How to Do Good in a Music Production School

Music production includes the technical aspects of audio recording.

There are several things you must consider before attending a music production school. Although it is art-based, there are certain concepts and equipment that you must be familiar with, as many music production facilities use many different types. In order to do well in school, it is imperative to use all of the resources available, including teachers, technical manuals and fellow students who may or may not have had past experience in the music production field.

Instructions

1. Study the technical literature of the equipment you will be using in music production school. Although music production is an art, there are software and hardware that must be learned in order to be successful in a school setting. From mixers to computer interfaces, a music producer must be competent on all platforms, including Pro Tools and Emagic Logic, as well as the latest hardware from Mackie and Tascam.

2. Interact with other students while at music production school. The other students may have worked in the field, and any knowledge that they may have can help you with the more difficult aspects of music production. Students who already have technical knowledge of a certain platform may be able to explain these aspects in a manner that is easier for you to understand.

3. Work hands-on with the equipment available at the music production school. Most music production schools have fully equipped studios with the latest equipment, including top-of-the-line mixing boards that you may see at large studios and smaller, home-based equipment that you may use in every day work. Software suites are often available at music production schools, along with many different types of sampling equipment and a myriad of microphones.

4. Apply for an internship at a local music production studio in your town. This will give you real-world experience recording artists, including singers and musicians. Although you often do not get paid during an internship, the experience that you gain can help you do well during testing, and the application of that experience can help you understand the many aspects of music production you will learn while attending school.

5. If possible, spend more time doing lab work than the minimum amount of time you are allotted. Although you may be able to get by on the bare minimum, taking extra time to work with equipment you have trouble with will help ensure you have a complete understanding of how it works. Music production schools often have lab work that is required to graduate, so you should use your lab time wisely to master the topics and concepts you may be weak on.

6. Complete your final project in order to graduate. Final projects for music production schools usually require the student to fully produce a radio-ready single for an artist or band. Compare your product to other finished songs from popular multi-platinum recording artists to ensure a good critique. Edit the song(s) and clean up all of the tracks through diligent digital editing, especially if you are using a live band for the production.

References

• Recording Connection: What a Music Producer Does
• Recording Workshop