Specialized Track

Lighting Track

Lighting is where art meets engineering. A great lighting designer doesn't just make things bright. They shape emotion, direct attention, and transform a stage into something that moves people.

Duration 3 Day Intensive
Class Size 15 to 30 Participants
Level Entry to Intermediate

Build the Technical Foundation for Professional Lighting

Before you can design, you need to understand the tools and the craft. This track gives you the technical foundation to work on professional lighting crews.

You'll learn to program on grandMA3, rig and focus fixtures, build and run cue stacks, and understand the infrastructure that makes modern lighting systems work. This is the same knowledge base that every lighting professional builds on, whether they end up as a programmer, a technician, or a designer.

What You'll Learn

Three days of intensive, hands on training covering every aspect of professional lighting production.

Day 1

Fundamentals

  • How Light Works Color temperature, beam angle, intensity, color mixing. The vocabulary you'll use every day to communicate and execute a design.
  • Fixture Types and Applications Moving heads, wash lights, spots, beams, strobes, blinders, LEDs, conventionals. Learn when to use what and why.
  • DMX and Control Basics Addressing, universes, data distribution, and tracing the signal chain from console to fixture.
Day 2

Programming

  • grandMA3 Console Workflow Learn the interface, patching, fixture selection, attribute control, and the logic that makes MA powerful.
  • Building Cues and Sequences Cue structure, timing, effects, and organizing a showfile that can be executed reliably night after night.
  • Busking and Live Operation Run lights in real time, responding to music and moments as they happen. Where instinct meets preparation.
Day 3

Production

  • Rigging and Focusing Participate in a full load in: hanging fixtures, running data and power, and focusing a rig.
  • Previz and Documentation Introduction to previsualization tools. Learn to read and create lighting plots, hookups, and channel schedules.
  • Show Run Program and operate a live performance, taking a design from concept to execution.

What You'll Train On

grandMA3 Consoles

Full size and light versions of the industry standard for touring and large scale production

Robe Moving Fixtures

Professional moving head fixtures used on major tours worldwide

Martin Moving Fixtures

Industry standard intelligent lighting instruments

Elation Moving Fixtures

Professional grade moving lights for touring and events

ETC and Chauvet LED Fixtures

High quality LED wash and effect lighting

MA 3D and Depence

Industry standard previsualization software for show design

What You Need

No prior lighting experience required. We start from the fundamentals and build up. You should be comfortable with technology, able to follow technical instruction, and ready to work at height if needed.

CDI's lighting curriculum is developed and taught by working lighting designers and programmers with credits on major tours, festivals, and broadcast productions.

Where This Leads

Graduates of this track are prepared for entry level positions as:

  • Lighting Technician
  • Follow Spot Operator
  • Programmer Assistant
  • Electrician / Spark
  • Lighting Crew Chief

Ready to Light the Stage?

Apply now for CDI's Lighting Track and learn to create unforgettable visual experiences.