your own.
I live in Berlin - can I still join an online course over Skype?
Absolutely. And since you are in town, face-to-face meetings could be also an option...that's entirely up to you.
That all sounds pretty good. Can we do a trial Skype?
Absolutely. Feel free to chat and / or hop on Skype or Google Hangouts with me and I can explain everything in greater detail - and you can tell me more about your project and what you would like to achieve.
What makes Markus Popp a suitable coach?
In stride with the omnipresent “How to…”-tutorialization, music itself has become sort of formulaic. Everyone works with the same “success formulas”, so the only way to stand out is to be SUBSTANTIALLY different - and I think I know a thing or two about doing things differently.
Am I mainly going to learn about glitch and experimental electronic music?
You might know me through my 1990s glitch albums. However, my discography features a wide variety of wildly different musical styles. Plus, through my decades-long teaching experience, I am pretty familiar with the concerns and challenges of musicians from almost every field.
Do you also offer a German version of this online course?
Ja, klar - ich mache diesen 4-wöchigen Online-Kurs natürlich auch sehr gerne auf Deutsch.
Since I started my online courses, I've had more than 25 artists taking my group seminars & 1-1 mentoring. Every course was a real deep dive, pushing my range on so many levels...hugely inspiring! And now I have worked this massive influx of data into the next level of my courses.
What does this mean content-wise?
Season two offers a brand new YouTube segment (persona, content agenda, formats) & an extensive chapter on how to unlock and min-max your creative core...plus lots of updates to all content sections, interviews, evaluation docs, the character creator, wild cards, musical tasks etc.
OK, so what's basically happening in a typical 4-week online course?
Anything you want, really. It can be a total makeover of your tech setup, tools, live set, theme agenda, image or social media approach. We can finish your next album or prototype a completely new musical project. Also, musical soul-searching. A LOT can get done in just four weeks.
Why is there no precise content outline for this course?
I think that a “one size fits all”-initiative can’t be my answer to the countless challenges a musical content creator can be facing today. Instead, this course is thoroughly designed to get to the bottom of YOUR music, approach, creative mission, workflow, public persona & messaging.
How do these interviews work exactly?
Don’t worry - I won’t interrogate you live on Skype. The interviews are basically a number of questions that I put in shared Google Doc which you will answer offline = more time for you to come up with vastly superior answers.
So what IS the Skype part then?
What happens over Skype is the analysis / discussion of the interviews and your progress with the musical challenges. In these conferences, we will not only talk about abstract topics or strategies, but listen to tracks, screen-share your Ableton Live set, tweak instruments / plug-ins etc.
What about those challenges?
This could be a musical assignment meant to lead you out of your musical and conceptual comfort zones. Think of them as ambitious pieces of homework that are actually fun to do. Plus, I'll make you track your progress in a Google Doc, which we discuss via comments, dev-diary-style.
Are there any parts of the 4-week-course that are fixed?
The only fixed parts are the comprehensive introductory Q&A before the course starts and - from 05-2018 - an additional, free 5th Skype session where you (hopefully) put me on the spot with your questions - of course you can AMA anytime prior to this 5th session, too.
Is there a set number of Skype sessions?
There is going to be five extensive Skype sessions - and on “your day”, you’re free to skype with me as often as you like to discuss stuff, for example different iterations of what you’re working on etc. In between the Skypes, I’ll be available to you practically 24/7 via text chat.
Is there a time limit for every Skype session?
No. Every conversation will have a slightly different arc, but I’m a very thorough person and won't let you go until I see substantial progress every week. I never clock my commitments, neither as an artist nor as a mentor - my priority is to get you results that solve your problems.
What if I am not in town or at my PC for four weeks in a row?
No problem - let’s adjust the schedule then. Content-wise, this program should ideally be completed within 4 weeks, and on a recurring, fixed day of the week, as this ensures the best balance between focus, motivation & results - but we’ll definitely find a solution that works for you.
How about payment...and any eventual discounts?
In fact, I’m not asking you to pay the full course fee up front, but typically, you'll pay one rate shortly before the course and the 2nd rate after its completion. I will also grant you a sizable bring-a-friend discount if you convince a fellow musician / colleague to take the course.
Is this really personal, 1-1 mentoring?
Yes, it is. “Content modules” might sound very systematic, but this program isn’t some ingenious method that allows me to juggle dozens of clients in parallel. The opposite is true: I accept only a small number of participants each month & all content will be tailored to each project.
This is a 4-week course - why are we not on Skype every day?
To my experience, these weekly intervals work best. You will need time "off mic" to allow for making actual progress and to develop ideas that are actually new. But of course I will be reachable for you and open to your input every day, no question about that.
Well, this all sounds great - when can I start?
Since I only take on 1-2 artists per month, it might take a little while. In fact, there is a waiting list right now. But the sooner you give me your schedule, the sooner will I be able to give you a slot.
I will start my course in 2 months - can you send me all the interviews in advance?
This course adapts entirely to your progress in various, yet-to-be-determined areas. In other words: There are no pre-scripted interviews. Instead, every online course is unique and paced differently for every client.
Hey, I’m trying to get my act together for YEARS...and this course is just 4 weeks long?
First of all, this course is really designed to shake things up - and it will. Secondly, don’t underestimate the reach and impact of a highly specific / qualified outside perspective with an agenda completely different from your own.
I live in Berlin - can I still join an online course over Skype?
Absolutely. And since you are in town, face-to-face meetings could be also an option...that's entirely up to you.
That all sounds pretty good. Can we do a trial Skype?
Absolutely. Feel free to chat and / or hop on Skype or Google Hangouts with me and I can explain everything in greater detail - and you can tell me more about your project and what you would like to achieve.
What makes Markus Popp a suitable coach?
In stride with the omnipresent “How to…”-tutorialization, music itself has become sort of formulaic. Everyone works with the same “success formulas”, so the only way to stand out is to be SUBSTANTIALLY different - and I think I know a thing or two about doing things differently.
Am I mainly going to learn about glitch and experimental electronic music?
You might know me through my 1990s glitch albums. However, my discography features a wide variety of wildly different musical styles. Plus, through my decades-long teaching experience, I am pretty familiar with the concerns and challenges of musicians from almost every field.
Do you also offer a German version of this online course?
Ja, klar - ich mache diesen 4-wöchigen Online-Kurs natürlich auch sehr gerne auf Deutsch.