How to Select a Recording School

Should you go to a recording school or not?

If you are a hard worker who will exploit your time at a recording school by going to every single class, booking as much lab time as possible, networking with other students, your instructors, and guest speakers, then yes, you will learn a heck of a lot more in a short period of time going to a recording school rather than being an intern. IF, however, you aren’t willing to put in the work… well… find another career, honestly. But you want to go to a recording school, then you have to make sure you pick the right one. Sometimes that even means a small one that you’ve never heard of, because the point is: where do you get the most practice and the most lab time, and the best teachers who TRAIN you, not just teachers who have good resumes.

ALL that matters if you want to go to a recording school is what you will learn while you are there, nothing else matters. Don’t let the bling sell you on a fancy school. It’s not about being a rock star of a hip hop producer ruling the universe: it’s about how much you can learn while you’re there. The curriculum, the teachers, the resources, and what you get for your money is what should sell you on a recording school. If you’re going to school, that means you are not ready for dealing with celebrity yet – again… don’t be sold by bling, be sold by content and quality if the purpose: teaching you how to run a recording session in a recording studio.

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When searching for a proper recording school, there are a number of considerations one should take into account before making the final decision. The benefit of attending a quality recording school is that it will give you much needed hands-on experience to prepare for the world of audio recording.

1. When researching recording schools, you should inquire as to what type of technology they use. It is important that you attend a school that has the most up-to-date and advanced equipment and technology. Equipment such as the mixing boards should be the most technologically advanced equipment.

2. When selecting a great recording school, it is important to consider the type of learning environment the school offers. Individuals thrive differently in various types of learning environments. For instance, you should ask yourself if you would learn better in a one-on-one or a couple of students per instructor teaching setting, or if you would be more comfortable in more of a traditional “group” classroom environment. Knowing what learning style and environment fits your needs will narrow down your search for a great school.

3. The best method of learning is from those who have direct knowledge and experience of the subject matter. It is important that you learn about the instructor’s experience. Make sure that you ask if the instructors have worked for many years in the job field that they are teaching. As well, has the school designed a teaching strategy that incorporates practical theory along with hands-on experience? The recording tutorials should be designed to introduce and enhance the many different areas of audio recording techniques and theory. Courses should be tailored to the knowledge and needs of the student, whether for home-recording enthusiasts who want to enhance their hobby, or those who want to begin a career in the music industry.

4. Recording courses should include all areas of the recording industry such as microphone techniques, recording basics, standard audio software management, and equipment set-up and troubleshooting. The professional audio recording curriculum should be designed to be flexible with regards to a student’s work schedule. Students should be able to learn at their own pace with the best engineers who have many years of experience in the recording industry.

When you carefully consider your recording school options and take the time to research the schools and what they have to offer, you will greatly increase your chances of finding the right recording school that meets your music needs. The rewards of choosing the best recording school will benefit your music aspirations for many years.

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